Ear piercing: how to do it and when to disinfect it to avoid infections
If you are thinking of decorating your ear with a few more earrings, you should know that the options are numerous: from traditional lobe earrings, to helix piercings (the famous helix), to tragus piercings.Each earring will give a touch of personality to your look and you can customize your ear with many types of jewelry, this is one of the trends of this season! Of course, some basic hygiene rules need to be considered so that your new accessory doesn't become a nuisance. Yes, ear piercings can easily get infected, especially if you've done it to cartilage, so it's good to follow some guidelines when cleaning it to avoid any kind of problem.
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Ear piercing: what is it?
Ear piercing is a very simple operation, which then allows you to wear any type of earring. The trends, however, go far beyond the simple earlobe piercing, so much so that there are those who prefer to get more pierced ears to being able to use different jewels.
Fashion is no longer just a female trend, fortunately the interest now also includes the male world. To confirm this, are the statistics: even the man, in 83% of cases, has a piercing on at least one of the two. In this guide, we see what types of piercings can be applied and what are the trends in earrings.
Ear piercing and fashion have always gone hand in hand. Every culture, in the past, has used this trend to express a social status, or to wear even heavy jewelry, therefore precious.
From European nobles to women of African tribes, the ear hole has been used as a sign of recognition and especially feminine elegance. Between the 1950s and 1970s, ear piercing became a symbol of rebirth and rebellion, so much so that it is banned in some schools.
Now, it is a doctor who takes care of the holes, in any part of the ear and therefore the environment in which one operates is sterile. Ear piercing is now only done by specialists, who can also work in the tattoo industry and therefore ensure that everything is done in total safety and hygiene.
Only in the 1980s, however, were pierced earrings no longer a problem and became beauty accessories like necklaces and bracelets, aimed at representing one's style.
All types of ear piercings
If you are thinking of giving yourself an ear piercing, the questions and doubts that assail you are different. Which one to choose? Does it hurt? Where is it more painful? What is the most suitable piercing for me? All rather trivial questions, but more than legitimate . There are basically 8 types of ear piercings, but some are only possible with a certain shape of the ear. Also, as with everything, pain is subjective. You are often asked to rate a "pain scale" that goes from 1 to 10, but the answer is purely theoretical because everyone has a different level of tolerance and, above all, it is a procedure so fast that you will hardly notice!
1. Lobe hole
This is the most common "piercing" and now fully cleared. Often received since childhood, sometimes even very small, it consists in piercing the lobe, the fleshy part of the ear, at the lower end of the auricle. Depending on the size and shape of the lobe of each, it is possible to drill more or less times in different places.
How is an earlobe piercing done? While it is still common today, the stud shooting gun is NOT used, which is prohibited by law for a number of reasonable reasons. Using the stud shooter may be cheaper, but you need to know that there are risks involved. Not only is it not possible to completely sterilize, but it is also a traumatic process for the ear and in fact makes the healing of the piercing difficult and more likely to become infected.
Despite its widespread use, the lobe hole is a piercing and as such must be done with the needle.
2. Conch piercing
The conch is a piercing that concerns the hollow of the auricle, therefore the central and internal part of the ear. The practice consists in piercing the cartilage using a needle whose size varies slightly according to the jewel you prefer to wear.
The healing time ranges from 4 to 6 months and the pain scale is around 5/10.
3. Helix piercing
The "helix piercing concerns the upper part of the auricle, in fact called" helix "and also in this case it is made by piercing the cartilage. It is a very fashionable and very versatile piercing: headbands, normal earrings, barbell, labret, are very few the limits of this piercing!
However, it requires special attention: its recovery requires a lot of care and the risk of forming the dreaded "ball" behind the ear is high. It is therefore necessary to wait for the healing to be complete before changing the jewel and above all it must be well cleaned and disinfected, being careful not to irritate the hole.
The healing time ranges from 4 to 6 months, the pain scale around 5/10.
4. Anti helix piercing
The anti helix is a piercing that affects a cartilage fold which is usually found around the middle of the ear, on the outside. Not everyone can do it, as those who have an underdeveloped fold or do not have it at all, find it difficult to do this piercing.
The healing time ranges from 4 to 6 months and the pain scale on 6/10.
5. Tragus piercing
The cartilage that is located in front of the hole in the auricle is called tragus, hence the name of the piercing. The earrings chosen for this area are generally the labret or, sometimes, the ring. Bulky jewels could make it difficult to clean the auticular canal.
The healing time tends to range from 3 to 4 months, the pain scale on 4/10.
6. Daith piercing
This piercing is made by piercing the root of the helix, another fold of the cartilage this time inside the auricle. Being a slightly closed point of the ear and not at all easy to reach, usually a small ring or barbell is chosen to decorate it. Furthermore, it is essential to clean it well, because more dirt tends to settle in this point of the ear (dead skin , earwax, dandruff, soap, other biological waste).
The healing time ranges from 4 to 5 months and the pain scale on 5/10.
7. Rook piercing
The rook piercing involves a part of the ear called branches of the antelice and in fact it is the area located under the curve north of the auricle, above the basin. Less popular than helix or conch piercing, it still offers many possibilities. In fact, there are some very nice jewels and, being a particularly prominent point of the ear, it is worth taking into consideration.
The healing time ranges from 4 to 5 months and the pain scale around 6/10.
8. Industrial piercing
Only for true lovers of piercings of all kinds. This piercing is made by piercing the helix in two points, so that the earring crosses the auricle transversely from side to side. It might look like a cute little piercing, but there are actually some really gorgeous jewels for the industrial!
The healing time ranges from 6 to 7 months and the pain is slightly higher, around 7/10.
Ear Piercing: Why Do It By A Professional
Although it may seem obvious, many times we rely on trust and we do not always have the help of a professional to get a piercing. It is common, in fact, to rely on tutorials on how to proceed to get an ear piercing ... wrong ! Always go to a specialized center, which has sterilized material and complies with all appropriate hygiene rules. Avoid piercing your ears with a gun, they guarantee less safety than needles, because they allow less precision during the piercing and also do not always guarantee correct sterilization.
How to disinfect the piercing to avoid infections
Once the ear has been pierced, it is essential to clean the hole every day to prevent it from becoming infected. Wash 2 or 3 times a day with a saline solution and spray a few drops of chlorhexidine on the wound, an antiseptic that will prevent the hole to get infected. Another option is to wash the hole 2 or 3 times a day with soapy water, this will keep bacteria away from the wound and prevent the piercing from becoming infected.
Normally, earlobe piercings are not complicated to handle, although it is necessary to follow these hygiene measures. Cartilage piercings, on the other hand, are more prone to complications because the piercing in this part of the ear causes more problems. inflammation and takes longer to heal. In these cases, it is normal to feel pain for the first few days, even the first few weeks. The wound will probably be uncomfortable when you sleep and you may have to lie down on the other side to avoid pain in the affected area .
Nothing to fear though, if you clean the hole several times a day with the right products, avoid touching the hole with dirty hands and keep your hair collected, your piercing will heal well and will not present any problems.
Other recommendations to consider
After having your ear pierced, remember not to remove the earring for at least 1 month. If the hole has been made in the cartilage, it is recommended to wait even longer, between 2 and 3 months. In this way, you can be safer with respect to the correct and complete healing of the hole and the absence of bacteria in the change of the earring. Avoid using alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to clean the wound, these products are very aggressive and eliminate healthy wound cells, which are necessary in the healing process. Always opt for soapy water or saline solutions, such as saline solution or chlorhexidine, are alternatives that are more respectful of the pH of our skin.
Wash your hands often and avoid touching the affected area with dirty hands. If you have long hair, try to keep it tied as much as possible, constant contact of the hair with the hole can promote infection.
The materials chosen make the difference
When choosing the material of your jewelry, we recommend that you opt for surgical steel for the earring, as it is the one that keeps bacteria farthest away. Then, choose an earring made of hypoallergenic material, such as gold, platinum or surgical steel.
Here's where to buy quality piercings:
- Surgical steel piercing pack at a special price only on Amazon!
- Pack of 8 ear piercings in gold-colored surgical steel. Take advantage of this offer on Amazon!
- Pack of 24 pieces of stainless steel earrings, only on Amazon at an unmissable price!
When to go to a doctor?
If the area is still swollen, hot, painful, or oozing after several weeks after piercing the area, it is advisable to consider removing the earring. If you have a fever or the infection does not go away, the best thing to do is to see a doctor to assess the severity of the infection and give you the best recommendation to fix the problem as soon as possible. Remember that the ear is a less delicate area than, for example, the tongue, but you should still keep an eye on the wound to avoid complications.
