Cleaning And Care: Caring For Pierced Ears

1. Use the sterile solution provided by the piercing consultant. Follow the directions carefully, which usually entails applying the solution to your earlobes twice each day, at morning and at night. Make sure to keep the solution lid closed tightly to prevent bacteria from entering and contaminating the solution. Use a clean cotton swab for each application. If you happen to drop something into the solution, discard the rest of it and get a new bottle. Remember to keep cleaning your ears daily for the recommended healing period, usually several weeks.

2. Twist the new studs in your earlobes each day. First, wash and dry your hands. Grasp the back portion of the earring and gently turn it several rotations in a clockwise or counterclockwise motion. Do the same with the other ear. You may need to do this more than once a day; follow the piercing consultant's instructions. During the first few days you may notice a few drops of fluid or blood after twisting the studs; this is normal. But if the studs feel uncomfortably tight or if pus drains from the pierced lobes, or if there is more than a drop or two of blood, contact your doctor to make sure everything is all right.

3. Avoid bumping or injuring your ears. Don't play rough sports, and try to prevent babies or toddlers from grabbing at your earrings. While a basic bump may not cause a problem, a heavy hit or repeated blows to the ears may lead to injury from the studs and interfere with the healing process. If your lobes are struck or hurt in some way, check for bleeding, tearing, or bruising, and notify your doctor of these symptoms. Be careful when brushing or styling your hair to keep from bumping your new studs, front or back.

4. Take care not to let your earlobes get dirty or irritated. For example, if you work in a dusty environment like a warehouse or a farm field, keep your ears covered. When taking a shower or washing your hair, it is not a problem if shampoo or soap lather gets on your earrings. Be sure to rinse it thoroughly and pat your ears dry when your shower is done. That would be a good time to clean your ears with the disinfectant solution. The general idea is to keep your pierced ears clean and bacteria-free, just as you would any other scratch or cut.

5. Don't keep removing or replacing your piercing studs. The consultant will probably explain the importance of not disturbing the studs except for daily twisting to prevent the skin from growing over the metal and securing it fast. Leaving your studs in place for a few months will help to speed the healing process, creating a firm, permanent opening and a tiny hard cyst that will facilitate future earring usage. Wearing earrings of a different width, size, or weight can impact the original pierced opening to keep it from healing in a uniform manner.

Start from the first day to care for your pierced ears in an appropriate way to make sure they heal quickly and completely so you can wear a variety of earrings in the future.