Last Updated on December 30, 2023
When it comes to replacing the jewelry in a new piercing, be patient. Changing the jewelry too soon might cause infection, irritation, and even closure of the piercing.
If you paid to have your piercing done, you probably don’t want it to close up, and you’d be amazed at how rapidly new piercings may close up.
Read on to get answers to the following questions:
- When can I change my ear piercing?
- What happens if I change my ear piercing before it’s healed?
- How do I change my ear piercing?
- How do I care for my newly pierced ears?
- Should I clean the crust off my ear piercing?
When Can I Change My Ear Piercing?
It is recommended that you wait 6–8 weeks before changing your ear piercing to ensure it is healed. Healing time varies from person to person. Make sure the piercing is adequately healed before attempting to alter the jewelry to avoid infection.
Here are a few signs to know that your ear piercing is healed:
- There is no lymph flowing from the piercing.
- The skin around the piercing is the same color as the surrounding skin (new piercings are usually reddish for a while until healed).
- There is no soreness, even while changing jewelry. Don’t replace the jewelry again until 8 weeks if it’s sore after replacing it at the 6 week point.
- It is very safe to lie on.
- It’s naturally a little stretched.
What Happens if I Change My Ear Piercing Before It’s Healed?
A healing piercing is an open sore that has to be handled as such. For instance, in the case of the piercing, a sterile metal bar or ring keeps it open.
Replacing the jewelry on a healed piercing frequently reopens the wound and damages the healing that is taking place. Leave your piercings to heal on their own.
Ear piercings will appear healed long before they are truly healed. This is due to the fact that wounds heal from the outside inward to shield the healing wound from microorganisms. Some healing piercings have a thin skin layer over the exterior layer that appears healed. This can be easily damaged while changing jewelry. An open wound is vulnerable to microorganisms from unclean jewelry, hands, or any other equipment used. This can result in infection.
How Do I Change My Ear Piercing?
Carefully wash your hands and ears. It is recommended that you change your earrings immediately after showering.
Hold the earring on the lobe’s front side. Hold the earring back on the rear side of the lobe with your other hand. Then wiggle the earring back and forth firmly until it comes off. Remove the post earring with care and replace it with a fresh, clean earring.
How Do I Care For My Newly Pierced Ears?
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to care for your new ear piercing while it heals.
Carefully clean your hands.
It is critical to take every precaution to keep dirt and bacteria out of your new piercing. Therefore, avoid touching your newly pierced ears without first cleaning your hands.
Cleanse the ear piercing.
Cleanse your ear’s new piercing thoroughly in the morning and evening, front and back. Even if you’re washing, keep your earrings in your ear. Use a liquid soap to clean the piercing, and do it while bathing or washing your hair. Clean the area with a clean tissue after rinsing well with running water.
Protect your ears.
It is a good idea to cover and protect your ears when applying hairspray, perfume, cosmetics, hair color, and other similar products.
Make sure they don’t get snagged.
When pulling items over your head, be especially careful not to snag or catch your earrings in the fabric.
Swimming
Avoid submerging your head in water when swimming in a pool, lake, or the sea.
Should I Clean The Crust Off My Ear Piercing?
When you have a piercing, especially an ear piercing, the needle makes a puncture wound through your skin. When a puncture wound occurs, fluids such as blood and a thick yellow liquid will be discharged. The fluids will seep out and collect around the earring because air cannot get inside the puncture wound to dry up the fluids. When air comes into contact with the fluids, it dries them out, forming a crust.
Because of the sort of puncture wound it is, it’s critical to remove the crust that forms around your earring or on the exterior of your piercing. This is because oxygen must reach the pierced tissue in order for your piercing to heal correctly.
You can’t, however, pick at the crust and eliminate it by hand. To avoid infection, you must perform it in a sanitary manner. Only if you pick at the scab with dirty hands will you acquire an infection, as this is how bacteria and germs enter the open wound.
