Daughter has pierced her own ears

[howliscream]

My 15 year old DD came home last night and I noticed that she had 3 earrings in each ear. We have previously allowed her to have her ears pierced and took her to a proper piercing studio. When questioned it transpires that her and her friends did it a week ago using “needles and alcohol”. I’m horrified of course and she’s in a lot of trouble but from a health perspective, is there anything I need to do to help prevent infection? I’m terrified that they’ve used the same needles and only cleaned them basically. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

What jewellery does she have in these fresh piercings? What metal and backs on them?

A compromised could be a visit to a proper studio to get any cheap / silver / butterfly backs switched out for more appropriate jewellery.

Oh she will be fine. I did the same for my second and third earring holes and no consequences.

This was the only remotely bad ass thing I can claim to have done in my teens. I'm sure all will be well. The only problem I had was when my mum noticed! Hopefully it will be the same for your daughter.. I let mine close over years ago.

Missing the point completely, but this is actually quite cute 😍

A teenage rite of passage I think. However will she not need to take them out for school? My DCs school only allow one lobe piercing in each ear.

Has she been away for a week?

She had rubbish cheap Primark earrings in them which hasn’t helped

No, she’d been only putting them in when out of the house and in her room and usually wears her hair down so I hadn’t seen. She forgot yesterday to take them out and has her hair pulled back for a change

I'd honestly be more worried about her feeling that she needed to hide it from you. Teenagers do dumb stuff but it's better if they feel safe to tell their parents about it. Maybe she would have had it done 'properly' if she didn't expect to be in a lot of trouble?

She needs to wear them all the time or the holes will close up and get damaged by in and out, no wonder they're weepy if shes putting them in and out.

My & my friends done this as teenagers, also gave each other tattoos using the same needles and ink 🙈 not advisable but it’s done now so agree with others in terms of infection not much you can do now other than explain to her why this isn’t a good idea and try to keep them clean

I would find out if they shared needles. If yes, then treat it the same as if she had a needle stick accident and get her tested appropriately. If no, then just follow normal piercing aftercare.

I wouldn’t punish her. It’s her own body. It’s a bit stupid and better done by a professional, but it’s just not that big of a deal. If she didn’t take proper safety measures, the follow up bloodwork will be punishment enough.

crossposted.

One additional natural consequence. She needs to spend her money to buy some basic piercing grade jewelry and leave them in.

My DD did this at a similar age and also did a couple of DIY tattoos 🫣 I wasn’t best pleased because of infection risk but all was ok. In the grand scheme of things, it’s a minor rebellion!

My 14yo bought a £4.99 kit on Amazon and did her own ears without telling us. As long as it's kept clean then it's fine. Don't think she should be in "a lot of trouble"!

If this is the worst she gets up to during her summer break then she’s doing well. It was a right of passage amongst my friends.

Seems like a minor transgression to me.

My brother did mine that way about 55 years ago. One of the holes has closed in the last year, so I’m disappointed in him, frankly.

In regards to the piercings being unhygienic I would order some sterile piercing studs and piercing spray from Amazon and get her to change out the primark earrings.

In regards to her going to great lengths to hide this from you, I think that is more concerning, if she has to hide something relatively minor from you as presumably she is worried about your reaction then that doesn’t bode well for her confiding in you about more serious things..

I doubt her 15 year old pals have any blood borne diseases!

I pierced my own nose aged 15 with a safety pin and used a frozen chip to numb it. Glad to hear it's still a trend 🤣

They’ll be wonky but you’d know by now if they were infected, keep clean with the spray if you have it x

Tested where and what for?

There are quite a few children living with hiv at London schools especially ( having being born with it) but it is probably unlikely.

I would definitely change the earrings out for titanium or stainless steel ones though and then leave them alone for 6 weeks to heal!

The way you talk about “allowing” her to get them done previously and her being in “big trouble”…

makes me think she’s done it herself as she knew you wouldn’t allow it.

mine have multiple piercings but they always got them done at a studio. I generally said they had to follow the studio rules- ears from age 12 and body from age 16.

it’s her body. Why is she in big trouble? For the piercing full stop or for doing it herself?

My gran did this in the 30s in the staff room at work. She lived into her 90s. Wouldn’t worry too much. Just ensure that she keeps it all nice and clean.