A new piercing is an exciting event and a great way to update your personal style. However, lots of people are concerned about safe healing and how to make sure their new piercing doesn’t close up overnight. The following are answers to the two questions we hear most:
- How do I keep my new piercing from becoming infected?
The most important thing to remember is that proper cleaning = safer healing. Here are the most important rules to remember when caring for a new piercing:
- KEEP YOUR NEW PIERCING CLEAN & DRY: Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching your ears or piercing earrings.
- CLEANSE 3X DAILY: Cleanse the front and back of the piercing site 3x daily using Inverness Aftercare Solution.
- ROTATE YOUR EARRINGS: Rotate the earrings completely during cleansing to prevent the earring posts from adhering to the ear.
For more details and additional aftercare tips, refer to our Ear Piercing Aftercare Guide.
- Will my new ear piercing close up overnight?
The short answer is NO, but only if you are carefully following these healing guidelines:
During Your Healing Period
- The average healing time is 6 weeks for an earlobe piercing and 12 weeks for a cartilage piercing.
- Keep your starter earrings in for the entire healing period. Not only is it painful to insert an earring into a piercing hole that hasn’t completely healed, you also risk re-injuring your piercing site which will extend the amount of time needed for your new piercing to heal.
After Your Healing Period
To keep your new piercing safe and to avoid having your new piercing close up overnight, follow these guidelines:
EARLOBE PIERCINGS
- Stick to light stud style earring styles for the first 6 months after your 6 week healing period is complete.
- Be extra careful with your new piercing for the first 6 months. Your piercing site will still be sensitive, so treat your ears gently and continue cleaning as needed.
- To keep your new piercing from closing, follow this rule: for the first 6 months after your healing period is complete, never go more than 24H without wearing an earring or your piercing may close.
CARTILAGE PIERCINGS
- Due to reduced blood flow in the ear cartilage, these piercings need extra care and attention to heal properly. In the 6 months after your 12 week healing period, your piercing site may be sensitive, so treat your ears gently. Be careful not to bump your ears and continue to clean as needed.
- As with an earlobe piercing, stick to light stud style earrings for at least 6 months after your piercing has healed.
- To prevent your new cartilage piercing from closing, you will need to wear an earring 24/7 for at least 6 months AFTER the completion of your 12 week healing period (so at least 9 months). If you want to change your earrings, put the new style in IMMEDIATELY or your piercing may close.
If you still have questions about ear piercing aftercare or the healing period for your new piercing, visit our website to learn more.