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Before getting your piercing, there are lots of things to consider; namely, why you want a piercing in the first place. Although reversing an unwanted piercing is usually much easier than, say, an unwanted tattoo, it still isn't without complications. You can be left with scars or nerve damage.
Realize that different types of piercings have different healing times, as this could affect your choice as well. Along similar lines, you need to decide what kind of jewelry you want. Piercing jewelry is often different than the regular jewelry you see in the store. It is often stainless steel to help avoid infection and allergic reactions. Many reputable piercers will recommend a particular piece of jewelry that will be best for your new piercing. In terms of safety, the most important decision you make before getting you piercing is who will do the piercing.
Do not, under any circumstances, allow an untrained person to perform your piercing. The "piercing pagoda" type places in the mall are not the best places; often the equipment is dirty, the staff is untrained and the "gun" method of piercing ("shooting" a nearly blunt earring through your ear) is unsafe. Instead, find a reputable piercer in your area either by asking people you know who have gotten piercings or calling businesses listed in your local phone book and speaking to the staff. Visit the studio before making an appointment. Ask what their process is for cleaning and sterilizing their equipment; if anything is suspect, that piercer is not for you. -
There are things that you can do to mitigate pain and prevent infection when you go to get your piercing and for the following weeks that it is healing. Make sure that all instruments and jewelry are sterilized; reputable piercers will sterilize the items in front of you (check for indicators on packaging that change color when it is sterilized). This is the number one way to prevent infection, disease, rejection and any other problems you may face with newly pierced ears.
If you are worried about pain, many people will numb their ears by holding ice against them for several minutes or by using a local anesthetic containing benzocaine (such as Anbesol) on the area you are going to get pierced. Ask your piercer ahead of time about using over-the-counter pain medication (ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen); it is often discouraged within the first 24 hours because it makes bleeding more profuse. Also, do not drink alcohol for 24 hours prior to piercing. Be sure to get aftercare directions for your specific piercing in writing from the piercer so you won't forget them later. - If you are unhappy with the look or placement of your piercing, go back to you piercer to see what he can do for you. Never remove your jewelry until the piercing has completely healed; bacteria on the outside of your jewelry will get inside the open wound and create a nasty infection. If you have redness or swelling around the pierced area, take an anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen and apply a saline solution. If you are experiencing tightness around the piercing site, it may be because you are using cleaning products that contain alcohol. Alcohol-based cleaning products will dry out the skin and drain the area of natural moisture. Avoid using alcohol-based cleansers and products and you should see this condition improve. A slight white-yellow crust (not pus) may develop around the openings of the piercing; this is normal and should be removed while cleaning.
- Call a doctor if you develop a fever, the earring is torn or ripped completely out of your ear, any part of the earring gets stuck inside your ear (if your ear swells over the front or back of the earring), you ear is bleeding and does not stop after 10 minutes of direct pressure or you start to feel weak or ill. Call a doctor at your earliest convenience if the swelling or redness has migrated beyond the immediate piercing site, you are in a lot of discomfort, if your piercing has torn slightly, you have swollen glands or lymph nodes (this could be the beginning of a more serious infection) or you have any health concerns that may need the advice of a medical professional. For smaller concerns, contact your piercer; in most instances, your piercer is more informed about the normal occurrences related to piercings than a medical professional.
- Earrings can reject when your body tries to recover from the trauma of piercing by slowly removing the foreign body (your jewelry). Going to a piercer who uses dirty needles can open you up to life-threatening disease including, but not limited to, HIV. You may suffer from loss of sleep because of pain caused by sleeping on your ears. It takes, on average, four to eight weeks for an ear piercing to heal. Certain types of piercings and even the number of piercings you have can potentially affect your ability to get a job. All of these things should play into your decision to get an ear piercing.
