How To Care For Piercings To Avoid Skin Infections

The ear piercing process begins with a professional using a needle or piercing gun to mark a spot on your ear and make a hole. After the hole has been pierced, the piercer will insert an earring depending on where you get your piercing.

While ear piercing is generally safe and simple, you should follow a few guidelines to make sure it is done correctly. You'll reduce your chances of getting an infection by knowing what to expect during the process and what to do afterwards to care for your ear. Read on to know how to prepare for getting your ears pierced and how to take care afterwards.

Make sure you know what equipment your piercer will use, whether it is a gun or a needle. It is advisable to get the piercing done with a needle rather than a gun as the gun forces the earrings through, which applies a lot of pressure and unnecessary damage to the skin tissues. Using a needle means that you can control the accuracy and keep a check if the needle is sterile. Also, the needle ensures a small incision into the tissue which means minimal damage to the area.

After the piercing is done make sure you keep the pierced area clean. Wash your pierced part with soap and water or saline solution. Avoid applying any alcohol-based product. Alcohol makes your skin dry, which means it can crack and bleed, causing wounds to remain open and not heal properly. Use oil-based soaps so the wound stays clean and it helps soften up the healing tissue. Don't over-clean it because that too can delay healing.

Be mentally prepared because piercing takes time to heal. Nurse it back to health, keep it clean and make sure that there is no swelling. If you see swelling apply ice. Basically, aftercare is crucial so make sure you are careful. Ear lobes take about 2-3 months to heal and cartilage takes about 3-10 months. The minute it stops hurting, swelling and secreting fluid and any redness, that means it has healed.

If you notice excessive swelling, redness or heat then consult your piercer. Don't stress, this happens because your piercing is not fully healed. Don't search online or ask friends, just GO TO THE PIERCER. If you think that the visit wasn't helpful then visit the doctor.

The healing process is very delicate and it takes months. So, make sure you don't dress up in something that would hurt your piercing, don't tug the area. This can delay the healing process. Don't change your jewellery without the help of your piercer. Reduce the intake of caffeine, nicotine and alcohol until the piercing is healed. Avoid going for a swim or taking a bath in tubs because it can cause skin infection.

An earlobe piercing heals in 6 weeks, while a cartilage piercing takes 12 weeks.

Unfortunately, no. Ears that are newly pierced require special care and attention since they are very sensitive. During the healing process, removing your earrings could close the holes and make it difficult to re-insert the earrings.

Ear piercings are not normally associated with pain, swelling, or redness. In case of any of these symptoms, contact your doctor right away. You may need to remove your earrings if instructed.