When to change earrings after piercing

Having your ears pierced is the first step in a project that's close to your heart: wearing earrings and adorning yourself with your favorite jewels. But how do you go about it? Discover with us the healing process after your piercing, as well as the care you need to take during the healing process, while answering the question: when should you change your earrings after piercing?

After an initial ear piercing, the length of time it takes to heal depends both on the piercing method used and on where your ears have been pierced. In any case, healing time can also vary from one person to another: don't count to the day! If the piercing has been done by a professional using a sterile needle, healing will be relatively short. For a lobe piercing, allow 4 to 8 weeks; for a cartilage piercing, 9 to 12 weeks. In either case, disinfect regularly according to your professional's advice.

Temporary, or medical, earrings are also known as prostheses. They are essential after the first piercing, as they prevent the hole from closing up, and are therefore for single use only. It's important to wear medical earrings, as they're made from a special steel that promotes healing. There are also models in gold or silver, which have the same healing properties. They are also anti-allergic and, of course, sterilized. Designed to be effective throughout the healing process, your medical earrings feature a screw clasp to avoid compressing the earlobe. After fitting, the ears must be disinfected twice a day with the lotion recommended by the professional. Remember not to get your ears too wet in the interim.

Once your medical earrings have been fitted, a few simple steps can help promote healing and avoid any risk of infection. The first precaution is to avoid touching your ears; otherwise, wash your hands thoroughly beforehand. Healing is an important part of your earring project: optimize its success by carrying out the regular disinfections recommended by your jeweller, and avoid swimming or bathing for a few weeks. As for your personal hygiene, use disinfectant hair care products and limit the use of greasy or acidic cosmetics.

WHEN TO REMOVE MEDICAL EARRINGS?

Temporary earrings help your lobe or cartilage to heal. It's important to respect the timeframe recommended by the professional so that the piercing doesn't recede. In general, keep your medical earrings on for at least 6 weeks if you've had a lobe piercing, and 9 to 12 weeks for a cartilage piercing. Finally, there are a few precautions to take when removing your medical earrings: disinfect your hands and ears with an antiseptic solution. As their stems are quite thick, you may find it a little difficult to remove them. Stand in front of a mirror and remove the clasp first. Then, if the stem resists, use a little Vaseline and pull on the clasp using a tissue.

6 weeks is the minimum to remove temporary curls, as this is the time needed for healing. Don't be in too much of a hurry, and wait 7 to 8 weeks to be on the safe side. If you've had your ear cartilage pierced, you shouldn't remove your medical earrings before 9 weeks. Check that the healing process is complete, and if not, extend this period by a further 2-3 weeks. To ensure that the process is complete, check that your ear is dry and supple at the piercing site.

WHICH EARRINGS TO CHOOSE AFTER PIERCING?

Once you've removed your dentures, there are a few rules to follow. For a year or so, you'll need to be careful when choosing your new earrings. A good first option is to choose earrings that are light enough not to touch the freshly healed piercing hole. In general, small earrings or earrings with reduced pendants will do the trick. To avoid allergic risks, precious metals are the safest: gold and silver give you a wide choice, but titanium will also guarantee the integrity of your new piercing. Last but not least, choose models with pins, which will help maintain the piercing hole in your lobe or cartilage. If you take these few precautions for 6 months to 1 year, you'll then be able to vary the volume and materials of your favourite earrings to your heart's content!

How long does it take for a drill hole to close?

When asked how long it takes for a drill hole to close, the answer can vary depending on a number of factors. If the drilling is recent, i.e. a few weeks or months, the hole may close in a few days to a few weeks. If the piercing is older, such as several years, the hole may take several months to close completely, or never close at all. The speed of closure also depends on the location of the piercing, the type of skin and the care taken. To prevent the hole from closing, we recommend wearing earrings regularly.