How to Care for Your Newly Pierced Ears

Ear piercings aftercare is key to optimal healing. Keep reading this guide to learn how to care for newly pierced ears and what to expect during healing.

How long will my piercing take to heal?

While healing time may vary from person to person, it depends on factors such as your overall health, sleep and stress levels, and your aftercare regimen.

Usually, earlobe piercings take about 4-6 months. While upper ear or inner ear piercings take more than 6-12 months to heal completely.

Once any discharge, swelling, redness, flaking, or pain stops, you’ll know your ears will heal. In general, your piercings should continue to feel better over time and with a consistent aftercare routine!

When does ear piercings aftercare start?

Ear piercings aftercare begins 24 hours after your ear is pierced. 2-3 times a day for 6 weeks. It’s a good idea to get into aftercare as early as possible, so caring for your ear piercing will be integrated into your daily routine. For example, when brushing your teeth in the morning and evening, clean your ear piercings.

How to clean ear piercings at home?

1. Wash your hands thoroughly before cleaning your new piercing. In addition to cleaning the piercing, avoid touching it as much as possible – do not rotate or twist.
2. Spray the front and back of the perforated with sterile saline, 2 to 3 times a day. For some piercings, a clean non-woven fabric using a saturated saline solution may be easier to apply. If your piercer recommends soap, lather gently around the piercing and rinse as needed. Avoid harsh soaps or soaps with dyes or scents.
3. Rinse the perforated area (front and back) and surrounding area with water as needed to remove cleaning fluid residue. There is no need to move or rotate the jewelry during cleaning or rinsing.
4. Rinse the perforated area (front and back) and surrounding area with water as needed to remove cleaning fluid residue. There is no need to move or rotate the jewelry during cleaning or rinsing.
5. Gently pat the dry area with clean, disposable paper products. Cloth towels can harbor bacteria and clog jewelry, causing harm!

Ear piercings aftercare tips

• We do not recommend using hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol or antibiotic ointments on the skin.
• Only when the piercing area is wet, you can turn the earrings during aftercare. When the piercing site dries, it may feel hard or sticky – turning the earrings at other times can cause irritation and infection.
• Always leave a space between the back of the ear and the back of the earring. Do not push the earrings back behind the earlobe, as the piercing requires enough breathing and healing space.
• Do not use cotton swabs/pads as the fibers may get stuck under your jewelry and irritate your piercings. We recommend spraying non-woven gauze or salt water directly on the front and back of the perforation!
• Exercise during healing is okay. We recommend avoiding sports that can cause your piercing to hit.
• Make sure to wash and change bedding regularly. Wear clean, comfortable, breathable clothing that protects your piercings while sleeping.
• Try to avoid sleeping directly on fresh piercings. (Pro tip: Use a travel pillow and place your ears in the middle hole of the pillow while lying on your side.) ）
• Keep dry. Avoid dipping new piercings into water like pools, bathtubs, and oceans! It’s okay to take a bath, just remember to keep the piercings clean and rinse any remaining soap thoroughly.
• After the initial healing time frame, return to the piercing studio and have our piercing therapist check your healing status and reduce the stud length when ready, which is important for the health of your piercing

Signs of an infection after ear piercing

Earlobe piercing may be tender or painful for up to 3-5 days after the procedure is completed. This is normal. Please note that sleeping directly on the ear or side may prolong the tenderness of the earlobe due to pressure at the piercing site.

Exceed this time frame, be alert to potential problems, and make sure to look for signs of infection. This includes redness, swelling, fever, pain, itching, pus, or fever. Also, look for signs of poor or slow healing, which may indicate metal sensitivity or allergies. The infection may be caused by a bacterial or allergic reaction.

It is important to consider that not every metal fits your body well. If you are undergoing proper post-piercing care and the piercing site still does not heal, it is likely that it is caused by metal sensitivity or allergies. You may have to switch to a different type of metal.

What’s normal during the healing process of a piercing?

During the first few weeks, some bleeding, localized, tenderness, and/or bruising is expected. Throughout the healing process, you may also notice some discoloration, itching, and the secretion of a white-yellow liquid (not pus) that forms some shell on the jewelry – which is also normal! As the ear piercings heals, the tissue may tighten around the jewelry. Once your piercing heals, the jewelry may not move freely in the piercing. Don’t force it!

If you don’t stick to a regular piercing cleaning regimen, the discharge may emit a faint odor. This is normal, so we recommend cleaning as part of your daily hygiene.

Keep in mind that the piercings appears to have healed until the healing process is complete. This is because human tissues heal from the outside, and while it feels good, it is still fragile on the inside. The key is to be patient and stay clean throughout the initial healing period.

If you remove the piercing jewelry, your piercing may shrink or close within minutes! This varies from person to person, and we recommend keeping your pierced jewelry inside until it heals completely.

FAQs

How long to wait to change earrings after piercing?

The answer to this question is different for everyone. It all depends on how quickly you heal and what type of piercing you have.

If you’re not sure if you’re ready to change your jewelry, ask your piercing artist a month or two or so after the piercing. They can check the area and give you a clear answer.

How often should I clean my ear piercing?

Doctors recommend cleaning your piercing 2 to 3 times a day while it is in the healing phase. A piercing in your earlobe can take about two months to heal, while a cartilage piercing can take up to a year to heal.

This means that you will need to clean your earlobe piercings 2 to 3 times a day for at least two months. For up to a year, you need to clean the cartilage piercing 2 to 3 times a day.

Ear piercings aftercare is simple and won’t take up much time once you’ve developed good habits. It may be tempting to skip cleaning once in a while, but remember that proper care promotes healing and reduces the chances of infection.

After leaning about ear piercings aftercare, feel free to choose your earrings!