Is my gauge infected or am I allergic to the plug?

Well I have gauged ears and about a week ago I bought an acrylic tapering pin to go from a 0 to a 00. It had been over a year since I've sized up, so I know that isnt the issue.

But today, I noticed my ear lobe was swollen and it hurts, I think I've had this before, I just dont remember.
It's red and it was crusty, so I cleaned it with dial, I also took a penacillan I had from a while ago, I dont have much left though to take if it is an infection.
Anyways, like a bit below my earlobe on that side is achy if i touch it. It seems to be an infection, but I cant be sure, I've been keeping it clean, but I also wear my hair down, so maybe my hair got it infected.

Any ideas on what I should do, like I said, I took a penacillan, I washed it with anti bacterial soap, later on I put peroxide on it to try to kill any infection there, then I used some antiseptic for ears.

Should I call my doctor and ask her about it, or what?
Help! =[ I'm worried.

First of all, do not take any more penicillin. Period. Taking one will do nothing for you. You have to keep a certain amount of it in your blood stream over a certain amount of time for it to do anything at all. You are actually contributing to your body being resistant to penicillin by taking it. SO STOP!

Second, you may have gauged it too fast and made a tiny tear in the skin. Just do what you're doing. Dial 2-3 times a day and maybe a tiny bit of antibacterial ointment after each washing. No peroxide or anything else. If the swelling and crusties don't go away in the next few days or get worse, go buy a taper made out of a different material. You may be allergic to it.

If it gets very hot to the touch and your lymph node on that side gets swollen, see a doc immediately. :)