This article was co-authored by Roger Rodriguez. Roger Rodriguez, also known as Roger Rabb!t, is the Owner of Ancient Adornments Body Piercing, a piercing studio based in the Los Angeles, California area. With over 25 years of piercing experience, Roger has become the co-owner of several piercing studios such as ENVY Body Piercing and Rebel Rebel Ear Piercing and teaches the craft of body piercing at Ancient Adornments. He is a member of the Association of Professional Piercers (APP).
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It's important to take good care of your newly pierced ears so they’ll heal properly. Clean your ears twice a day while they heal and avoid handling your piercings when you don't have to. Be gentle with your piercings to avoid injury or infection and enjoy your new fashion statement!
Steps
Cleaning the Piercings
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1Wash your hands with antibacterial soap before touching your ears. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly right before handling your earrings. This will prevent you from transferring bacteria to your ears with your fingers. Use an antibacterial soap to ensure that your hands are as clean as possible.[1]
- Lather your hands with soap and wash them for a full 10-15 seconds to kill germs.
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2Clean your ears twice a day with soap and water. Lather a mild soap between your fingers until it is foamy. Gently rub the soap onto the front and back of your piercings. Carefully wipe your ears with a clean, wet cloth to remove the soap.[2]Advertisement
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3Use a saline cleaning solution as an alternative to soap and water. Ask your piercer to recommend a sea salt-based cleanser to care for your newly pierced ears. This will clean your piercings without over-drying the skin. Swab the front and back of your piercings with the cotton ball or swab saturated in the cleaning solution.[3]
- There is no need to rinse your ears after applying the saline solution.
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4Apply rubbing alcohol or an antibiotic ointment twice a day for 2-3 days. Disinfecting your ear piercings will cut down the chance of infection and speed up the healing process. Dab rubbing alcohol or antibiotic ointment to your ears with a cotton ball or swab.[4] Discontinue this after a few days, as prolonged of these treatments can dry the sites of your piercings and make it harder for them to heal.[5]
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5Rotate the earrings gently while the skin is still wet. Grasp the back of your earrings and rotate them carefully right after cleaning the area. This will prevent the piercings from closing too tightly around the jewelry while they heal. You should only do this while your ears are still wet.[6]
- Twisting your new piercings when your skin is dry may cause it to crack and bleed, resulting in a longer healing time.
Avoiding Injury and Infection
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1Leave your starter earrings in your ears for at least 4-6 weeks. When you first get your ears pierced, the piercing technician inserts starter earrings. These earrings are made from hypo-allergenic materials that are safe to keep in your ears. Leave them in your ears both day and night for at least 4 weeks or your piercings may close or heal improperly.
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2Always wash your hands before touching your ears. Unnecessary handling of your piercings can lead to infection. Avoid touching them unless you are cleaning or inspecting them. If you do need to touch them, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water first.[9]
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3Avoid swimming while your piercings are healing. Swimming can lead to a transfer of bacteria to your new piercings, resulting in an infection. Steer clear of pools, rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water while your ears are healing. If you use a hot tub, avoid submerging your body deep enough in the water to get your ears wet.[10]
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4Be careful with items of clothing that could snag on your earrings. Keep your clothing away from your earrings while they heal. Pulling or friction can cause irritation and slow down the healing process. Avoid wearing hats that cover your ears and be careful when getting dressed and undressed to avoid injury.[11]
- If you wear a veil, choose a fabric that won't snag easily. Try to wear very loose veils and avoid wearing the same veil multiple times without washing it.
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5See a doctor if you notice signs of infection that last several days. If your ears are painful and swollen a week or more after you get them pierced, they may be infected. Visit your doctor to have them checked if you notice pus or thick, dark discharge. Infected skin around the piercings will also likely be red or deep pink in color.[12]
- Serious piercing infections may require drainage and oral antibiotics.
Quick Tips
Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do you clean a new ear piercing?
Roger RodriguezRoger Rodriguez, also known as Roger Rabb!t, is the Owner of Ancient Adornments Body Piercing, a piercing studio based in the Los Angeles, California area. With over 25 years of piercing experience, Roger has become the co-owner of several piercing studios such as ENVY Body Piercing and Rebel Rebel Ear Piercing and teaches the craft of body piercing at Ancient Adornments. He is a member of the Association of Professional Piercers (APP).
Piercing SpecialistThe best way to take care of a piercing is to make sure you're hydrated, eating well, and cleaning your piercing regularly with a wound wash or saline solution. You can usually buy these at a piercing studio. Generally, these will either be a mist or spray that you put on your piercing. The solution will loosen any debris that you have in the piercing and it will make it naturally fall off.
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QuestionHow long will it take for my piercing to heal?Roger RodriguezRoger Rodriguez, also known as Roger Rabb!t, is the Owner of Ancient Adornments Body Piercing, a piercing studio based in the Los Angeles, California area. With over 25 years of piercing experience, Roger has become the co-owner of several piercing studios such as ENVY Body Piercing and Rebel Rebel Ear Piercing and teaches the craft of body piercing at Ancient Adornments. He is a member of the Association of Professional Piercers (APP).
Piercing SpecialistOn average, it takes about six to eight weeks for an ear lobe piercing to heal. Piercings on the cartilage, including your upper ear and your nose, can take anywhere from three to six months. For these piercings, it depends on the amount of work that you're doing to keep them clean and how many piercings you're getting.Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
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QuestionHow can I make sure my piercing heals properly?Roger RodriguezRoger Rodriguez, also known as Roger Rabb!t, is the Owner of Ancient Adornments Body Piercing, a piercing studio based in the Los Angeles, California area. With over 25 years of piercing experience, Roger has become the co-owner of several piercing studios such as ENVY Body Piercing and Rebel Rebel Ear Piercing and teaches the craft of body piercing at Ancient Adornments. He is a member of the Association of Professional Piercers (APP).
Piercing SpecialistMake sure to get your piercing done at a reputable studio. You should also be aware of the materials you are using, which can include antegrade steel and antigrade titanium.Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
References
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/skin-care/caring-for-pierced-ears
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/skin-care/caring-for-pierced-ears
- ↑ https://www.elle.com/beauty/tips/a26954/piercing-after-care-tips/
- ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/ear-nose-throat/Pages/Avoiding-Infection-After-Ear-Piercing.aspx
- ↑ https://www.elle.com/beauty/tips/a26954/piercing-after-care-tips/
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/pierced-ears.html
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/piercings/art-20047317
- ↑ https://www.elle.com/uk/beauty/body-and-physical-health/beauty-tips/a34164/cartilage-piercing-questions-answered/
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/skin-care/caring-for-pierced-ears
About This Article
To properly care for newly pierced ears, wash your hands with soap and water before handling your piercings. Wash the piercings twice a day with water and mild soap, then wipe the soap away with a clean, damp cloth. Alternatively, clean the piercings with a cotton swab dipped in saline solution. Some piercers recommend wiping the piercings with rubbing alcohol or antibiotic ointment twice a day for the first 2-3 days after you get your ears pierced. After washing the piercings, gently rotate your jewelry while your skin is still wet to keep the piercings from closing tightly around the stem of the stud. Leave your starting earrings in for at least 4-6 weeks so the piercings have time to heal before you change your jewelry. During this time, avoid swimming or wearing clothes that could snag on your earrings. If you notice signs of infection, such as pain, swelling, or pus around the piercings, see your doctor. Keep reading to learn how to spot signs of an infection!
