Anyone know about ear piercings?

[taybert]

I had my earlobes pierced 25 years ago with a gun, like everyone I knew back then did. Since then I’ve worn earrings variably but for various reasons over the last about 10 years it’s been fairly infrequent. Each time I have worn them I’ve had a bit of a struggle to get them in but managed fairly easily, however, each time they’d be a bit sore and maybe bleed afterwards. I put this down to lack of use. I think one of the piercings has never been straight so it has always been slightly tricky.

A couple of weeks ago I got my hair cut shorter and decided to go back to regular earring wearing. It hasn’t been a success. I had studs in most days but when I was putting them in in the morning they were sore and bled. I thought maybe I’d be better wearing something all the time like when they were first done so I’ve had some tiny silver sleepers in for 24 hrs now. They’re sore. The one that’s always been tricky looks a bit infected and woke me up when I rolled over last night.

My gut feeling is that I need to take them out, get them clear then start again but I’m thinking then I’ll just be back at square one and it’ll happen again? Any tips oh pierced women? I want to be able to wear earrings again!

I'd get some titanium earrings, make sure there is room for swelling and clean with a saline solution twice a day. Don't touch them and stop taking them in and out.

Just apply savlon, germolene or even just salt water and keep them clean and they will heal and you can wear earrings as normal. You should keep some studs in your ears and twist them round every evening in your ear as you would a freshly pierced ear.

I’d go to a reputable piercer and get titanium studs from them, and basically treat them like brand new piercings.

You need to get them repierced. Because you went long times without wearing earrings, the holes partly closed up. Sounds like you made new exit holes at the back of your ears, with the bleeding etc. Are your earrings always pointing downwards? 🙂

Get some good sea salt and cooled boiled water and poor over ear. This from amazon was a god send when DD had the top of her ear pierced.

www.amazon.co.uk/s?ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_5&crid=3UVNA0E1OPVA2&sprefix=bpa+p%2Caps%2C140&k=bpa+piercing+aftercare+solution&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

It cleared up a keloid scar.

Thanks everyone. I was looking at some titanium studs with flat backs so they don’t stab me when I sleep but I would’t really know where to start in terms of if they were “good” ones or not. I live really rurally so no reputable piercer nearby. Does anyone have any recommendations for an online supplier for titanium earrings?

I always use savlon to lubricate the osts and take the sting away - 40+ years and always a bit sore at first

Please don't twist them. Every time you move it you're disrupting the healing, same as picking a scab and it'll take far longer to heal.

Duster no they don’t point downwards. The one I’ve always thought wasn’t straight actually looks as if the hole is wider at the front of the lobe IYSWIM? The exit holes look pretty normal. But yeah, I guessed I’d probably re pierced them though they don’t tend to bleed when I put them in, more when I take them out.

Have a look at Serenity Jewellery. I can only wear surgical steel, titanium or medical plastic. They sell all of these from reputable brands.

Thanks Destinesia I’ll have a look. For studs the labret type look good because of the flat back (I don’t like the posts poking me at night) but they are put in from the back aren’t they? Does anyone know if that would be suitable? Also they come in a lot of sizes, how do I choose the right size? Sorry for being so completely ignorant about piercings!

Definitely treat it like a new piercing.

Last time I had a new ear piercing the advice I had was to make a solution of sea salt and lukewarm water. I was told to taste it, it should be about as salty as tears. Clean the earring and surrounding area with a cotton bud dipped in your solution, but don't twist your jewellery and avoid changing it until your ears have healed.

Thanks for the serenity recommendation! I'm sensitive to anything other than gold and keep losing or breaking them so 3 pairs for £11 is great!

Like pp have said treat it as a new piercing, you have basically re-pierced your ears as they do close up inside after a time so when you are pushing your earnings through the hole they are breaking the healed skin inside. You can use a number of ointments but the best thing to use is your own saliva (sounds icky but it is the quickest thing to use for healing

I get mine from Solace Jewellery - when I was pregnant with my 1st my ears became very sensitive and now I can only wear hypoallergenic earrings - have found theirs to be really good and I wear a pair of studs 24/7 with no problems solacejewellery.co.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiPaUmLDa4QIV6Z3tCh2YNglxEAAYASAAEgIlvvD_BwE

Another vote for getting titanium and treating it like a new piercing. And as PP have said - don't twist the jewellery as it heals, that's really not a good idea. Clean with saline solution twice a day and don't even think about touching the earrings unless your hands are absolutely spotlessly freshly-washed clean. It's hard, but try not to lie on them in your sleep. Good luck!

Ok, I’ve ordered some titanium studs that I Hope I can just keep in. Are the piercing sprays etc any better than just plain saline washes?

So, studs in, clean twice a day, no touching!

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who replied. I got some titanium labrets and have had them in all week and I can’t believe how comfortable they are. No more horrible oozing and throbbing like when I had the silver in. Think I’m going to keep them in forever.