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Personal Care and Style
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Ear Piercing
How to Care for Newly Pierced Ears Download Article Co-authored by Roger Rodriguez
Last Updated: February 24, 2026 Approved
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Cleaning the Piercings
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Avoiding Injury and Infection
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This article was co-authored by Roger Rodriguez. Roger Rodriguez, also known as Roger Rabb!t, is the Owner of Ancient Adornments Body Piercing, a piercing studio based in the Los Angeles, California area. With over 25 years of piercing experience, Roger has become the co-owner of several piercing studios such as ENVY Body Piercing and Rebel Rebel Ear Piercing and teaches the craft of body piercing at Ancient Adornments. He is a member of the Association of Professional Piercers (APP). There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 78 testimonials and 100% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 2,486,105 times.
It's important to take good care of your newly pierced ears so they’ll heal properly. Clean your ears twice a day while they heal and avoid handling your piercings when you don't have to. Be gentle with your piercings to avoid injury or infection and enjoy your new fashion statement!
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Cleaning the Piercings
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1 Wash your hands with antibacterial soap before touching your ears. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly right before handling your earrings. This will prevent you from transferring bacteria to your ears with your fingers. Use an antibacterial soap to ensure that your hands are as clean as possible.[1]X Trustworthy Source American Academy of DermatologyProfessional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source
Lather your hands with soap and wash them for a full 10-15 seconds to kill germs.
2 Clean your ears twice a day with soap and water. Lather a mild soap between your fingers until it is foamy. Gently rub the soap onto the front and back of your piercings. Carefully wipe your ears with a clean, wet cloth to remove the soap.[2]X Trustworthy Source American Academy of DermatologyProfessional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source Advertisement
3 Use a saline cleaning solution as an alternative to soap and water. Ask your piercer to recommend a sea salt-based cleanser to care for your newly pierced ears. This will clean your piercings without over-drying the skin. Swab the front and back of your piercings with the cotton ball or swab saturated in the cleaning solution.[3]XResearch source
There is no need to rinse your ears after applying the saline solution.
4 Apply rubbing alcohol or an antibiotic ointment twice a day for 2-3 days. Disinfecting your ear piercings will cut down the chance of infection and speed up the healing process. Dab rubbing alcohol or antibiotic ointment to your ears with a cotton ball or swab.[4]X Trustworthy Source HealthyChildren.orgHealth information from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Go to source Discontinue this after a few days, as prolonged of these treatments can dry the sites of your piercings and make it harder for them to heal.[5]XResearch source
5 Rotate the earrings gently while the skin is still wet. Grasp the back of your earrings and rotate them carefully right after cleaning the area. This will prevent the piercings from closing too tightly around the jewelry while they heal. You should only do this while your ears are still wet.[6]XResearch source
Twisting your new piercings when your skin is dry may cause it to crack and bleed, resulting in a longer healing time.
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 2:
Avoiding Injury and Infection
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1 Leave your starter earrings in your ears for at least 4-6 weeks. When you first get your ears pierced, the piercing technician inserts starter earrings. These earrings are made from hypo-allergenic materials that are safe to keep in your ears. Leave them in your ears both day and night for at least 4 weeks or your piercings may close or heal improperly.
The hypo-allergenic earrings should be made of surgical stainless steel, titanium, niobium, or 14- or 18-karat gold.[7]X Trustworthy Source Mayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
If you get a cartilage ear piercing, you will need to leave the starter jewelry in for 3-5 months while it heals fully.[8]XResearch source
2 Always wash your hands before touching your ears. Unnecessary handling of your piercings can lead to infection. Avoid touching them unless you are cleaning or inspecting them. If you do need to touch them, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water first.[9]X Trustworthy Source American Academy of DermatologyProfessional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source
3 Avoid swimming while your piercings are healing. Swimming can lead to a transfer of bacteria to your new piercings, resulting in an infection. Steer clear of pools, rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water while your ears are healing. If you use a hot tub, avoid submerging your body deep enough in the water to get your ears wet.[10]X Trustworthy Source Mayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
4 Be careful with items of clothing that could snag on your earrings. Keep your clothing away from your earrings while they heal. Pulling or friction can cause irritation and slow down the healing process. Avoid wearing hats that cover your ears and be careful when getting dressed and undressed to avoid injury.[11]X Trustworthy Source Mayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
If you wear a veil, choose a fabric that won't snag easily. Try to wear very loose veils and avoid wearing the same veil multiple times without washing it.
5 See a doctor if you notice signs of infection that last several days. If your ears are painful and swollen a week or more after you get them pierced, they may be infected. Visit your doctor to have them checked if you notice pus or thick, dark discharge. Infected skin around the piercings will also likely be red or deep pink in color.[12]XResearch source
Serious piercing infections may require drainage and oral antibiotics.
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Question How long will it take for my piercing to heal? Roger Rodriguez Piercing Specialist Roger Rodriguez, also known as Roger Rabb!t, is the Owner of Ancient Adornments Body Piercing, a piercing studio based in the Los Angeles, California area. With over 25 years of piercing experience, Roger has become the co-owner of several piercing studios such as ENVY Body Piercing and Rebel Rebel Ear Piercing and teaches the craft of body piercing at Ancient Adornments. He is a member of the Association of Professional Piercers (APP). Roger Rodriguez Piercing Specialist Expert Answer On average, it takes about six to eight weeks for an ear lobe piercing to heal. Piercings on the cartilage, including your upper ear and your nose, can take anywhere from three to six months. For these piercings, it depends on the amount of work that you're doing to keep them clean and how many piercings you're getting. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 10
Question How can I make sure my piercing heals properly? Roger Rodriguez Piercing Specialist Roger Rodriguez, also known as Roger Rabb!t, is the Owner of Ancient Adornments Body Piercing, a piercing studio based in the Los Angeles, California area. With over 25 years of piercing experience, Roger has become the co-owner of several piercing studios such as ENVY Body Piercing and Rebel Rebel Ear Piercing and teaches the craft of body piercing at Ancient Adornments. He is a member of the Association of Professional Piercers (APP). Roger Rodriguez Piercing Specialist Expert Answer Make sure to get your piercing done at a reputable studio. You should also be aware of the materials you are using, which can include antegrade steel and antigrade titanium. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 8
Question How do you clean a new ear piercing? Roger Rodriguez Piercing Specialist Roger Rodriguez, also known as Roger Rabb!t, is the Owner of Ancient Adornments Body Piercing, a piercing studio based in the Los Angeles, California area. With over 25 years of piercing experience, Roger has become the co-owner of several piercing studios such as ENVY Body Piercing and Rebel Rebel Ear Piercing and teaches the craft of body piercing at Ancient Adornments. He is a member of the Association of Professional Piercers (APP). Roger Rodriguez Piercing Specialist Expert Answer The best way to take care of a piercing is to make sure you're hydrated, eating well, and cleaning your piercing regularly with a wound wash or saline solution. You can usually buy these at a piercing studio. Generally, these will either be a mist or spray that you put on your piercing. The solution will loosen any debris that you have in the piercing and it will make it naturally fall off. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 10
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement
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Wear your hair up to avoid getting it caught in your piercings. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 0
Brush and comb your hair carefully to avoid snagging your piercings. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 0
If your cartilage piercing is causing you pain, try to sleep on the opposite side to avoid putting pressure on it. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 1
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Co-authored by: Roger Rodriguez Piercing Specialist This article was co-authored by Roger Rodriguez. Roger Rodriguez, also known as Roger Rabb!t, is the Owner of Ancient Adornments Body Piercing, a piercing studio based in the Los Angeles, California area. With over 25 years of piercing experience, Roger has become the co-owner of several piercing studios such as ENVY Body Piercing and Rebel Rebel Ear Piercing and teaches the craft of body piercing at Ancient Adornments. He is a member of the Association of Professional Piercers (APP). This article has been viewed 2,486,105 times. 3 votes - 100% Co-authors: 148Updated: February 24, 2026 Views: 2,486,105 Categories: Featured Articles | Care of Piercings | Ear PiercingArticle SummaryX
To properly care for newly pierced ears, wash your hands with soap and water before handling your piercings. Wash the piercings twice a day with water and mild soap, then wipe the soap away with a clean, damp cloth. Alternatively, clean the piercings with a cotton swab dipped in saline solution. Some piercers recommend wiping the piercings with rubbing alcohol or antibiotic ointment twice a day for the first 2-3 days after you get your ears pierced. After washing the piercings, gently rotate your jewelry while your skin is still wet to keep the piercings from closing tightly around the stem of the stud. Leave your starting earrings in for at least 4-6 weeks so the piercings have time to heal before you change your jewelry. During this time, avoid swimming or wearing clothes that could snag on your earrings. If you notice signs of infection, such as pain, swelling, or pus around the piercings, see your doctor. Keep reading to learn how to spot signs of an infection!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Holly
Aug 5, 2017
"My child has pierced ears, she got them done last week. I Googled "what do you do when you have your ears pieces and they haven't healed and she's going swimming". The first website that came up was wikiHow. I read it and did the instructions except seeing the doctor. Thanks!"..." more Rated this article:
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Roger Rodriguez Piercing Specialist Co-authors: 148Updated: February 24, 2026 Views: 2,486,105100% of readers found this article helpful. 3 votes - 100% Click a star to add your vote
Holly
Aug 5, 2017
"My child has pierced ears, she got them done last week. I Googled "what do you do when you have your ears pieces and they haven't healed and she's going swimming". The first website that came up was wikiHow. I read it and did the instructions except seeing the doctor. Thanks!"..." more Rated this article:
Lori Troughton
Jul 20, 2017
"My daughter will be getting her ears pierced for her birthday and I needed some basic advice on how to care for the newly-pierced ears. It's been so long since I've had mine pierced, I couldn't remember a lot of things! And some advice has changed over the years."..." more Rated this article:
Pat McNamara
Jun 19, 2017
"I used alcohol when I pierced my ears 50 years ago! I just got a second hole on my now-lobey ears and love them, but now know why the solution is not peroxide or alcohol. I bought a little empty spray bottle for the solution, and it works well to surround it."..." more
Lexi Bel
Jul 11, 2016
"Being able to read other people's questions was very helpful. Some applied to me and others I will remember to take caution to. Going in steps helped me and giving specific details was nice. I hope my question will be answered soon!"..." more
Anonymous
Jan 3, 2018
"The cleaning tips helped me tremendously. I was not sure if you take the earrings out to clean them! Well now I know I do not. Thank you for this helpful article. And thank you wikiHow. This is a great site."..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Co-authored by: Roger Rodriguez Piercing Specialist This article was co-authored by Roger Rodriguez. Roger Rodriguez, also known as Roger Rabb!t, is the Owner of Ancient Adornments Body Piercing, a piercing studio based in the Los Angeles, California area. With over 25 years of piercing experience, Roger has become the co-owner of several piercing studios such as ENVY Body Piercing and Rebel Rebel Ear Piercing and teaches the craft of body piercing at Ancient Adornments. He is a member of the Association of Professional Piercers (APP). This article has been viewed 2,486,105 times. 3 votes - 100% Co-authors: 148 Updated: February 24, 2026 Views: 2,486,105 Categories: Featured Articles | Care of Piercings | Ear Piercing Article SummaryX
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1 Wash your hands with antibacterial soap before touching your ears. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly right before handling your earrings. This will prevent you from transferring bacteria to your ears with your fingers. Use an antibacterial soap to ensure that your hands are as clean as possible.[1] 
2 Clean your ears twice a day with soap and water. Lather a mild soap between your fingers until it is foamy. Gently rub the soap onto the front and back of your piercings. Carefully wipe your ears with a clean, wet cloth to remove the soap.[2] Advertisement 
3 Use a saline cleaning solution as an alternative to soap and water. Ask your piercer to recommend a sea salt-based cleanser to care for your newly pierced ears. This will clean your piercings without over-drying the skin. Swab the front and back of your piercings with the cotton ball or swab saturated in the cleaning solution.[3] 
4 Apply rubbing alcohol or an antibiotic ointment twice a day for 2-3 days. Disinfecting your ear piercings will cut down the chance of infection and speed up the healing process. Dab rubbing alcohol or antibiotic ointment to your ears with a cotton ball or swab.[4] Discontinue this after a few days, as prolonged of these treatments can dry the sites of your piercings and make it harder for them to heal.[5] 
5 Rotate the earrings gently while the skin is still wet. Grasp the back of your earrings and rotate them carefully right after cleaning the area. This will prevent the piercings from closing too tightly around the jewelry while they heal. You should only do this while your ears are still wet.[6] 
1 Leave your starter earrings in your ears for at least 4-6 weeks. When you first get your ears pierced, the piercing technician inserts starter earrings. These earrings are made from hypo-allergenic materials that are safe to keep in your ears. Leave them in your ears both day and night for at least 4 weeks or your piercings may close or heal improperly. 
2 Always wash your hands before touching your ears. Unnecessary handling of your piercings can lead to infection. Avoid touching them unless you are cleaning or inspecting them. If you do need to touch them, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water first.[9] 
3 Avoid swimming while your piercings are healing. Swimming can lead to a transfer of bacteria to your new piercings, resulting in an infection. Steer clear of pools, rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water while your ears are healing. If you use a hot tub, avoid submerging your body deep enough in the water to get your ears wet.[10] 
4 Be careful with items of clothing that could snag on your earrings. Keep your clothing away from your earrings while they heal. Pulling or friction can cause irritation and slow down the healing process. Avoid wearing hats that cover your ears and be careful when getting dressed and undressed to avoid injury.[11] 
5 See a doctor if you notice signs of infection that last several days. If your ears are painful and swollen a week or more after you get them pierced, they may be infected. Visit your doctor to have them checked if you notice pus or thick, dark discharge. Infected skin around the piercings will also likely be red or deep pink in color.[12] 
Care Guidelines for New Ear Piercings 
Roger Rodriguez Piercing Specialist Roger Rodriguez, also known as Roger Rabb!t, is the Owner of Ancient Adornments Body Piercing, a piercing studio based in the Los Angeles, California area. With over 25 years of piercing experience, Roger has become the co-owner of several piercing studios such as ENVY Body Piercing and Rebel Rebel Ear Piercing and teaches the craft of body piercing at Ancient Adornments. He is a member of the Association of Professional Piercers (APP).