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Ear Piercings: What are the Potential Risks?

By taking preventive measures and caring after your piercing properly, you may ensure a healthy and quick healing process.

Table Of Contents

Piercings are a popular and fashionable way to express individuality. One of the most common piercings is, of course, the ear piercing. Most people have already got them as children even. However, if you’ve never gotten one and you’re considering getting some, keep in mind some potential risks.

Generally, people do not experience serious issues after getting a piercing. Understanding the risks, though, will help you take the right precautions to ensure your piercing heals properly and remains infection-free.

Allergic Reactions

Allergic reactions are some of the unpleasant experiences you might have after getting your first piercing ever. Some people may develop allergic reactions to certain metals used in the earrings. Nickel is one of the most common allergens here. If you have sensitive skin or a history of similar allergies, make sure to opt for some hypoallergenic jewellery.

Titanium, steel, and gold might be among the best options for someone with a metal allergy. In case you’ve already pierced your ears, make sure too keep checking for signs of an allergic reaction. Itching, swelling, and rash could be signs of an allergic reaction. In that case, remove the jewellery and consult a doctor.

Infections

Infections are some of the most common risks of ear piercings. As they break the skin’s natural barrier, piercings create an entry point for bacteria. When the piercing site is kept unclean, infections can quickly occur. If the site comes into contact with unsterilized objects or hands, bacteria can cause an infection. The symptoms of a piercing infection are redness, swelling, pain, pus, or a foul odour coming from the piercing site.

With proper ear piercing aftercare, you can avoid any infection. All you need to do is take some preventive measures. For instance, you should clean the piercing regularly with a saline solution or a mild antiseptic. You should never touch the piercing with dirty hands and you should keep the area dry during the healing process.

Keloids and Scarring

Keloids are raised, thick scars. They usually form if the body overproduces collagen. This can happen during the healing process after getting a piercing. Some people might develop keloids or excessive scarring after piercing their ears. Even though keloids are common in certain genetic backgrounds, they can still happen to anyone.

The best way to prevent this is to think and try to remember if you’ve ever had keloids or abnormal scarring. Make sure to consult with your piercer beforehand to discuss this. Furthermore, follow aftercare instructions extremely carefully in order to reduce the likelihood of scarring.

Piercing Migration or Rejection

Sometimes, it’s possible that the body recognizes the piercing as a foreign object. When this happens, the body might attempt to push the piercing out. This process is called piercing migration. Tough pretty uncommon, in extreme cases, the body might reject jewellery completely and cause the piercing to close up.

This rarely happens with traditional ear piercings and it’s more related to surface piercings. A simple way to prevent this from happening is choosing the right type of jewellery for the piercing site. Another way to stay safe from piercing rejection is to wait for the healing process to be fully healed before changing the jewellery.

Pain and Swelling

Pain and swelling are usually normal parts of healing process after you get a piercing. However, they can, in some cases, become excessive or prolonged. If that happens, it could be a sign of an infection starting.

In such instances, you should consult your doctor and maybe get some pain relievers. To reduce swelling, you can always apply a cold compress.

Accidental Injury

Finally, a potential risk after piecing your ears is accidental injury. There are plenty of potential scenarios where you might injure the piercing site. For instance, you might bump the piercing against a hard surface, snag it on clothing, or pull on the jewellery.

This type of physical trauma can disrupt the healing process or cause additional damage to the piercing. That is why you should always be mindful of your piercing to avoid trauma. Protect it by covering it with a bandage while sleeping.

Conclusion

Even though they don’t happen often, accidents may occur once you get your ears pierced. Luckily, by taking preventive measures and caring after your piercing properly, you may ensure a healthy and quick healing process.

mikeparsons

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