How to Care for Newly Pierced Ears

Steps

Handle the Piercings with Care

1. 1
   Don't remove the starter earrings until your piercings have healed. When you first get your ears pierced, the piercing technician inserts starter earrings. These earrings are made hypoallergenic materials and specific type of post designed to be safe to keep in your ears indefinitely. If you remove them prematurely, your piercings may close or heal improperly.
   
   
   
   • If your piercings are on your earlobes, the starter earrings can usually be removed after six weeks.
   • If your piercings are in your cartilage, the starter earrings can usually be removed after eight to twelve weeks.
2. 2
   Don't touch your ears often. Unnecessary handling of your piercings can lead to infection. Don't touch them unless you're cleaning them. If you do need to touch them, wash your hands with antibacterial soap first.
3. 3
   Be careful with items that could snag your earrings. Hats, scarves, and other items that may catch on your earrings should be worn with care. Avoid items like earmuffs or tight toboggans that put pressure on your ears.
   
   
   
   • If you wear a veil, choose a fabric that won't snag easily. Try to wear very loose veils, and do not wear the same veil multiple times without washing it.
   • Be careful when you're changing clothes, especially if you're putting on a fabric that is easily snagged.
4. 4
   Don't let other substances touch your ears. Avoid getting shampoo, conditioner, and other hair products on your ears, since the ingredients in these products could lead to an infection.
   
   
   
   • You can place a plastic sandwich bag over either ear to help protect your piercings while you're in the shower.
   • Don't swim in a pool with newly pierced ears unless you've covered them with waterproof materials. Try to keep your head above the water as much as possible.
5. 5
   Try to sleep on your back. Sleeping with your ear against the pillow can irritate your piercings, in addition to being painful.
   
   
   
   • If you find it difficult to sleep on your back, make sure your pillowcase is clean each night. Bacteria from your pillowcase can get transmitted to your piercing, which could cause an infection.
   • You can also use the t-shirt trick to avoid infection: cover your pillow with a clean t-shirt and replace it nightly.

Clean the Piercings

1. 1
   Wash your hands with antibacterial soap. This is an important step, since you can easily transfer bacteria to your ears with your fingers. Make sure they're clean every time you touch your ears.
2. 2
   Dip a cotton ball or swab in cleaning solution. Use the salt-based cleanser provided by the technician who pierced your ear or another one meant specifically for treating piercings.
   
   
   
   • Don't use rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or antibacterial ointment. These contain ingredients that inhibit your skin cells from regenerating and healing.
   • Use a sea salt solution as an alternative to a store-bought cleaning solution. Use 1/8 teaspoon of kosher salt per 8 oz water. Do not use table salt, which contains iodide.
3. 3
   Swab the piercing with the saturated cotton ball or swab. Clean both the front and the back of the piercing, making sure the entire area gets covered with the cleaning solution.
4. 4
   Rotate the earring. Gently rotate the earring two or three times to make sure the antiseptic gets inside the piercing. This also prevents the piercing from healing to tightly around the hole.
5. 5
   Use a new cotton ball or swab for the other side. Throw away the applicator you used to clean the first piercing, and use a new one for your other ear.
6. 6
   Clean them three times a day. Don't skip a cleaning, especially in the first few weeks after you get your ears pierced. It's important to disinfect your ears often, since dirt and debris from the air, in addition to the natural substances produced by your ear, can irritate the piercing and lead to an infection.
   • Clean your ears after taking a bath or shower, in case shampoo or conditioner got into the piercing.
   • Clean your ears after swimming or sweating during an outdoor activity.

Watch for Signs of Infection

1. 1
   Check for redness and swelling. These symptoms are normal for the first couple of days after getting a piercing, but if they don't subside soon after that, you may have an infection or an allergy.[1]
   • If the earring feels tight, you may just need to pull the earring clutch away from your lobe a bit. If the pain doesn't go away after pulling it back, see a doctor.
   • Problems caused by allergic reactions can usually be easily resolved by removing the piercing. However, this will cause the hole to heal back up.
   • If you want to save the piercing, see a doctor, who will be able to treat your ear and advise you on whether it's necessary to take out the piercing.
2. 2
   See a doctor if you experience serious symptoms. Pus discharge, excessive itching, redness, and extreme pain are signs of an infection. Either remove the earring immediately yourself, or if it is too painful, have a doctor remove it. Bathe the infected ear with antibiotic ointment and bandage it until it has healed.
3. 3
   Seek immediate care if your earlobe tears. If your earring snags on something and causes your earlobe to tear, you may need stitches. Go to an immediate care center or the emergency room to have your ear treated right away.

Continued Care

1. 1
   Remove your starter earrings. Once your ears have healed, which will take six to nine weeks, you can swap out your starter earrings. Wear post-style earrings for the first six months to ensure that your piercing hole won't stretch out from heavy earrings. After six months, you can wear hoops and dangling earrings.
   
   
   
   • When you change earrings, take note of your ear's reactions to different metals. Some people are sensitive to metals other than gold, sterling silver.
   • Platinum is another good hypoallergenic choice for those with skin sensitivities or allergies.