Piercing Your Ear: A Guide on Healing, Pain, Cleaning, and Other Essentials
Light & Easy Guide to Ear Piercings
Ear piercings are a popular choice for many, and it's no surprise! What with 84% of U.S. women and 64% of men sporting pierced lobes, it's safe to say they're the most pierced body part in the States. But before you book that appointment, let's break it down.
First Things First: Understanding the Pain
Ear piercing pain varies depending on the location, method, and your personal pain tolerance. Generally, ear piercings feel like a quick pinch followed by some throbbing. You might notice the area is sensitive to touch until it's fully healed. Lobes hurt the least, as they're fatty tissue with fewer nerves. Other spots, like helix, rook, daith, tragus, and conch, made of cartilage, have more nerves and thus may be more painful.
Needle vs Gun
Piercing guns aren't always sterilized between uses. Dr. Thompson recommends going with a needle for piercing children.
A numbing cream can also help reduce pain. An icepack or ice cube can be used before the procedure, and a strong dose of Tylenol® beforehand can help too. However, avoid taking aspirin or Advil® beforehand, as it may cause excessive bleeding.
Let's Talk Healing
Earlobe piercings usually heal in six to eight weeks, but cartilage piercings take longer – up to six months or even a year. Cartilage doesn't get as much blood supply, so it takes more time to heal.
Countdown to Changing Earrings
Don't switch out your earrings until your piercing is fully healed. Common signs of a healed piercing are no pain or redness, no crustiness or flaking skin, and easy jewelry rotation. Before switching to new earrings, opt for hypoallergenic materials such as 14K gold, medical-grade steel, and titanium – avoid alloys like nickel which are often found in costume jewelry.
Cleaning is Key
Clean your piercing twice daily with antibacterial soap and water on a clean washcloth. While some may suggest antibiotic creams or tea tree oil, Dr. Thompson doesn't recommend it, as it can cause allergic reactions and doesn't speed up healing.
Top Tips for Aftercare
- Clean both sides of the piercing twice daily
- Wash hands well before touching the piercing
- Secure the earring backing but avoid tightness
- Avoid touching the piercing when not cleaning
- Avoid swimming until it's healed
- Stop deliberately spinning the piercing during the healing process, as it can complicate healing
What to Watch Out For
It's normal to experience minor discomfort, redness, and swelling for a couple of days after getting your ears pierced – that's a sign of healing. However, if symptoms persist or worsen, it might be an infection.
Signs of a piercing infection include redness, inflammation, pus or bloody discharge, crusty or flaky skin, pain, itchiness, or unusual sensitivity. If you suspect an infection, consult a healthcare professional for treatment.
- Maintaining good hygiene is essential not only for the healing of ear piercings but also for overall health and lifestyle, especially in a culture that values cleanliness.
- Home-and-garden practices, such as cleaning with antibacterial soap and water, are essential for the aftercare of ear piercings, reflecting the importance of cleanliness in fashion-and-beauty routines.
