Matt Aitia, a director and cinematographer living in Toronto, spent roughly two decades dealing with a strange green discoloration on a part of his ear. He recalled that he had his ears pierced when he was around 10 years old. Shortly after the procedure, one of his ears developed an infection, and that specific area turned a distinct shade of green. Ever since his childhood, people constantly asked him questions about the unusual color of his ear, while medical professionals consistently dismissed it as ordinary scar tissue.
The Misdiagnosis That Lasted Decades
According to Matt Aitia, he consulted numerous doctors and skin specialists over the years regarding his ear. Every single professional he visited assured him that the discoloration was merely a scar tissue. He eventually grew to accept that the small lump formed inside his ear was simply the lingering aftermath of an old injury or infection. Even so, the situation remained bothersome because people continued to question him about his ear color on a regular basis, leaving him searching for answers to a mystery that seemed entirely minor yet completely baffling.
The Missing Earring Piece Left Behind
When the initial infection flared up back then, he promptly removed the earring from his ear. At that time, the physical condition of his ear was quite poor. Even after the infection subsided, a tiny lump persisted underneath the skin inside his ear. This stubborn lump remained lodged there for a very long period, and the surrounding area continued to display a noticeable green hue. Little did he know that a component of the jewelry had actually broken off and remained trapped deep inside the tissue.
An Unexpected Discovery During a Dental Checkup
Recently, Matt Aitia visited a dentist for a routine dental checkup. During the examination, an X-ray scan revealed something he never could have anticipated. The dental X-ray clearly showed the back portion of an old earring resting deep inside his ear tissue. As it turned out, the butterfly backing of the earring had been stuck inside his ear for nearly 20 years. To finally get the metallic piece safely removed from his body, he had to undergo plastic surgery.
Similar Experiences Shared by Online Users
After Matt Aitia shared his bizarre medical journey online via a post on Matt Aitia, another user commented to share a strikingly similar childhood mishap. That user explained how the back of an earring had similarly gotten stuck inside their ear during childhood, though their parents caught it immediately. They underwent surgery to extract the piece when they were roughly 7 years old. Now 19 years old, that user noted that the color of their ear skin is still altered. A professional piercer later explained to them that prolonged contact with certain metals can permanently stain human skin over time.
