Ear piercing 8 weeks later

[MoveHouse]

DD (10) had her ears pierced 8 weeks ago. We’ve followed all the guidance, cleaned everything night, twisted earrings (with clean hands etc)

Just before school (6 weeks) we took them out. A little bit of crusting but nothing too concerning. Changed to 9ct gold studs.

Trying to get her to take them out and put them in herself which isn’t happening. Took them out Thursday as she had PE/netball. Just tried to put them back in, can’t get them in without her crying.

Seems like there is a lump in the one side, no weeping though. I can’t work out if it is hurting her or she’s getting upset from them not going in (getting very worked up and needed to stop for her to take some deep breaths and calm down - the panic is that they’ve closed up and I’ve told her if that’s the case, we’ll get them done again)

Anyhow, she’s calmed down and I said I’d Google it whilst she nips to the supermarket with DH. I can’t get that stud back in - she kept flinching / moving and just panics where I go near her.

Will a cold ice pack work?
Why would they close up after less than 2 days?
What is the lump - do I squeeze?

It's scar tissue. Don't squeeze it. There are worse things than the piercing healing.

If she can't/won't get the earings in and out herself I would say she's too young to have pierced ears and let them close up.
She can get them done again when she's older.

Try putting a bit of vaseline on the post of the earring. Pull the earlobe down gently and you/she should be able to carefully wiggle it through.

The lump will be scar tissue, probably from turning the earrings which really you shouldn't have been advised to do. The holes won't have closed up after a couple of days.

For future reference, never turn an earring while a new piercing is healing. Clean them of course, but never twist. I have scar tissue in one set of lobe piercings which I had done years ago and which I turned regularly as advised to, but no scar tissue in my more recent piercings when I was specifically told not to.

@MrsFin

If she can't/won't get the earings in and out herself I would say she's too young to have pierced ears and let them close up. She can get them done again when she's older.

She’s reached this conclusion herself tonight when she got back. She hassled me to have them done. I set out that they will a) hurt b) need looking after. I totally agree with you.

@DramaAlpaca

Try putting a bit of vaseline on the post of the earring. Pull the earlobe down gently and you/she should be able to carefully wiggle it through.

The lump will be scar tissue, probably from turning the earrings which really you shouldn't have been advised to do. The holes won't have closed up after a couple of days.

For future reference, never turn an earring while a new piercing is healing. Clean them of course, but never twist. I have scar tissue in one set of lobe piercings which I had done years ago and which I turned regularly as advised to, but no scar tissue in my more recent piercings when I was specifically told not to.

Really interesting this is because we were advised to twist them. The piercing guy was great (within a reputable piercing / tattoo centre) insisted on twisting but with clean hands (he homed on the clean hands several times with DD).

We had another go once she was back, putting one into the ear that hurt less / had no lump, and she freaked again and got all upset and more or less had a panic attack I think 😓

I’ve had to sit and get her to breathe deeply to calm down for 15 minutes, and within that she’s decided she doesn’t want them back in.

Feel for her as she’s disappointed with herself for getting them done and also spending birthday money on new earrings (so feels shes wasted her money etc) and feels like others are going to judge her for now not having them. Proud of her decision making, if she doesn’t want them, it’s up to her. We’ve reassured her that it’s her choice and she can change her name when she’s older and that it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.