Ear piercing has come to be a popular way for people of all ages to express their personal styles, and most people don’t see it as a medical procedure. While piercing your ears is cosmetic, it still comes with risks for your health. This is why our experts at Dermatology Associates of Atlanta are highlighting key health tips for before and after your ear piercing.

Choose Your Piercer Carefully

You’ve probably seen that many businesses offer ear piercings, from tattoo shops to mall jewelry stores. Don’t assume, though, that every business or individual that offers ear piercings has the knowledge and equipment to do it properly and safely.

The safest choice is a medical ear piercing at a healthcare facility. That is why Dermatology Associates of Atlanta offers ear piercing. Our trained dermatology staff has the sterile equipment, medical knowledge, and sanitized environment that allows us to provide safe ear piercings. We can also discuss any health factors that could impact your piercing, like blood thinners or clotting disorders, and we can counsel you about the best way to care for your piercing.

Avoid Certain Preventative Pain Relievers

While the pain from an ear piercing should be minor and brief, many people prefer to take a pain reliever before their piercing to minimize the discomfort. If you do this, though, avoid aspirin and ibuprofen because these pain relievers can increase your bleeding.

Choose acetaminophen for your pain reliever instead, as long as your primary healthcare provider has deemed that this medication is safe for you. We can also numb your ear before the piercing to keep you comfortable, so many of our patients choose to skip pain relievers altogether.

Establish a Care Routine

In the first days after your medical ear piercing, there are several things you need to do to help your piercings heal properly. You’ll need to wash the piercings with soap and water at least once per day, twist the earrings several times per day to keep the holes open and apply rubbing alcohol twice per day.

It helps to create a schedule for yourself. For example:

• 11am: twist earrings and apply rubbing alcohol
• 2pm: twist earrings
• 5pm: twist earrings and apply rubbing alcohol
• Bedtime: wash piercings with soap and water

Make sure you are washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water before you touch your piercings at any time.

Know the Signs of Infection

Most of your ear piercing aftercare is designed to prevent an infection. In the days and weeks after your piercing, keep an eye out for signs of an infection, such as:

• Redness that is getting worse
• Puffiness that is getting worse
• Increased pain in the area
• Yellowish liquid coming from the piercing

If any of these symptoms appear, call Dermatology Associates of Atlanta so we can determine if you have an infection and provide any treatment you need.

Keep Earrings in at All Times

You may not realize how long it takes before your piercings aren’t in danger of closing quickly. For earlobe piercings, you need to keep your earrings in for at least six weeks at all times, including while you sleep. For cartilage piercings, the earrings need to stay in for at least three to four months. Even after this time, your piercings can close up rather quickly so wear earrings frequently.

Getting a Safe Medical Ear Piercing

If you want to pierce your ears, we’re here to help you get the look you want safely and effectively. Call Dermatology Associates of Atlanta today to schedule your medical ear piercing. Remember to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more skin health tips.