The days of basic ear piercings are long behind us! Lately, everyone has been getting piercings in obscure places. From the classic earlobe to the edgy septum, people are obsessing over getting pretty jewelry pieces all over their ears. But too many of us don't realize that they're OPEN WOUNDS! Piercings need to be taken care of at all times in order to avoid painful infections that can get so bad you'll end up in the hospital (believe me, I've been through it and it's not fun). Avoid these mistakes to keep your piercings and your body clean and infection-free!
[Photos: Shutterstock]
The major mistake everyone makes with their piercing is not cleaning it properly, according to Penny Burrows, a piercer at the Maria Tash Studio at Liberty London, told Marie Claire. "Regular saline compresses help to keep infections at bay," she said. "I find often when customers tell me their piercings are infected, it’s actually a minor irritation that is easily treatable, so always consult your piercer before self-diagnosing."
Being impatient with the healing process of your piercing is another big mistake many people make, according to Burrows. "Piercings take time to heal and can be slightly swollen when healing, so piercing with that tiny little cuff hoop might not be doable initially," she said.
Stop touching your piercings before they're fully healed! Each time you touch them, you're spreading germs from your hand to the open wound, which heavily increases risk for infection. "A happy piercing is one that is admired, loved but is never touched or slept on," Burrows said. "Also, never twist the bar in the ear while the piercing is healing, just let it do its thing. And if you’re finding it tricky not to sleep on the pierced side, use a travel pillow!"
If you see your piercer is using a gun to pierce any part of your body, run! "From a piercer’s point of view, the biggest and most often made mistake is getting pierced with a gun," Burrows said. "They are extremely unhygienic and actually hurt a lot more than a proper piercing needle!"
