Multiple ear piercings are becoming the IT thing in today’s fashion world. Our favorite celebs keep flaunting their curated ears and even everyday women on the street either have multiple piercings or are planning to get theirs soon.
Influential fashionistas insist that our ears are meant to be decorated and who are we to disagree.
However, drilling a hole in a part of your ear is not a decision to jump into without knowing all that it entails.
Here’s a list of what you should know before booking that piercing appointment.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF EAR PIERCINGS AND THEIR HEALING TIME
There are different types of piercings you can get on your ear.
Lobe piercings; The earlobe is the most common, least painful and fastest healing part of the ear to get a piercing. A piercing on the lobe takes six to eight weeks to heal and it clocks in at 2 out of 10 in a pain scale. (However pain is relative and varies from person to person)
Helix piercings; This is any piercing placed on the upper outer cartilage of the ear.
On a scale of pain, the helix ranks at about four out of ten. A typical helix piercing takes about six to nine months to heal.
Conch piercing; The conch piercing is any cartilage piercing in the inner part of the ear. It takes about six to nine months to heal at best.
Industrial piercing; An industrial piercing is described as two cartilage piercings connected by a single barbell.
It takes up to a year to heal.
Tragus piercing; The tragus is the tiny flap partially connecting the ear canal. Its piercing is more painful than the other cartilage piercings due to the thickness of the area. A tragus piercing takes up to a year to heal at best.
WHAT TYPE OF JEWELRY TO USE ON THE FRESH PIERCING
The best-recommended jewelry to use after getting a piercing is titanium, 14-karat gold, or surgical-grade steel
HOW TO CARE FOR THE PIERCING AFTERWARDS
The aftercare of your piercing is very important in improving healing time and preventing infections.
Your piercing professional will recommend a few tips which should include;
- Clean the area two times a day using a cotton swab dipped in a salt solution or rubbing alcohol.
It helps to do this when you do other daily hygiene routines such as bathing or brushing to give yourself a daily reminder.
- Clean the pierced area whenever you remove the earring. This includes when you put it back in too. Bacteria can quickly get on jewelry when you expose it to the air or set it on a surface like a counter or a table
- Do not lie on the pierced area for long periods. Sleeping or lying down on your piercing can trap moisture or bacteria in the area, increasing your risk for infection.
- Make sure not to get any hair or body products in the piercing area. Be careful when you use shampoo, soap, gel, pomade, hairspray, or other products that can get near the piercing and irritate the tissue.
- As tempting as it may be, try not to touch the area of your ear that has been pierced because germs from your hands can cause an infection.
HOW TO KNOW YOUR PIERCING IS INFECTED AND WHAT TO DO
Most times piercings get infected as a result of poor aftercare and failure to keep the piercing clean and dry.
Sings of an infected piercing include
-continuous pain and itching.
-extreme redness and tenderness.
-discoloured pus from the area.
-high temperature.
If you suspect your piercing is infected based on these symptoms, you should contact a doctor to advise you on the appropriate treatment which may involve an antibiotic.
