Wash Your Hands: The first step is to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. This will help prevent the transfer of bacteria to your piercing. Use a clean towel or paper towel to dry your hands.
Prepare the Solution: To clean your piercing, you need a saline solution. You can buy a pre-made solution from a pharmacy, or you can make your own at home. To make a saline solution, mix 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt with 1 cup of warm water. Stir until the salt dissolves completely.
Clean the Piercing: Dip a clean cotton ball or swab in the saline solution and gently clean around the piercing, taking care not to rotate the earring. Make sure to cover all sides of the piercing, including the front and back. Do this twice a day for the first few weeks.
Dry the Piercing: After cleaning, use a clean cotton ball or swab to gently dry the piercing. You can also use a hair dryer on a low setting to dry the piercing. Just be careful not to get too close to the piercing and avoid using a hot setting.
Avoid Touching the Piercing: During the healing process, avoid touching your piercing as much as possible. This can introduce bacteria and cause irritation. If you have to touch your piercing, make sure your hands are clean first.
Avoid Sleeping on the Piercing: Sleeping on your new piercing can cause it to become irritated or infected. Try to sleep on the opposite side or use a travel pillow to keep pressure off the piercing.
Avoid Swimming: Swimming in a pool or a bathtub can expose your piercing to bacteria. Avoid swimming until your piercing has fully healed.
Avoid Changing the Earring: The earring used for your piercing is designed to promote healing and should be left in place until the piercing has fully healed. Changing the earring too soon can cause complications and prolong the healing process.
Keep Your Hair Away from the Piercing: Long hair can get caught in your earring, causing irritation or even pulling the earring out. Keep your hair tied back or avoid brushing or styling your hair near the piercing.
In Conclusion
Cleaning a new ear piercing is essential to avoid infection and promote proper healing. Make sure to wash your hands, prepare a saline solution, clean the piercing twice a day, dry the piercing, avoid touching the piercing, avoid sleeping on the piercing, avoid swimming, avoid changing the earring too soon, and keep your hair away from the piercing. If you experience any complications, such as excessive swelling, redness, or discharge, seek medical attention immediately. Follow these tips, and your new ear piercing will heal quickly and look beautiful.