After-Care Advice for Newly Pierced Ears

Make sure you’re doing what you can to keep your ears healthy and safe.

Shopping for new jewelry is always a fun activity. Browsing an earring display stand one after another, and you might even find yourself wishing to get a new piercing after too many viewings. Don’t be hasty though about wanting a new piercing.

While body piercings have become commonplace these days, many may still be in the dark about the right way to properly take care of fresh piercings. This could be dangerous as infection could happen if the pieced areas aren’t cleaned the right way.

So before you book a piercing appointment, please read through our article to learn after-care techniques for newly-pierced ears. We gathered helpful and sound tips from experts such as the American Academy of Dermatology Association, as well as actual body piercers themselves. This piece also goes out to jewelry shops that offer piercing services. Make sure to share these tips with anyone who will be availing of your services.

Stay healthy and safe

While we’re all still living through a pandemic and there has been no shortage of health alerts to keep us all aware of medical and safety protocols to keep us virus-free, we’re here to say the same thing to you. Make sure not to go out if you haven’t had the vaccine yet, and if you had, remember to always your face mask. Licensed piercers would definitely have safety reminders in place which you must follow after your procedure. One of which is to keep yourself healthy by eating well and drinking plenty of water. Doing so will make the healing process faster. It is also important to keep your new piercings away from possible bumps, scratches, and irritations. If you need to make adjustments to your sleeping position to avoid the area from getting squished then that will be better. You can also start taking vitamin C and zinc supplements to help speed up your skin’s healing process.

Stick to the basics (water and soap) for cleaning

No need for alcohol which can often be drying and cause cracks to your skin which can, unfortunately, let in bacteria to your skin and piercing. Basic cleaning essentials like soap and water are all it takes. Oil-based soaps are most especially recommended as they can soften the pierced area and hasten the healing process. You may also use a saline solution for cleaning.

Make it a part of your regular cleaning practice

Depending on the area pierced, it will take a while for them to get healed, and so, you need to remember to keep up with their cleaning until they are fully well. To make sure you don’t forget it, incorporate cleaning your piercing into your daily hygiene practices (washing your face, bathing, brushing your teeth).

You can soften the area with petroleum jelly

Again, it’s best to go with the most basic household items, like petroleum jelly, to help you along with the healing process. Avoid using items such as lotions and moisturizers for this process. Likewise, when taking a bath be careful not to have toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner, or hair gel drip on the pierced area. That’s because a lot of these products contain perfumes which can further irritate and slow down healing. Ice also helps for depuffing swelled areas.

Do not remove the earrings for six weeks or more

You wouldn’t want your piercing to go to waste by closing up early, right? By keeping them on for two months or more, you are ensuring that the piercing will not close up, so make sure your jewelry stays put for the meantime. Depending on the part of the ear pierced, healing will definitely vary so please don’t forget to ask your piercer about your specific piercing concern.

Avoid swimming in bodies of water in the meantime

Is it safe to go back in the water soon after a piercing session? Wait until everything has healed first. Bodies of water are a great source of contaminants that can harm your new piercing. If this cannot be avoided, cover up your piercing with a waterproof bandage. Still, avoidance would still be your best course of action.

Observe your piercing’s healing process and take note of abnormalities if there are any

While some redness and swelling are normal,l anything unusual such as pus, rashes, and fever within 24 hours of the procedure is a cause for concern. If you observed these things, get to a doctor right away for diagnosis and treatment.

Let Nile Corp help you make the right decisions, not just when buying jewelry display tools, but also with matters such as jewelry marketing and for our buyers who are adding new jewelry and getting new piercings. Watch this space for regular updates and helpful information!