It happens sometimes to all of us! I’ve had pierced ears for years and sometimes a small bit of irritation can happen. You don’t need to panic, though! It’s easy to deal with. Sometimes you may feel a bit of ongoing pain and tenderness after a piercing, that could escalate a bit to itching and burning. If it’s minor, you can take care of this at home easily. Follow these steps carefully:
1. Fully wash your hands for 20 seconds before touching or cleaning your piercing.
2. Clean the area around the piercing with a saltwater rinse three times a day. Use a sterile saline solution (you can find some online). If you want to make your own, combine 1/4 tsp. of salt with 8 oz. of distilled water.
3. Don’t use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or antibiotic ointments. These can further irritate the skin and slow the healing process.
4. Don’t remove the piercing. This can cause the hole to close up and trap the infection.
5. Clean the piercing on both sides of your earlobe. Pat the area dry with paper towels, since other materials may leave behind fibers.
As always, if things do not improve after 2 days, seek professional medical attention. Pay close attention to the area; if the infection spreads or the pain keeps increasing, definitely take it seriously and report to a doctor.
Stay beautiful and safe!
