If you don't clean your piercing regularly, you could develop complications like infection, scarring, and inflammation, our experts explain. Additionally, the piercing could potentially take longer to heal. Keep in mind that some types of piercings are more likely to become infected than others.
We suggest cleaning no more than once a day. On average, most piercings will need to be cleaned over the next 3-4 months (unless otherwise stated by your piercer). It is vital that you do not over-clean the piercing. If it has been longer than four months, do not clean the piercing anymore.
If you fail to include cleaning the piercing as part of your daily hygiene routine, normal but smelly bodily secretions may accumulate. A piercing may seem healed before healing is complete. This is because piercings heal from the outside in and while the piercing feels healed, the tissue on the inside remains fragile.
It can get infected if you don't clean it properly for the healing period. By cleaning I mean soaking in a warm sea salt saline solution. You should not use antibacterial soaps unless recommended by your piercer.
We strongly suggest soaking your piercing at least twice a day—more often if healing is difficult. Make a soaking solution by mixing sea salt and distilled water.
Overcleaning can slow healing and cause irritation. Overcleaning is just as bad as undercleaning. The recommended cleansing techniques maintain a constant balance. Use ONLY the recommended cleaning agents.
Not cleaning your earrings often can lead to grimy, infected holes when the dirty earrings introduce bacteria into your piercing. Moreover, dirt and grime can cause your beautiful studs to lose their shine and become discoloured.
If you don't clean your piercing regularly, you could develop complications like infection, scarring, and inflammation, our experts explain. Additionally, the piercing could potentially take longer to heal. Keep in mind that some types of piercings are more likely to become infected than others.
3) It is normal for dried blood or serous fluid (yellow crust) to form around the edges of your piercing. DO NOT pick it away while it is dry.
With proper care, most mild earlobe infections will clear up in 1 to 2 weeks. It is common to have mild infections come back without daily earring care.
Avoid baths, hot tubs, swimming pools, saunas, lakes, etc. for the first three weeks after being pierced as they contain bacteria which can increase the risk of infection.
While some people have been able to stop regular cleanings after four weeks, it's safest to go for a full 8 weeks before you stop your twice-daily cleanings. This gives your new piercings plenty of time to heal properly and decreases the chance of painful infections.
Gently wash your piercings with a mild, fragrance-free soap and water at least once a day. Thoroughly rinse your piercings after washing them.
Oral piercings, or piercings that have constant contact with your saliva, tend to heal a lot easier than most other piercings, due to the healing properties of our own saliva. Tongue piercings have the fastest healing duration of all piercings at only two weeks before you can downsize the bar.
Earlobe Piercing
Earlobe piercings are the most standard, comfortable, and fastest healing type you can get.
Note: Do not let your piercing air dry while healing. If you are having difficulties with drying your piercing, after you've dried all the moisture you can off the piercing, use a hair dryer on a cool setting to evaporate moisture left behind.
Due to the type of puncture wound a piercing is, it's important to remove the crust that develops around your earring or on the outside of your piercing. This is because air needs to hit the punctured tissue to properly heal your piercing.
It Takes 12 Months for a Piercing to Completely Heal
In fact, it is safest to wear nickel free jewellery during this time, and ensure that the wound is kept as clean, dry and airy at all times possible to maximise healing.
The quickest way to heal your new piercing is to leave it alone. If you are twisting your jewelry or touching your piercing too often, you can actually disrupt scabs and clots that are forming, which are the body's way of healing an open wound.
There's nothing that you can put on your piercing, or in it, to speed up the healing process. Instead, we aim to maximize your body's efficiency by leaving the area alone for the most part. The best thing that you can do for a healing piercing is to rinse it off really well at the end of every shower you take.
Always wash your hands before any kind of contact with the piercing or the area around it. Even the cleanest person will have dirty hands from touching door handles, money, phones, etc. Do not touch your piercing! Spray your piercing twice daily with the sterile wound wash saline.
You'll know your ear is healed once any discharge, swelling, redness, flaking, or soreness stops. In general, your piercing should continue to feel better with time and a consistent aftercare routine!