Learn More About Ear Piercing Aftercare

Ear piercing trends are having many piercings scattered around the ear – using small hoops or studs to keep the look classy and understated. For infection-free piercings make sure your ear piercing is carried out under hygienic conditions using pre-sterilised studs.

Ear piercing aftercare is a ritual – just like cleaning your teeth – and should be kick-started after 24 hours. Until this time simply take some painkillers and leave your piercings alone. See how to clean new ear piercing here…

Ear Piercing Aftercare Solution

The solution can simply be made with pre-boiled water and non-anodised salt such as rock salt. How to clean ear piercing with salt water is straightforward – fill a sterile bottle with the mix and spray onto a cotton wool ball or pad. The gently clean the pierced area.

Tea tree and Argon oil are topicals to apply to enhance the healing process. You need to use a skin-type argon oil – not a hair type. This is recognised by the slightly pungent smell. And this unrefined product has anti-bacterial properties.

Nigella known as black seed oil contains Thymol a blood purifier and will enhance overall well-being. A few drops taken orally will improve blood circulation. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, what is black and bitter is best for you. In relation to Islamic teachings, it is stated: there is a cure for things bar death in the black seed.

How to Clean Ear Piercing?

Your step-by-step guide:

Wash your hands thoroughly with anti-bacterial soap
Spray your cotton ball swab with the sea salt solution
Apply the swab around the piercing to prevent germs
Use a fresh swab to clean the back of the ear
Repeat for the other ear

Clean your new piercing at least twice a day to save you from getting a painful ear infection. And keep your earrings in until about six weeks following the piercing. And don’t leave them out for long, to begin with, as the holes can close up quite quickly. Don’t forget that some ear piercings take even longer to heal – a cartilage piercing can take up to four months.

Recommended Supplements

Vitamins A and E will help to keep the surrounding skin hydrated and moisturised. When the skin is pierced your body creates new collagen to promote healing – consider taking collagen tablets to help this process.
Vitamin C and zinc also help promote collagen production and are essential for stimulating wound healing. And collagen production can also be increased by taking Arginine.
Turmeric taken three times a day can act as an anti-inflammatory agent, reducing inflammation and helping wounds heal faster.

Identifying an Infected Piercing

Infected ear piercing has symptoms which may include:

Itching and burning
Redness and swelling
Pain and tenderness
A pus-like discharge

How to Treat the Infection?

Gently squeeze any surplus pus out of the area with hands that have been thoroughly sanitised. Using the same saltwater solution used to clean around the piercings with the difference being that the water is heated. Press the hot compress against the ear for a few minutes. And then repeat.

Don’t be tempted to use any antibiotic ointments or alcohol to clean as this can irritate the skin even more, and slows down the healing process. If you remove the piercing this can lead to the infection being trapped inside the ear as the hole closes up.

Any earlobe piercing can take up to eight weeks to heal, and routine care is very important during this time. It’s helpful to know when to see your piercer or GP and this needs to happen if:

The infection spreads away from the piercing site
You feel unwell and develop a fever
The earring won’t move or has become embedded into the skin
After treating the infection at home, it hasn’t improved

Keeping Ear Piercings Healthy

Once the piercings have healed you can take your earrings out each night. This stops any snagging whilst you’re asleep. And lets the air circulate around the ears keeping them healthy.

Clean your earrings as well as your ears. Doing this regularly will keep germs at bay and stop any infections. Specially formulated aftercare spray can be used undiluted.

Keep hair products away from newly pierced ears – and ensure any excess soap is removed. Don’t touch your piercing. And try to avoid knocking it when you brush your hair. Don’t swim or submerge your piercings as contaminated water poses a potential risk of infection.

And above all enjoy!