How to Care for Pierced Ears

Newly pierced ears require proper care to ensure that you have those holes for a long time to wear pretty and elegant earrings. If you don't take proper care of new piercings, you run the risk of an infection at the piercing site. You also will run the risk of having the holes close and begin to heal back together, which will mean that you have to have them pierced again.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Rotate the rings at least three times a day for the first 6 weeks. This rotation helps to reduce the possibility of the body healing and assimilating the post of the earring into the healing process. The goal is for the body to heal inside the piercing hole and not around the post.

2. Wash the piercing site twice daily for the first 6 weeks. Use a cotton Q-tip to blot around the front and back of the earring. Soak the Q-tip with a hydrogen peroxide solution. The purpose of washing with hydrogen peroxide is to make sure that if any bacteria get in the holes you will kill it and wash it out.

3. Keep your earrings in your ears for the first 6 months. You can change the earrings at 6 weeks for a different set, but you can't leave them out of the holes for 6 months. If left out of the holes, there is a chance that the holes will start to grow back together.

4. Protect the ears from receiving any sharp blows to the head, ears or lobes. These can all cause damage to the new earrings and to your piercings. Over the next few days, it is normal for a few drops of fluid to slip out of the piercing in the earlobe. If you receive a sharp blow to the ears or someone pulls your earlobes so that the skin tears or more bleeding occurs, see your doctor.

Tips & Warnings

• Be aware that some people have an allergy to some of the metals used in jewelry. Most seem to be allergic to nickel used in the stainless steel; however, some are allergic to everything except titanium, gold or niobium. An allergic reaction will seem like an infection and if not taken care of will fester and develop a sore.