Aftercare, Earring Removal & Minor Infection
Aftercare
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WASH HANDS WITH SOAP AND WATER (preferred) or use at least 70% alcohol hand sanitizer, if you do not have access to soap and water, before attending to piercing.
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No swimming in a pool, or natural bodies of water. Wait at least 2 weeks after piercing and avoid keeping your head under water for prolonged periods of time. When out of the water, cleanse piercings thoroughly with liquid soap, Piercing Aftercare cleansing swabs or Saline Spray.
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Cleanse 2 times daily, for 5 days with Piercing Aftercare cleansing swabs or sterile saline spray. Afterwards, keep your hands away from piercing.
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Although rare with proper aftercare, observe for early signs of infection: pain, increased tenderness and/or redness, feels hot, swelling. Oozing pus or active bleeding (are usually later signs). If these occur, see Minor Infection instructions.​
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Gently push earrings forward and back to clean the earring post and skin. Start in the front. If using Piercing Aftercare cleansing swabs, use a separate swab for each piercing.
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NEVER TWIST earrings, to avoid undo trauma.
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Keep piercings clean and dry: Bathe as usual. Afterwards, pat dry around the piercing with a clean tissue or paper towel. NEVER use a washcloth, as it harbors bacteria.
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Cover ears when applying spray products: hair spray, spray color, perfume, hair-dye, etc.
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Take extra care when putting on/pulling off clothing over your head, to prevent catching earring(s).
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It’s better to avoid sleeping on your side. You can try laying on bent arm, a donut or other formed pillow for comfort.
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Purchase new earrings (see EARRING REMOVAL for suggestions) so you have them ready in 6 weeks. If you would like the same quality hypoallergenic Blomdahl earrings that we use in the office, go to the Clinical Piercing website: click on the Earrings tab, then on Shop Blomdahl Earrings. They do not sell screw back (best for baby/young children) or flat back earrings. Get a discount, through our affiliation, using the code PEART 10.
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At 6 weeks, change to new earrings. Have new earrings ready. See EARRING REMOVAL.
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Although rare with proper aftercare, observe for early signs of infection: pain/increased tenderness, redness, feels hot, swelling, oozing pus or bleeding. If these occur, see Minor Infection instructions.
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Earring Removal
Removal Video
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Wash hands and ears well with soap and water.
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With one hand, take firm hold of the front part of the earring. With the other, align the back horizontally and bend up and down until you feel it loosen. Now it can be removed.
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Remove the piercing earring. Gently clean away debris if any has accumulated. There should not be any or much with good aftercare. Put in a new earring that has been first cleaned with alcohol. We recommend 18k gold, titanium, sterling silver, surgical steel, rhodium, or platinum. Purchase internally threaded, smooth post or press fit jewelry. Avoid externally threaded (ridges you can see) jewelry that scrapes the delicate tissue inside the new piercing. Avoid costume or plated jewelry in the first year.
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THE RULE: Until 1 year is up since piercing, when you remove an earring, put in another soon after. DO NOT go without an earring in the piercing site(s) overnight or for more than an hour. The healing process is still on-going, and the piercing could close without constant earring(s) wear during this time.
Minor Infection
These instructions are not official medical advice. Clinical Piercing does not provide post-piercing medical treatment.
Please contact your provider for medical concerns and treatment after ear piercing.
ALWAYS WASH HANDS BEFORE TOUCHING PIERCING(S).
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Redness and/or swelling, and/or pain, and/or rash; and/or oozing pus, and/or constant burning sensation and/or feels excessively warm to the touch. Some tenderness and itching are expected during healing. Pink lobes or minor crusting are not abnormal.
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DO NOT remove the earring, so not to trap infection inside the piercing. DO NOT use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or tea tree oil. These products damage tissue. You may apply antibiotic ointment, following label instructions, for up to 48 hours. Seek medical attention if there is no improvement by that time.
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For NOT MORE THAN 2 DAYS: Use sterile saline spray, purchase sterile saline soak, or wound wash over the counter. Saturate a cotton ball, soak piercing with solution for 10 minutes 3 times a day. Gently pat dry with a clean paper towel or tissue. Continue regular cleaning and keep piercing dry, per the Aftercare Instructions, when infection has cleared.
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SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION if earring back is embedded in earlobe, infection begins to spread beyond the piercing area, fever (over 100°F or 37.8°C) or chills, earring will not move, and if symptoms are not improved or worsened with 2 days of home care.