
November 21, 2022
You’ve had your ears pierced. Congratulations! Now, what do you do with them? If you’re like most people who pierce their own ears, the answer is probably nothing. That’s a shame, because it’s important to keep your earrings clean and well-maintained if you want them to last as long as possible. The good news is that if you’re following the right steps for caring for your ear piercings (and avoiding these common mistakes), any jewelry should last for at least a year or two with very little maintenance required afterward.
1. You’re changing your earrings too soon
One of the most common mistakes people make is removing their newly pierced earrings and replacing them with something new a few weeks later. While this is perfectly fine to do, it’s important to remember that you can wait up to six weeks before doing so—and if you do it too soon, you may risk damaging the piercing.2. You’re changing your earrings too late
Another common mistake is waiting too long before changing an old pair of pierced earrings for new ones; this can also cause problems with infection or irritation. The best advice is simply to follow your doctor’s instructions regarding when and how often they should be replaced; these instructions will vary based on the type of piercing and whether or not there are any other factors involved (such as allergies).3. You’re Using Dirty Tools
- Use a clean towel to dry your earrings after you take them out. It’s important to keep the area around your piercing clean as well, so don’t use dirty towels, cotton swabs or Q-tips. Instead, gently pat the area with a clean tissue or paper towel.
- Use tweezers to remove your earrings. Using your fingers can cause damage to both skin and jewelry—and if you’re trying to put back in an old pair of earrings that are missing a post? You might not be able to pull it off without tearing through some delicate tissue first!
- Don’t use sharp objects such as knives or scissors when removing external piercings either; even if they’re too small for you to see on the outside of an earlobe (or nose), these tiny slivers can cut into internal cartilage when touched forcefully enough against soft flesh like this–making removal even more difficult than expected!