Important: This article is for informational purposes only. Please read our full disclaimer for more details.
Looking after your fresh earlobe piercing is kinda like babysitting a newborn pet rock – crucial for its health and a smoother healing journey. Let’s break down what you need to do to keep everything right as rain and spot those pesky infections early on.
Importance of Proper Aftercare
So, you finally got that piercing you’ve been hyped about – high five! But here’s the deal: you gotta take care of it like it’s your favourite pair of sneakers. If you don’t, things could get messy with infections or that nifty new hole saying goodbye too soon. The American Academy of Dermatology (1) recommends leaving the bling in for at least six weeks, even when you’re catching some Zs. Why? It prevents the dreaded closing up shop.
Check out these must-do aftercare nuggets:
- Clean the Piercing: Twice a day, show your new ear buddy some love with saline solution or a mild, scentless soap. Steer clear of alcohol and hydrogen peroxide; they’re not friends with a fast recovery.
- Hands Off: Just like your grandma’s cookies cooling on the counter, keep your hands away unless they’re squeaky clean. Don’t fiddle, twist, or spin that jewelry – it could invite bacteria.
- Stay Dry: Until your piercing is fully healed, treat it like it’s allergic to pool parties and ocean swims. Keep it dry, and it’ll thank you.
- Sleeping Tips: Give your piercing some breathing room at night. Sleep on the other side. Need more tips? Check our guide on how do I sleep with lobe piercings on both sides.
Signs of Infection to Watch For
Sometimes, even with all the TLC, infections sneak in like uninvited guests. Catch ’em early, and you can save yourself a lot of hassle (2).
Watch out for these red flags:
| Symptom | Description | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| Redness | Ongoing redness that won’t quit | Clean it up with saline; If it stays stubborn, call a pro |
| Swelling | Puffy like a marshmallow beyond a few days | Pop some OTC anti-swelling meds; might need a doc’s advice |
| Pain | It’s not getting better, just worse | Jewelry stays put; see your healthcare buddy |
| Discharge | Oozing yellow or green goop | Saline clean-up, pronto; hit the clinic if it doesn’t stop |
| Fever | Feeling hot and bothered | Get to a doctor – it’s no time to mess around |
Dive into more deets with our piece on what should I know before getting my first ear piercing.
If your piercing’s still throwing a tantrum after a few days, give your doc a shout. Ignoring it might land you in trouble like a snowball rolling downhill, leading to issues like tissue damage or losing the piercing altogether (3). Better safe than sorry! Hopefully, these steps will keep your piercings happy and trouble-free.
Choosing Starter Earrings
Picking out the perfect starter earrings can make or break your experience with new piercings. Our focus here? Good materials and a top-notch piercer to kick off your piercing journey smoothly.
The Best Materials for New Piercings
Opting for the right earring material helps dodge those annoying irritations and keeps the healing process on track. Let’s chat about the best picks:
- Solid Gold: Gentle on the skin, doesn’t mess with allergies.
- Implant Grade Titanium: Good for your body and easier on the wallet than gold.
- Biocompatible Stainless Steel: Wallet-friendly and safe for newbies.
Steer clear of plated or questionable metals until your piercings are fully healed—they’re more trouble than they’re worth (check out Maison Miru (4) for more info).
| Material | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Solid Gold | Non-irritating, fancy | Pricey |
| Implant Grade Titanium | Body-friendly, thrifty | Fewer fancy designs |
| Biocompatible Stainless Steel | Easy on the pocket, non-irritating | Lacks that gold bling |
Going hypoallergenic is the name of the game. You want to prevent those irksome infections, so check out our guide on how to ditch that piercing bump for more juicy deets.
Selecting a Professional Piercer
A good piercer is your new best friend on this piercing adventure. Here’s what you need to look out for:
- Spotless, Welcoming Studio: Keeps germs at bay, keeps you safe.
- Impressive Gallery of Work: Shows they know their stuff and can get those piercings looking fab.
- Clean, Sterile Needles Only: Guns are a no-go; needles help make precision perfect (learn more from Maison Miru)(4).
Locking down a competent piercer means you’ll breeze through the piercing process without a hitch. They’ll guide you with good material choices to make sure all’s well that ends well.
Check out more piercing tidbits with our articles on ear piercing basics or sleep tips for double lobe piercings.
Bagging the best earrings and a skilled piercer sets your piercing journey off on the right foot. Want more insider scoop on caring for your new piercings? Dive into our other reads like piercing healing timelines or why people go for body piercings.
