With all of the new piercing trends at the moment, and with piercings growing in popularity we have seen everyone contemplating adding a little extra something to their ear game. They're a brilliant way of expressing your personality and individual style. An awesome extension of your already beautiful outfit. But the responsibility of ensuring proper healing falls to the pierced and the pierced alone, especially in the first few months where it is optimum to keep it looking fresh and heeling well.
Also read: How To Care For Your Jewellery
How long will my piercing take to heel?
Lobe piercings typically take about 1 to 2 months to fully heal but, cartilage piercings take much longer, plus it may take up to 6 months or even 1 year before a helix or tragus piercing is fully healed. So, getting a new piercing is something which should be really thought about before.
How to tell if a piercing is infected:
- Aching or throbbing pain in and around the piercing
- Swelling
- Redness
- Itching
- Burning
- Abnormal yellowish or whitish discharge
How to clean a new piercing:
Different bodies and different piercings all require different types of aftercare, so you should always use the care given by your piercer. However, as general rule to clean a new piercing; for a lobe and all fleshy piercings, clean it twice a day. After care should last for about 3 weeks. For cartilage piercings, follow the same after care however, for around 3-5 months. Keep caring for it even after it appears to be healed. Septum piercings on the other hand require the least amount of aftercare thanks to the fact that 80% of the jewellery is inside a mucous membrane (yum). Use a saline solution with a fine mist, perfect to get right around the piercing. (Psst. this is also great for most piercings to get inside the ear or anywhere else really!)
What can I use to clean my piercing?
You should try to limit how often you touch your piercing and you should clean it at twice a day (but don't over clean - as this can cause can irritate the piercing) using water and saline solution. Also, use a non fibrous material, otherwise cotton fibres can get stuck in the piercing and can actually make it worse. If your new piercing begins to get infected at all, or even just a little uncomfortable, then a rock salt soak can really help. Mix the salt and water and bathe your new piercing in it.Avoid cheap earrings
Once your piercing is heeled and it's time to change it, don't loose all of your hard work by opting for a cheap piece of jewellery. During the first year after a piercing, your new piercing may become more sensitive, so opting for a solid gold can avoid infection or an allergic reaction.Remember, every piercing and each different person will need different after care. Your piercing is unique to you and you should always follow the after care provided by your piercer.
But, keeping your piercing clean, touching it as little as possible and wearing high quality jewellery will all help.
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