I got my ears peirced for the first time today (woo-hoo!) I know I have to leave in my studs for 6 weeks so my holes won't grow in. I also know that I should wear "real" earrings (meaning 14-karot gold or white gold) for a while to reduce the risk of my ears being prone to reactions from "fake" jewelry (the stuff you get for $0.99 at Wal-mart) later in life. My question is, how long do I have to do this? My mom says 6 months, my sister says a year! Help!!!
2006-07-22 14:42:58 · 12 answers · asked by aggies_2011 2 in Beauty & Style ➔ Skin & Body
Thank you to everyone! I'm not going to pick a Best Answer because everyones answers were awesome, so I'll let y'all vote and decide! Thanks!
2006-07-23 09:22:20 · update #1
I JUST asked this question to the people who work at my local Claire's [an accessories store, with ear piercing]. The lady there told me you should wait six months.
She also said you should wait six months to wear hoops or anything that's not a straight stud.
Isn't that annoying? Hope I could help, at least.
2006-07-22 14:44:54 · answer #1 · answered by Mary 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to wear the piercing studs for a minimum of 6 wks to keep the holes from closing. After that you should wear something in them for at least 3 months to allow the holes to "toughen up".
As for what you should wear in them, 14k is ok, but 24k is much better. Anything that lists as 316L surgical steel, gold (like I said before) niobium, and titanium are the ONLY types of jewelry you should wear in a small ear piercing. Don't let the price scare you off, a couple bucks more when buying the earings is much more preferred to the possible costs from bad jewelry.
For the record, you really shouldn't get your ears pierced with a gun...even a disposible one. The piercing studs cause a bit more trauma to the ear (being that they're only kind of pointy), and the guns (non-disposible) can't be properly sterilized. Any reputable piercer (body piercer) can do the job with minimal trauma to the tissue, and make sure that you have the proper jewelry and cleaning supplies.
2006-07-22 14:53:48 · answer #2 · answered by Bill K Atheist Goodfella 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Will I be able to leave the earrings out without the hole closing?
Some people assume earrings can be removed and easily re-inserted; this is not the case. You should only switch into new earrings after the healing period, which is 4-6 weeks for an earlobe piercing and 8-12 weeks for a cartilage piercing.
How long does it take for an ear piercing to heal?
We recommend that the piercing earrings are left in for 4-6 weeks after an earlobe piercing and 8-12 weeks for a cartilage piercing.
How is the cartilage different from the earlobe?
Cartilage is the translucent, elastic tissue located in the upper portion of the ear. Think of the cartilage area as two separate sections - the skin covering the cartilage and the cartilage itself. Cartilage differs from the earlobe primarily in that it has a limited blood supply.
Is a cartilage piercing as gentle as a lobe piercing?
Yes. With the system used by Piercing Pagoda, cartilage ear piercing is just
as gentle as a lobe piercing.
2006-07-22 14:46:43 · answer #3 · answered by TooheyMomster 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A year...seriously. I've had my ears pierced for 4 years and if I leave "fake" earrings in for more than 2 days then it gets uncomfortable. But some people are lucky and immune to these things and can start wearing fakies after the initial 6 week healing period. I say wait the year, I know it sucks but it's better than your ears turning green or itching. Hope this helped.
2006-07-22 14:45:41 · answer #4 · answered by Stacey 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to wait any longer than the 6 weeks. You're either going to have reactions to fake jewelry or you aren't, waiting isn't going to change this. I would make sure that you keep whatever earrings you are wearing clean. I can wear anything in my first set of holes and have always been able to, but could never wear anything fake in my cartilage piercing. Just depends on your skin.
2006-07-22 15:26:04 · answer #5 · answered by BB 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Allow 6 weeks for your ears to heal. Then try the fake ones. make sure to clean your fake earrings with alcohol and do not leave them in over night and you should be fine. 6 months is to long.
2006-07-22 14:47:27 · answer #6 · answered by Lil Me 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As soon as your ears heal you can try them. You may never be able to wear "fake" earrings. I pierced my ears 30+ years ago and I can't wear anything but gold. I'm allergic to all other metals including sergical steel and the hypoallerginic stuff.
2006-07-22 14:47:47 · answer #7 · answered by zbelle 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, it's really not going to hurt you to change them for a while...just make sure to put the "real" ones back in. I LOVE piercings....I just got an industrial. That I have to leave in for like a year! I love it! But yeah, about six weeks if you're going by the book...
2006-07-22 14:48:00 · answer #8 · answered by Scoot 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
go back to the place that pierced your ears and ask them. o yeah and congrats on your piercing. I wish you the best of luck
2006-07-22 14:46:39 · answer #9 · answered by bonyblack 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should probably wait 6 months. I'm sure the longer you wait the safer it will be.
2006-07-22 14:45:55 · answer #10 · answered by diva4life_04 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋