How to Care for a Lobe Piercing

Ear piercings are very popular in the world of fashion and are acceptable for both women and men. However, piercings aren't seen as fashionable if paired with a nasty infection. There are many ways to take care of your ear piercings so that infections do not occur.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Antibacterial soap
• Clean disposable cloths
• Clean cup
• Sea salts

1. Clean the piercing twice a day with antibacterial soap. The easiest way is to clean the piercing while showering. The hot water will soften any crusty scabbing that may have formed around the jewelry and make it easier to wipe off. Put a lather of soap on the piercing and the jewelry itself,and spin the jewelry so that the soap will get inside the hole for a more thorough cleaning. Rinse the area with water, making sure that all the soap is removed.
2. Use sea salt soaks to clean the piercing. Fill a clean cup with 8 ounces of water and 1/4 teaspoon of the sea salts and stir until the salts have dissolved. Dip the piercing in the cup or moisten a clean cloth with the solution and place it on the piercing. Soak the piercing for 10 minutes the first time and then 5 to 10 minutes any other time. Pat the piercing dry with a clean, disposable cloth.
3. Leave the piercing alone between cleanings. Do not play with the piercing throughout the day. This could lead to additional irritation.
4. Continue to clean the piercing two times a day for 10 days, and then decrease the amount of cleanings to once a day. Overcleaning could dry out the ear lobe, leaving the skin chapped. This can expose the piercing to bacteria and dirt.

Tips & Warnings

• Never touch the piercing without washing your hands. Bacteria can easily get inside the piercing, causing an infection.
• Do not take the jewelry out of the new piercing for 6 weeks. If left out for too long, the hole may close up in as little as a few hours.
• Treat the piercing as a wound. Swelling and tenderness is expected, along with bleeding and itching.