Stretching one's body, especially the earlobes, has become increasingly popular. The term "gauges" often refers to both the size of the opening and the jewelry worn. To maintain cleanliness and prevent infections in stretched ear piercings, regular cleansing of jewelry is essential.
Following after-care guidelines when getting a new piercing or sizing up, as well as keeping healed piercings clean, is crucial for maintaining healthy gauges with just a bit of daily attention.
Method 1: Disinfecting Ear Gauge Jewelry
Step 1: Cleanse "synthetic" jewelry, such as metal, acrylic, silicone, glass, PTFE, or bioplast, with antibacterial soap and water. Lather the jewelry with antibacterial soap, rinse with cool water, and dry with a clean paper towel.
Step 2: Wash horn, bone, or stone jewelry with mild soap and water. Organic materials require gentle cleansing with mild soap (baby soap is recommended), followed by rinsing with cool water and drying with a clean paper towel. Avoid soaking organic jewelry in water.
Step 3: Wipe wooden jewelry with a damp cloth and apply a drop of conditioning oil, such as jojoba, olive, or coconut oil, to keep them in good condition.
Method 2: Caring for Freshly Gauged Ears
Step 1: Wash hands thoroughly before touching newly pierced ears. Refrain from touching the area for at least 24 hours after a new piercing or sizing up.
Step 2: Use cotton swabs moistened with water to gently remove dried skin or crust from the front and back of each piercing.
Step 3: Wash ears with unscented antibacterial soap and water, lathering around each piercing, rinsing with cool water, and drying with a clean paper towel. Repeat this process once or twice daily.
Step 4: Perform a salt water soak using saline solution on a clean cotton ball for 10 minutes, 2-3 times per day, if the piercing feels swollen or irritated.
Step 5: Prevent infections by avoiding activities such as changing jewelry, swimming, wearing dirty clothes, or touching the piercing with dirty hands for at least 3 weeks after getting a new piercing or sizing up.
Method 3: Maintaining Ear Gauges
Step 1: Remove jewelry when showering once piercings are fully healed (after 12 weeks) to effectively clean both piercings and jewelry. Ensure hands are clean before removing jewelry.
Step 2: Clean piercings last in the shower, using antibacterial soap after washing hair, face, and body. Rinse thoroughly and clean jewelry before reinserting it, following material-specific cleansing instructions.
Step 3: Apply a drop of tea tree or lavender essential oil to clean piercings before reinserting jewelry to prevent germs and maintain a pleasant smell, as these oils are naturally antiseptic.
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