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Original poster

Ear piercing

26 replies

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 28/08/2022 22:31

Hi there. My 9 yo dd had her ears pierced a few weeks ago. They were healing well until some hair got trapped in it. I had to take the piercing out to remove the hair and dried blood and then put it back in. Now it looks as though the front of the earring is sinking into her earlobe. I stupid pushed the back in a bit more so it wouldn't come out and now it's kind of stuck. We're on holiday and in the morning I will try to loosen it. Just hoping some of you may have some advice please.

OP posts:
SilentHedges · 28/08/2022 23:23

I'm sorry to hear your daughter is having a bad time with her ear piercings.

Did you get her ears pierced with a gun or professional piercer using a needle - the type you would find in a tattoo shop generally? If it was a gun, it's not the recommended method as its a blunt force trauma, and can cause significant tissue damage.

In terms of action I'd go back to the original piercer, however, if it was done by gun Id avoid them completely and go and see a professional piercer to unstick the earring and advise on the best care. Saline solution is good for healing.

Original poster
teaandtoastwithmarmite · 29/08/2022 06:20

Thank you. It was with a gun and I know that. I've had mine done with a gun and it was fine. Had a second piercing with a needle and had more trouble with that tbh

OP posts:
Mol1628 · 29/08/2022 06:33

Sounds irritated and swollen If it’s not hot to the touch or extremely painful her body will probably do its thing and heal it.

Get some sterile pure saline if you can.

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Original poster
teaandtoastwithmarmite · 29/08/2022 06:40

It's only painful if I try to take it out. We're on holiday at moment and she has run out but home tomorrow night so will get on it. The pool is salt water. Would that help?

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MotherOfDragons31 · 29/08/2022 06:43

Go to a body piercer for advice. They'll be able to look and see what's happening then advise with professional advice.

mountainsunsets · 29/08/2022 07:24

Just leave it alone!

It doesn't need to come out. Leave it. Keep cleaning it and when you get back home, go to a proper piercing studio (NOT Claire's) and ask them to help you remove it safely.

Original poster
teaandtoastwithmarmite · 29/08/2022 08:01

Thank you. It wasn't Claire's btw. It was Superdrug. I've had a look this morning and it is quite 'pressed on' but it doesn't seem to be causing any pain so I'll call a tattoo place later and get her booked in.

OP posts:
Divebar2021 · 29/08/2022 08:06

My DD had hers done at a piercer a few weeks ago who advised no swimming as part of the aftercare - that included swimming pools and sea. Apparently the salt levels in the sea are too high.

OutofControl3 · 29/08/2022 08:08

My daughter had hers done the start of summer holidays one ear looked as tho it could go right thru the hole, so I replaced them with a pair of old fashion jewellery I had they had a big dimatae thing on so I could easily twist them last week i replaced them with a pair of silver ones they have healed fine now. So maybe swap the earrings for a bigger front if possible?

GoodVibesHere · 29/08/2022 08:13

If irritated then her lobe may be slightly swollen so the earring will then fit too tightly. You should try to losen it if you can.

However you mainly need to leave it alone to avoid infection. You could soak very gently in saline solution. If you don't have any, you can put a small amount (1/4 teaspoon) of salt in a cup of cooled boiled water, not too much salt or it'll dry out the skin. The salt water should be about as salty as tears (i.e. you when cry). You mentioned pool water but that will be full of bacteria.

Original poster
teaandtoastwithmarmite · 29/08/2022 08:15

Divebar2021 · 29/08/2022 08:06

My DD had hers done at a piercer a few weeks ago who advised no swimming as part of the aftercare - that included swimming pools and sea. Apparently the salt levels in the sea are too high.

Oh jeez. How long for. Ours said 24 hours or 72 I can't quite remember but she had them done about 5 weeks ago.

OP posts:
Original poster
teaandtoastwithmarmite · 29/08/2022 08:17

GoodVibesHere · 29/08/2022 08:13

If irritated then her lobe may be slightly swollen so the earring will then fit too tightly. You should try to losen it if you can.

However you mainly need to leave it alone to avoid infection. You could soak very gently in saline solution. If you don't have any, you can put a small amount (1/4 teaspoon) of salt in a cup of cooled boiled water, not too much salt or it'll dry out the skin. The salt water should be about as salty as tears (i.e. you when cry). You mentioned pool water but that will be full of bacteria.

I can't quite grasp the stud part without digging my nails in. That's what I'm worried about. I feel awful now. Maybe for the sake of a couple of days I should leave it but I'm worried it will go right in

OP posts:
Original poster
teaandtoastwithmarmite · 29/08/2022 08:51

She won't let me go near it now and wants us to enjoy the last proper day of holiday so I'm going to leave it and seek some advice from a piercer. Thanks everyone Smile

OP posts:
Mol1628 · 29/08/2022 09:19

I’d just leave it. The swelling will go down if you leave it alone.

mountainsunsets · 29/08/2022 10:44

It's swollen because you keep fussing with it - just leave it alone to settle!

I know it's really tempting to fuss about with it but honestly, leaving it is the best thing you can do.

I've had multiple piercings over the years and they all swell when I mess with them!

SpringSparrow · 29/08/2022 10:52

My dd had her ears pierced last month at a tattoo place with a needle and she was told not to swim until they have healed which she was told would be six to eight weeks. She just cleans them twice a day with a saline spray and the back is completely flat disc. I think there’s a risk of infection with swimming.

SpringSparrow · 29/08/2022 10:57

Information about piercing here
www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/lifestyle/can-i-go-swimming-after-a-piercing/

Original poster
teaandtoastwithmarmite · 29/08/2022 17:41

Thank you. So shall I not bother going to a piercer then and just leave it altogether? I only took it out before because there was hair literally wrapped around it with dried blood and it would've got infected.

OP posts:
heydorothea · 29/08/2022 18:05

DSD used to work at Superdrug. They're given the bare minimum training legal before they're ordered to pierce, she left because she felt so uncomfortable doing it. You're putting your kid's safety in the hands of a barely trained teenager half the time if you have it done at Superdrug. Gun piercing is the worst thing you can do, taking it out and faffing around with it before it's healed is the next. You also shouldn't swim until a new piercing is healed. I'm not surprised it's infected.

Mol1628 · 29/08/2022 18:07

You could go to a piercer and get some better quality jewellery. I’m assuming you have butterfly backs at the moment. You can get flat backs which will get a lot less gunk trapped in them.

Divebar2021 · 30/08/2022 00:25

The studs my piercer used for my DD have longer posts than standard earrings to allow for swelling of the ear afterwards … not that they did very much. We have to go back after 6-8 weeks to get them swapped out for another pair and for the piercer to check how they’re looking. That’s the kind of service you get with a specialist piercer - I’m not lecturing ( my own were done with a gun) but just highlighting the differing level of service.

FreezyFreezy · 30/08/2022 00:33

Other some of this: www.prontolind.de/en/prontolind-spray/ (I got it from Amazon) It helped my dc's piercing after it developed a kind of sac behind the earring. The piercer had already changed the earring and cleaned it up but I was still a bit funny.

FreezyFreezy · 30/08/2022 00:34

FreezyFreezy · 30/08/2022 00:33

Other some of this: www.prontolind.de/en/prontolind-spray/ (I got it from Amazon) It helped my dc's piercing after it developed a kind of sac behind the earring. The piercer had already changed the earring and cleaned it up but I was still a bit funny.

It was still looking a bit funny

FreezyFreezy · 30/08/2022 00:37

Also, if you go to an actual piercer, get them to put some titanium labrets in: they're slightly longer than the studs from a gun and very few people react to the metal, unlike the steel used in the studs from a gun.

Original poster
teaandtoastwithmarmite · 30/08/2022 06:54

heydorothea · 29/08/2022 18:05

DSD used to work at Superdrug. They're given the bare minimum training legal before they're ordered to pierce, she left because she felt so uncomfortable doing it. You're putting your kid's safety in the hands of a barely trained teenager half the time if you have it done at Superdrug. Gun piercing is the worst thing you can do, taking it out and faffing around with it before it's healed is the next. You also shouldn't swim until a new piercing is healed. I'm not surprised it's infected.

I did ask to see the piercers certificate and she assured me she had years of experience. I first had mine done at a jeweller's when I was about 12-13 and they were fine until I put some tiny ones in and the back got stuck so I'm not sure this is down to the piercer. I feel really bad though. 😔

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