Me and my friend just pierced eahc others ear cartilages! We're both 13, and now we're kind of getting worried that it will get infected, but we really want to keep it in! Any ideas?!
2006-12-11 05:50:28 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Beauty & Style ➔ Other - Beauty & Style
Please listen to what lizard said above me. Please always wash it 2 times a day minimum with some sort of antibacterial soap until it is fully healed. If it still really irritable after 2 weeks start doing sea salt soaks twice a day also: 1 teaspoon of sea salt mixed in a cup of warm water and let your ear soak in it for ~10 min.
PEOPLE PLEASE LISTEN: DO NOT USE ALCOHOL OR PEROXIDE ON A CARTILAGE PIERCING. NEVER NEVER NEVER!!!!
It dries the piercing out too much and makes it crack and much more difficult to heal.
Any other questions, email me, I will be glad to help!
2006-12-12 04:28:30 · answer #1 · answered by Jess 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had my four cartilage piercings done professionally at three different piercing places, and they all told me the same cleaning instructions, so I'll tell you what they told me. Always wash your hands before touching the piercing. Use contact lense solution (or simple sterile saline) on a cotton ball and clean both the front and back of the piercing three times a day. Always make sure to rinse shampoo and conditioner off when in the shower, and try not to get styling products on the piercing. Try not to play with the piercing. A small amount of crusting around the piercing is normal, it's just fluid draining out. Wipe that off gently with the contact lense solution. If the piercing becomes red or irritated or shows other signs of infection, you need to go see a doctor. Chances are the doctor will just prescribe an antibiotic for you to take for a week. Don't take the earring out, because then the piercing channel will close and if it's infected you could develop an abscess. It's also recommended to NOT use products like Neosporin, because while that does kill the bad bacteria in the piercing, it also kills the good bacteria, which delays healing. Try not to rotate the piercing. I know Claire's and other piercing places like that will tell you to rotate the earrings, but that only applies to lobe piercings. Moving the earring around too much could cause further damage to the cartilage. If you do need to rotate the piercing, use a bit of Vaseline or A&D ointment to lubricate it first. It could take a year or more for the piercing to completely heal (I had mine done about nine months ago and they're still healing), so leave the earring in.
I hope this helps! I hope your parents aren't too mad at you. If I'd done that when I was your age, my mom would have grounded me for a month.
P.S. Despite what other people might say, according to every professional cartilage piercer I've ever talked to, rubbing alcohol and peroxide are the worst things you can use on a piercing.
2006-12-11 14:08:33 · answer #2 · answered by lizard_14256 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well... since u've already done it there's really not much you can do now. If you sterilized the needle/ piercing device beforehand, you should be fine. Just keep the hole clean. Do so by saturating a cotton ball with peroxide and squeezing the liquid out over your hole and your ear ring. Turn the ear ring everytime u do this so the hole doesn't close up around it. Good luck and I hope your Mom doesn't punish u too harshly for doing it yourself. Mine would have killed me.
2006-12-11 14:01:30 · answer #3 · answered by Just gorgeous dahling 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stupid, stupid, stupid but since you have done it now use a mild antiseptic such as hydrogen peroxide on cotton balls 3 or 4 time a day on the sight for about 6 weeks and keep it clean. The reason I say that it stupid is that just a few months ago a young lady died from an infection that went through her system after doing the same thing. Next time have it done by professionals. Watch out for signs of infection, such as throbbing, swelling and redness, at the first sign get to a doctor.
2006-12-11 14:01:03 · answer #4 · answered by whyme? 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hmmm probably should go to an actual body piercing shop next time...you did use clean materials right? I got my cartliage pierced and they told me to soak it in warm water and epsom salt. Since your ear is kinda hard to soad just dab warm water and the salt on a cotton ball and then apply it to your ear. Keep the area clean and try not to sleep on the side you got it pierced. Warning you though...carts hurt alot when they get infected. Mine got really infected even though it's been years since I had it pierced. It created a small bubble so I had to take it out...so be careful and be sure to clean it good = )
2006-12-11 14:02:30 · answer #5 · answered by CuriosityKilledtheCat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Be sure to clean it 2-3 times a day for at least 30 days. Also, you should twist the stud every day so your ear doesn't try to heal around it. (It will keep the hole open) Don't worry if it hurts for a while: it gets better!
2006-12-11 14:00:50 · answer #6 · answered by Hilary F. 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You will need to get peroxide. bubbles on the pierced spot. and that will bring the germs to the surface. then you will want to dap the spot with alchohol on a q-tip. this will sting but it is necassary.
2006-12-11 13:59:51 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am 13 too my mom used to peirce her ears
Just make sure to keep acohol on it every day twice a day and dont wear any exxtreme earings for a few months
2006-12-11 13:56:15 · answer #8 · answered by emilylovesmonkeys@sbcglobal.net 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
i did that too! pour rubbing alcohol on it every day for 6 weeks and don't take the piercings out for 12 weeks
2006-12-11 14:09:39 · answer #9 · answered by jamie F. 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋