Tess from Hardenberg had wanted a piercing in her ear for a long time, according to her mother Anne-Carine, and she got her wish in December. “We were told that it can sometimes swell and that it was normal, but that she just had to use the spray a few times a day,” she says. But when the swelling became very large after a few days, Anne-Carine sounded the alarm. “I was afraid we wouldn’t be able to get the piercing out soon.”
The two decided to return to Coevorden together, where the owner of the business put in a longer rod. Anne-Carine was shocked by what she saw. “The pus and dirt that came out was not normal.” According to her, the owner waved away the question of whether she should call the doctor for antibiotics. “We did receive an extra spray.”
Leon Bothof, owner of LM Piercings, says that he does not immediately remember this specific case. “But sometimes it may be that an ear is swollen, but it is not immediately an infection. If I suspect that it is an infection, we always refer to a GP.”
Tess is certainly not the only one who got a serious infection in her ear. 14-year-old Lisa also used the spray. The photo below is the result.
When Anne-Carine finally decided to take her daughter to the doctor, the doctor was shocked. “We were immediately referred to the emergency room.” The first question the doctor asked there was whether Tess had been to LM Piercings in Coevorden. “I was amazed. She was the third one with an infected pierced ear that day.”
High chance of permanent damage
Several ENT doctors reported to the GGD. They received a striking number of cases of infections in pierced ears. Owner Bothof also reported, in his own words, to have an inspection carried out in his business. “I noticed in November that people’s swellings were thicker than normal. The inspection at the beginning of December showed that all hygiene was in order.”
The GGD did take the spray with them, and after investigation it turned out that the cause really lay with the spray. GGD doctor Siem Looijen explains: “We found a pseudomonas bacteria, which is annoying because it can be insensitive to antibiotics. Then you may even have to be put on an IV in the hospital.”
“In addition, cartilage has poor blood circulation,” he continues. “As a result, your immune system is not doing well and it heals poorly.” The chance of permanent damage is therefore also greater.
Never use sprays
Looijen recommends never using sprays or creams on wounds, “unless a doctor tells you to, or to remove street dirt. A piercing creates a wound, so you should treat it like any other wound.”
Tess was initially given a course of antibiotics, but she was later admitted to hospital. She was on a drip with antibiotics for three days and had a drain in her ear, which allowed the fluid to drain out. She was left with two bumps and a piece of cartilage is missing. “Her ear is damaged beyond repair, just because she wanted to decorate it with a piercing,” says her mother.
Recall
The owner of LM Piercings sold the spray in his shop, through his own online store and via Bol.com. A recall campaign has now been set up together with the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. A spokesperson for the NVWA says that the sale of saline solutions is not prohibited, but that the products must comply with the law.
The spokesperson hopes that manufacturers and sellers of these types of products will carefully check whether they comply with the rules and take sufficient measures to prevent such incidents.
Bothof further calls the situation ‘terrible’. “It’s giving me sleepless nights,” he says, clearly emotional. “We have thrown out everything related to the spray and we will never sell this again.” The owner is looking into what a suitable solution could be for the victims and asks them to contact info@lmpiercings.nl.
In any case, for Anne-Carine and many other victims, the recall and getting their money back is not enough. Several victims want to take legal action against the piercing shop. “The owner was negligent,” says Anne-Carine. “He shouldn’t be able to work as a piercer anymore. He should really scratch his head.”
date:2026-02-14 06:01:00
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