Be it a new haircut, a unique outfit, or dyeing your hair, changing your looks can be extremely fun and something many people enjoy from time to time. There are many ways you can change your style – you can either opt for something big and permanent like getting a tattoo or go for a minimalistic procedure like getting a piercing.
Piercing is a prevalent practice worldwide, and people of all ages can get their body parts pierced, either for aesthetic appeal or cultural value. Depending on the body part and the choice of jewelry, piercings can completely change your look, extrude a whole new vibe and represent a new element of your personality.
Fun and excitement aside, piercings can be a big responsibility, and it’s important to be compliant with a few procedures so that you can rock your look without worrying about an infection. With that said, here’s a list of things you should keep in mind when getting a piercing.
The Dos
1. Consider the Metal
When getting a new piercing, it is vital to learn about the kind of metal you’re putting in your body. This is because some metals, nickel being a popular example, irritate the skin causing rashes in people allergic to it.
Nickel can also cause discoloration – your skin color changes into hues of black or green – and can make your piercing hurt, prolonging the healing time. Hence it is advised that you practice safety, know your own body and allergies and bring your own jewelry with you. Alternatively, talk to the piercer to check if they’re using either surgical stainless steel, titanium, niobium, or tygon for your piercing.
If you’re looking to find some cute and high-end earrings, you can visit the Dreamland Jewelry online store to check out their variety. Not only can you find nickel-free options, but the store also features a high-quality and versatile set of earrings and studs that you can pick to your liking. You can pick from plain earrings or earrings with stones. You can also go all out and purchase marcasite earrings to add a royal touch to your persona.
2. Wait Before Changing Your Piercing
While it can be tempting to try on new jewelry, it is highly unsafe to change your studs before the perforated area has fully healed. Depending on where you got the piercing, the duration of healing can vary. As per experts, the prime waiting time for ear piercings is six to eight weeks. This is because the ear lobe comprises softer tissue, making it easier for it to heal from trauma. However, this is not the case with other parts of the ear. If you’ve gotten a helix or cartilage piercing, it’s recommended to wait for at least six months to a year. Moving on to belly button piercings, experts recommend waiting for 9 to 12 months.
3. Maintain Proper Care
Another way of preventing infection and promoting the healing of your piercing is by taking care of it. When changing or removing your piercing, wash your hands with an antibacterial soap. Clean the piercing using a saline solution or an antibacterial solution. Wipe off your ears as well in case there’s any drainage or pus from the piercing. Dry both the earring and piercing with a paper towel before putting them back on. Carry out the same steps when you’re about to put in a new set of earrings. Remember to consult your doctor if your ear has been sore or you’re developing a reaction to the piercing.
The Don’ts
1. Touch or Pick on Your Earrings
Touching your ears or constantly fidgeting with the earrings can result in bacteria transmission, which can put you at risk of a serious infection. While it can be tempting to touch or play with your new jewelry, it is strongly condemned as it not only slows down the healing process but can also cause other skin issues such as bumps and soreness. In severe cases, you may even have to say bye-bye to your piercing as it may have to be removed!
2. Use Alcohol or Hydrogen Peroxide to Clean Earrings
A common practice people tend to do is to use household items like rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to clean their earrings. While we understand the reasoning behind this, washing your earrings with these two is highly discouraged. This is because both alcohol and hydrogen peroxide acts as regressors and slow the healing process. They may kill bacteria, but they also dry out the skin and kill the healthy cells required to heal the ear.
Stick to regular soap water or saline solution when cleaning your piercing.
3. Overclean Your Piercing
Regularly cleaning your piercing is good and recommended by professionals, however, you don’t need to keep scrubbing your jewelry every minute of the day constantly. Constantly washing your ear and earrings may lead to irritation, promote slower healing and induce bacterial outgrowth as the region will always be wet.
Take it slow and, as per recommendation, clean your piercings twice a day in the first week and once or twice a week after.
Final Thoughts
Getting a piercing is a very popular method of enhancing your look and projecting a new aura. However, you must be careful and follow guidelines to ensure a healthy and safe experience. Using the guide above, you can also ensure that your piercings are kept healthy, beautiful, and infection-free for a lifetime.
