When can I Change My Ear Piercing: Signs You Need to Know

Bored with the old pierced studs? It is time to get rid of those obsolete studs and get a new ear piercing. Can you get one?  It depends on your age, type, region and duration. 

The excitement to try different styles always remains at the top. Ear piercing may be a form of self-expression practiced for centuries. Further, you might have gone through nightmares of the horror stories about the changing ear piercing. Calm down! You can get a proper guide on ear piercing.

1. Healing Process

Can a piercing heal in two weeks? The answer to this question may vary. Usually, it takes 6 weeks for a piercing to heal. However, the healing process may vary according to the type of piercing you did. 

But do ear piercings ever fully heal? To understand this question, you should know the complete healing process.

1.1. Stages of Healing

Any piercing in your body may have a different mechanism to heal. Some may take a few days, while some can be quite long. Here are the stages of healing.

1.1.1.  Initial Healing

It usually takes 0-6 weeks. Here, the immune cells in your body work to close the wound. You may feel some redness and inflammation at this stage. Further, this might cause you discomfort and swelling.

1.1.2. Intermediate Healing

The time needed for this healing is about 6 weeks to 6 months. This process accompanies the new tissue formation. However, the tissue is quite fragile and damaged.

1.2.3. Full Healing

This stage may take about 6 months to 1 year, depending on the part which is prone to piercing. Soft tissues get healed soon; if you get an industrial piercing, it may take longer.

2. Timing

As mentioned earlier, the timing for the healing process of new ear piercings can differ. The ear piercings come in different forms, and it’s your choice which one to choose. However, the decision you make significantly affects the healing time.

Here is a list that can help you in guiding for the time you need your ear piercing to get done long after your ear piercing has healed.

• Earlobe piercing – This a common time that is faster to heal. It may take 6-8 weeks in total.
• Cartilage or Helix piercings – Cartilage is quite tougher than ear lobes hence the time taken is quite long. Moreover, cartilage piercing covers the outer rim of the ear. The time of healing is about 3-6 months.

• Tragus piercing – These piercings can go through the raised piece of cartilage just in front of the ear canal. It can take longer to heal, maybe around 6 – 12 months.
• Industrial piercing – Again, this involves two holes connected with a single piece of jewelry. It takes 6-12 months to heal, like the tragus piercing.

3. Signs of Healing

After you have known when I can change my ear piercing, you might be quite sure of how to handle it. 

But again, the question arises. How do I know my ear piercing is healed? You can self-diagnose your current situation in your newly pierced ears. Here are certain signs that can be observed while healing.

Look for these signs before you think of changing your earrings.

3.1. Minimal Pain

The piercing should not be painful. Because pierced skin around the ear is quite tender, any pain or discomfort can cause problems in changing your earrings. Before changing your earrings, make sure the pain has subsided.

3.2. No Redness or Swelling

The area where the piercing is done should appear normal. There should not be any redness, inflammation, or swelling. If you have any, drop the idea to change it to a piercing stud now.

3.3. No Discharge

There should not be any pus or discharge from your ears. It should be clean and dry. The presence of pus can be harmful when replacing the earrings.

3.4. Stability

The jewelry you have worn is secure and stable. You can mark that it doesn’t rotate excessively. This can help you to understand that the piercing has taken hold and is healed.

4. Do’s and Don’ts

You may want to change the earrings as soon as possible, but some factors should be considered while you change earrings or are thinking of changing them. Here is a list.

4.1. Don’t Hurry

Be patient when changing your ear piercing. Rushing to change the jewelry too often can disrupt the overall healing process. Further, it can lead to complications like irritation and infections that can cause discomfort. 

4.2. Be Aware of Allergic Reactions

Some people are more prone to allergies than others. Metal allergies may be quite common. You can get itching, redness, or irritation around your piercing site. 

If you find such signs, you should change your jewelry immediately. To avoid such problems, you can switch to hypoallergenic materials like surgical steel or titanium.

4.3. Seek Professional Advice

It is always better to seek professional advice before changing your ear piercing. Further, This can be effective in terms of safety and proper healing.

Considering your present situation, you can visit a reputable piercing shop or studio or consult an expert to seek proper piercing advice, including the timing and materials for piercing.

4.4. Personal Preferences

Once your ear piercing has healed, you can experiment with earrings like hoops, studs, dangles, etc. This can help you express your unique style and find the best one.

4.5 Occasional Changes

You can always change your earrings on special occasions and events. Just ensure that the new jewelry is clean, and you are good to go. What’s more? Flaunt yourself in this festive season with amazing styles.

5. Tips

After you have decided to change the ear piercing, and your ear is fine to welcome a whole new piercing or friend, then you are ready to go. Here are the most effective ways in which you can easily change your ear-piercing jewelry without the fear of infection.

5.1. Get Your Tools Ready

The crucial step to hopping into the ear piercing is to get ready with clean jewelry. Here are some of the important tips you should follow:

• Choose jewelry that is made of safe materials like surgical steel and titanium. Clean and sanitize it before use.
• Further, you should always clean your hands with soap or sanitizer before moving to change your ear piercing.
• You can always rub alcohol or saline solution on hand to disinfect the jewelry and piercing.
• It is preferable to use disposable gloves to minimize the contact between your hands and the piercing. You can discard the gloves after use.

5.2. A Quick Prep

Now, after getting my hands clean. It’s necessary to clean the surface where it is to be kept. Moreover, the workspace should be dust-free. This can prevent any further infections.

Clean the jewelry by soaking it in saline solution for a few minutes. Then rinse it with clean water and leave it to dry with a smooth cloth.

5.3. Process of Changing

It can be an essential step as it can help you avoid pain while changing the earrings.

• Gently grasp the earring you are wearing on one side with your thumb and forefinger.
• Hold the jewelry on the opposite side. Avoid any forceful act
• Slowly remove the old jewelry in a direction. Be patient and gentle while handling this.
• Insert the new jewelry immediately into the piercing hole.
• Secure the jewelry in place. Close it properly and ensure it is not so tight or loose.
• Next is to check for any discomfort or pain. If such signs appear, remove them and replace them with a new one.

5.4. Aftercare

After you have changed your ear-pierced jewelry, you might have many questions like, can I sleep with a new ear piercing? Can I shampoo my hair after an ear piercing? Can I put coconut oil on my piercing? And whatnot. 

Make sure to continue with good ear piercing aftercare practices to maintain proper health.

• Always clean your piercing as recommended by the piercer or professional
• Be careful while you shampoo your hair, as it can be a potential irritant for your piercing sites.
• Avoid touching it with dirty hands or twisting it. It can make the situation worse.
• Be careful to check for allergies or infections; if this is so, seek medical help.
• Try to avoid sleeping on the side of the ear piercing. This may hurt you in the initial days.
• Applying coconut oil can be a beneficial step to heal the piercing site faster.

6. Key Takeaway

You have to decide a suitable time for changing your piercing. Moreover, it is essential to prioritize the health and safety of the process. Moreover, you should always wait for the wound to get healed before approaching for a change. If required, never hesitate to seek medical help. This can help you to get proper advice for faster healing.

Also, maintain proper hygiene before and after ear piercing to have a happy and pain-free day. So, get your personalized style active now!