Ear Piercing 101

Although body piercing is becoming more popular today the practice has been used for thousands of years by people in many different countries. Ear piercing and other types of piercings can reflect a personal style statement, but they have long been viewed for their cultural significance as well. To many individuals this type of body art has great importance and choosing to have a body piercing is a decision that you should carefully consider before having it done.

Tips for Safe Ear Piercing

Here are some suggestions and tips that will make your ear piercing a safer and healthier event.

* Make sure that the person doing the piercing washes their hands and then wears clean, disposable gloves.

* All of the equipment should be clean and properly sterilized beforehand.

* The surroundings should meet high levels for cleanliness and hygiene.

For sanitary reasons, disposable needles are preferred for ear piercing. Non-disposable needles can be unsafe due to possible bacteria. Be certain that the needles used for your ear piercing come from brand new, unopened packages.

* There should be bright lighting and basic first aid supplies at hand.

What type of Jewelry is Best for New Piercings?

18K gold studs are the best type of jewelry to use for newly pierced ears. For fresh piercings, avoid using gold or silver plated earrings. These metals can create infections and allergic reactions. If you have an allergic reaction to gold, you can use Teflon or nylon ear jewelry until your healing is complete.

Types of Ear Piercings

There are several different ways of piercing one's ears. In addition to the more traditional lobe piercings the other aspects of an ear can also be used. The following are all names of ear piercing styles: Rook, Industrial, Daith, Tragus and Anti-Tragus, Helix, Conch, and Snug.

Risks Involved with Cartilage Piercing

Some ear piercings involve using the cartilage. While there are a number of interesting looks that can be experimented with it is necessary to exercise additional caution. Cartilage can be destroyed or damaged if these styles of ear piercing are not performed very carefully. It is also wise to be selective when choosing the jewelry that will be worn. Earrings or other ornamentation that is too large or too heavy can create additional problems for the cartilage in a person's ears.

Ear piercing is perhaps the most common and it is a quick and relatively painless process. Though piercings are done often in society, knowing the concerns, care and risks before the procedure is wise.

Risks

Here are some of the health risks that are associated with having your ears pierced.

* Infections are always a potential threat. There is a chance that you could contract a minor bacterial infection or you could even end up with a serious infection such as HIV or Hepatitis.

* Piercing guns can not be thoroughly sterilized and this type of equipment has a higher rate of transmitting infections.

* Bleeding is another risk for anyone who is going to have ear piercing performed.

* Improper technique and lack of experience can mean a higher risk of a botched piercing, including misalignment or nerve damage.

* Allergic reactions to the metal alloys that are used.

* Formation of keloid scars at the piercing site.

*Never share your earrings or ear studs with another person. Though we like to be able to share jewelry, sharing pierced earrings or other body jewelry can increase your chance of getting an infection from another. Despite the fact that you cleaned your ear jewelry carefully, you may have inadvertently missed some bacteria which can cause issues.

Healing Time

When a person has their ear lobe pierced the healing process is fairly short. The healing time is generally 6-8 weeks for a complete recovery. As fast as 2-3 weeks, most people are mostly healed from this type of ear piercing. For cartilage piercings, the healing process takes much longer. It could take anywhere from 4 months to a year for the cartilage piercing to heal properly.

Preventing Infections after Ear Piercing

The most important factor is to keep the pierced sites clean. There are special cleaning products that can be used on these areas 3-4 times a day. You should not use rubbing alcohol or Hydrogen peroxide to clean fresh ear piercings because these solutions are too drying on the skin. Always wash your hands before touching your ear lobes and keep make-up and hair spray away from the sites until they are healed. The temporary studs need to be turned frequently without being removed from the ears so that the holes heal properly.

Signs of Infections

There are several signs that can alert you to an infection at the site of an ear piercing. These include:

* Pain

* Warmth

* Redness

* Swelling

* Bad Odor

* Drainage

* Itching or a Skin Rash near the Pierced Area

If you notice any of these problems you should always go to a health care professional and ask their advice. Though the possibility of getting an infection is small, it is better to not take a chance. As infections may get worse quickly, get help as soon as possible to avoid spreading.