Tips and Tricks - Getting your ears pierced can be an exciting experience, but taking care of them afterward is crucial to prevent infections and promote healing. In this article, we will discuss the proper way to clean your newly pierced ears.
Why is cleaning your ears after piercing important?
After getting your ears pierced, your body treats the piercings as open wounds, which makes them more susceptible to infections. Cleaning your ears regularly will help prevent bacteria and dirt from entering the piercing, reducing the risk of infection and promoting proper healing.
What you'll need
Before cleaning your newly pierced ears, make sure you have the following items:
- Clean, sterile saline solution or rubbing alcohol
- Cotton balls or pads
- Avoid using hydrogen peroxide, as it can be too harsh for your new piercing and can slow down the healing process.
How to clean your ears after piercing
Here are the steps to properly clean your newly pierced ears:
Step 1: Wash Your Hands
Before touching your new piercing, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. This helps prevent the transfer of bacteria to the piercing.
Step 2: Soak a cotton ball in saline solution or rubbing alcohol
Soak a cotton ball or pad in your sterile saline solution or rubbing alcohol. Make sure to use a new cotton ball for each ear to prevent the transfer of bacteria.
Step 3: Gently clean around the piercing
Using the soaked cotton ball, gently clean around the piercing and the earring itself. Make sure to remove any dirt or crust that has formed around the piercing. Be gentle and avoid moving the earring back and forth, as this can cause trauma to the piercing and slow down the healing process.
Step 4: Rinse with warm water
After cleaning, rinse your ear with warm water to remove any remaining solution or alcohol.
Step 5: Pat dry with a clean towel
Gently pat your ear dry with a clean towel or paper towel. Avoid rubbing the area, as this can cause irritation to the piercing.
Step 6: Clean twice a day
It's important to clean your newly pierced ears twice a day for the first few weeks after getting them pierced. This helps prevent infections and promotes proper healing.
Additional tips for cleaning your newly pierced ears
Here are some additional tips to keep in mind while cleaning your newly pierced ears:
1. Avoid touching your piercings
Avoid touching your piercings with dirty hands or other objects, as this can introduce bacteria and dirt into the piercing.
2. Avoid swimming
Avoid swimming or submerging your head in water for at least the first few weeks after getting your ears pierced. Water can introduce bacteria into the piercing and slow down the healing process.
3. Avoid using hair products near your piercing
Avoid using hair products, such as hairspray or shampoo, near your piercing, as these can introduce bacteria into the piercing and irritate the skin around it.
4. Avoid sleeping on your newly pierced ears
Avoid sleeping on your newly pierced ears, as this can cause trauma to the piercing and slow down the healing process. If you must sleep on your side, use a travel pillow or a pillow with a hole in the center to avoid putting pressure on your ear.
5. Don't remove the earrings too soon
It's important to keep the earrings in your newly pierced ears for at least six weeks after getting them pierced, even while sleeping. Removing them too soon can cause the piercing to close up, which may require you to get them pierced again.
Conclusion
Cleaning your newly pierced ears is crucial to prevent infections and promote proper healing. Remember to wash your hands before cleaning, use a clean cotton ball or pad, and avoid using harsh chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide. Clean your ears twice a day and follow the additional tips mentioned in this article to ensure proper healing.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I use hydrogen peroxide to clean my newly pierced ears?
No, hydrogen peroxide can be too harsh for your new piercing and can slow down the healing process. Stick to using a clean, sterile saline solution or rubbing alcohol.
2. Can I swim after getting my ears pierced?
Avoid swimming or submerging your head in water for at least the first few weeks after getting your ears pierced. Water can introduce bacteria into the piercing and slow down the healing process.
3. How long should I keep the earrings in my newly pierced ears?
It's important to keep the earrings in your newly pierced ears for at least six weeks after getting them pierced, even while sleeping. Removing them too soon can cause the piercing to close up, which may require you to get them pierced again.
4. Can I use earbuds or headphones while my ears are healing?
Avoid using earbuds or headphones while your ears are healing, as they can introduce bacteria into the piercing and cause irritation to the skin around it.
5. What should I do if my newly pierced ear gets infected?
If your newly pierced ear gets infected, seek medical attention from a healthcare professional as soon as possible. Signs of an infection include redness, swelling, discharge, and pain.