A new ear piercing can be an exciting milestone, regardless of age! Whether it’s a first piercing or your third or fourth, it’s important to care for new piercings to help your new ear piercing heal safely. Following are some common questions we hear.
Q: How long does it take for a new ear piercing to heal?
A: The average healing time is 6 weeks for an earlobe piercing and 12 weeks for a cartilage piercing.
Q: How often do I need to clean my newly-pierced ears?
A: We recommend cleansing the front and back of your newly-pierced ears and piercing earrings 3X a day using CLEAN HANDS and a fresh cotton swab soaked in Inverness ear care solution. Gently rotate your earrings after applying ear care solution to prevent the healing tissue from adhering to the post of your piercing earring.
Q: How do I keep my pierced ears from getting infected?
A: In addition to following your aftercare instructions carefully, please remember:
- Keep your piercing clean! ALWAYS wash your hands well with soap and water before touching your new piercing or earrings.
- After swimming or sports, rinse your ears carefully and reapply ear care solution.
Q: Is it OK to change my earrings or take them out during the healing period?
A: No. Newly-pierced ears are very sensitive and require special care and attention. If you take your earrings out for any length of time during the healing period, the holes may close or you may find it to be very difficult and painful to re-insert earrings into a piercing hole that has not fully healed.
Q: When is it safe to change my earrings?
A: You should only switch into new earrings after the healing period: 6 weeks for an earlobe piercing and 12 weeks for a cartilage piercing. For the first 6 months after your earlobe piercing has healed, do not go more than 24 hours without an earring or your piercing may close. For cartilage piercings, you’ll want to wear an earring 24/7 for the 6 months after your piercing heals or your piercing may close.
Watch our video Below or click here for more information on Ear Piercing Aftercare.
Ear Piercing Aftercare Tips from Inverness Ear Piercing on Vimeo.