First-time ear piercing? No need to worry! In this article, we provide novice readers with detailed knowledge and thoughtful advice on every aspect of the ear piercing process, along with ear care tips to ensure that your piercings are healthy and beautiful. Let’s embark on a journey to shape your unique style together.
I. Preparations Before Piercing
During the operation, the local skin will be disinfected first. Then, the piercer will accurately mark the position of the ear hole to ensure it meets individual needs. Different piercing methods have different characteristics:
1.1 Hand-held needle piercing method: It uses a slender piercing needle, providing greater flexibility. It is suitable for complex positions and causes less damage to skin tissue. For details, you can watch the video below: First experience of piercing ears, hand-held ear piercing~ It’s done in a flash! | Ximen Xiuxiu’s Store 1.2 Machine gun piercing: It uses a small hand-held professional ear piercing gun, which is operated quickly, accurately and with little pain. However, this method may cause slight tissue damage and cannot complete the piercing of some special positions. 1.3 Hand-press machine gun piercing: This is an integrated professional model. Compared with the traditional gun model, it provides better piercing control and reduces the vibration that the gun model may bring. However, it has a higher operation difficulty and requires certain skills. 2. Rods used for ear piercing: For different ear hole positions, it is recommended to use rods of appropriate sizes to ensure accurate positioning. Here is a size diagram to provide a basis for your selection. 3. Pain and discomfort: During the ear piercing process, there may be different degrees of pain and discomfort. Here is the pain ranking discussed by netizens on dcard about ear piercing. III. Safety and risks to note when piercing ears Ear piercing may cause some adverse reactions, such as infection, allergy, inflammation, etc. Here are some common problems and solutions: 1. Infection risk: Ear piercing may introduce bacteria and cause infection. Signs of infection include redness, swelling, heat, pain, pus, blood, etc. If these signs are found, it should be treated in time or seek medical advice to avoid more serious consequences. Before piercing ears, choose a professional and clean store, confirm that disinfected tools and materials are used, and whether the store staff wear gloves and masks. After piercing ears, follow the store’s instructions for care and use appropriate disinfectants or ointments to clean the ear holes. 2. Allergic reactions: Some people may be allergic to certain materials, especially metals. Signs of allergy include itching, redness, swelling, pain. When found, immediately change the ear stick or remove the earrings and seek help from a doctor. It is recommended to wear hypoallergenic ear sticks during the healing period to reduce irritation and allergic reactions. After healing, you can try earrings of other materials, but pay attention to observing for any adverse reactions. 3. Excessive interference: Don’t rotate the earrings immediately after piercing ears! Avoid excessive cleaning, touching or rotating the newly pierced ear holes, which may prolong the healing time and even cause infection or inflammation. Excessive rotation of earrings will only cause wound tearing and bleeding, and will not promote healing. The ear stud and the flesh will not grow together. Just clean the ear holes regularly and keep them dry.The recovery period after getting your ears pierced is crucial as it affects the healing and aesthetics of the piercing. Here, we introduce the steps for care, methods to alleviate discomfort, how to avoid ear infection, and a timeline for earlobe healing.
1. New Piercing Care Immediately after getting your ears pierced, avoid water contact! When showering after the procedure, wear waterproof ear covers and ensure the piercing remains dry to prevent infections and inflammation. It is recommended to care for the piercing twice daily, using a cotton swab dipped in warm water or saline to clean around the piercing, removing any dirt and discharge. Sleep in a reclined position to avoid pressure on the wound. Loosen the earring backing to maintain blood circulation and ventilation in the piercing. 2. Alleviating Pain and Discomfort Pain is common immediately after getting your ears pierced, and other discomforts may also occur, typically subsiding within a few days. If the pain persists or worsens, it could indicate inflammation or infection, requiring timely medical attention. Here are ways to reduce discomfort: Warm compresses: Soak a cloth or gauze in warm water or saline and apply it to the ear for 10 minutes each time. This can increase blood circulation, reducing swelling and pain. Pay attention to your diet: After getting your ears pierced, focus on a light diet rich in vitamins and minerals, such as leafy greens, legumes, and fruits. Avoid foods that may cause allergic reactions and irritating foods like spicy and greasy items to promote faster wound healing. 3. How to Avoid Ear Inflammation Continuous care after getting your ears pierced is essential to maintain the aesthetics and health of the piercing. Here are some key points to avoid inflammation: Avoid contact with water, sweat, oil, cosmetics, or other substances that may cause infection in the new piercing. During activities like sports and bathing, avoid rubbing or soaking the ears. Changing the earring stud during the healing period may cause friction to the wound, so it is advised to wait until the healing is complete before considering new earrings. Regularly clean and maintain hygiene to prevent bacterial growth or accumulation of discharge. It is recommended to clean the piercing with saline or ointment after each bath or before changing earrings. After getting your ears pierced, learn to identify signs of inflammation, such as redness, heat, pain, pus, or blood. If these signs are present, address them promptly or seek medical care to prevent more severe consequences. 4. Ear Piercing Healing Timeline How long after getting your ears pierced can you change earrings? It is best to wait until the piercing is fully healed, as an earlobe will not close up overnight! Healing times vary among individuals and are influenced by the location, generally divided into initial, intermediate, and fully healed stages. Below is a ‘simplified timeline’ for ear piercing setting and the characteristics and precautions for each stage: Initial healing (2-4 weeks): Common signs include redness, heat, and pain, making the area prone to infection.It is necessary to follow the care steps and try not to touch the ear studs as much as possible. Medium-term healing (2 – 6 months): Although the appearance of the ear piercing may seem normal, it is actually not fully healed yet. Continuous care is required to keep it dry. Full healing (6 – 12 months): The ear piercing is completely healed. You can freely change or remove the earrings, but still need to maintain ear hygiene and cleanliness.