topic Re: Got my ears pierced for the first time and . . . in Jewelry

Got my ears pierced for the first time and . . .

JavaQueen — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 04:41:40 GMT

I had never had my ears pierced and someone talked me into doing it. (They paid for it as a birthday gift. A sweet gesture.) I hadn't planned on it, so I didn't do the research beforehand.

Anyway, it was done with a gun and I was given aftercare instructions with solution.

They used gold earrings (that's the problem when other people push!) I know I should have probably gotten surgical grade steel. Never mind, the deed is done.

I have heard conflicting advice: turning the earrings twice a day. Or not? Or half a turn?

I am sure that are many here who have had it done, so would greatly appreciate your input. Thanks.

Re: Got my ears pierced for the first time and . . .

CalMom — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 04:45:30 GMT

I had mine re pierced 2 years ago. Turn your earrings at least twice a day when you clean them. You can clean your ears three times a day if you want.

I had them done with a gun and regretted it because the gun is really not cleaned completely.

You cannot donate blood for 2 years.

I was told to leave the earrings in for 2 months or was it 3. I got 14K gold earrings as well. Round studs.

In all honesty, you should have been given written instructions. Check your paperwork.

And I have 2 piercings in each earlope.

Re: Got my ears pierced for the first time and . . .

Desertdi — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 04:54:29 GMT

Clean your earlobes with peroxide morning and evening. Do not remove the piercing studs when cleaning. Turn them all you want. Should be healed in 3 weeks.

Re: Got my ears pierced for the first time and . . .

lucylover64 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 04:57:09 GMT

I have 4 piercings in each ear along with one in the cartilage at the top of my left. My experience has been to turn them when you are cleaning but try not to mess with them otherwise. Everyone is different but when mine were healing, they started to become somewhat itchy which made me want to mess with them. I try to remember that too much of a good thing (cleaning and turning) may not always be the best!

I hope you enjoy your gift and good luck!

Re: Got my ears pierced for the first time and . . .

HandJive — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 04:57:28 GMT

I had mine pierced in the 70's with the gun and 14k gold earrings. I cleaned and turned them several times a day when they were healing and I was fine. But everyone is different.

At the time I had mine done, I was upset the woman put the hole just a little bit higher then the center of my lobe, she told me I'd thank her when I was older. Now that I'm older, she was right - my piercings never stretched out and always looked great.

Re: Got my ears pierced for the first time and . . .

Annabellethecat66 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 04:58:25 GMT

My 8 year old granddaughter was so proud to show me when I recently visited her that she'd just gotten her ears pierced.

Her Dad fought it but was outnumbered by his Mom, my daughter and other women in the family.

Poor Dad. My late husband was big and burly. Yet when my daughter had her ears done, the lady turned to him and said, "Sir! Are you OK? You look like you're going to pass out".

Good for you. Life's short. Do what you want to do when you want to do it.

Re: Got my ears pierced for the first time and . . .

sunshine45 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 04:59:13 GMT

got my ears pierced when i was in 6th grade i believe......turned them half a turn, used 18k earrings, and did not take them out for probably about 2 months, maybe more.

did the same when my kids ear were pierced.....18k and they were 4 months and about 7 months.....didnt take them out for even longer, turned them half a turn, and used some peroxide for cleaning.

NEVER heard the "dont give blood for two years" thing.

Re: Got my ears pierced for the first time and . . .

HandJive — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 05:06:49 GMT

On 2/8/2015 sunshine45 said:
got my ears pierced when i was in 6th grade i believe......turned them half a turn, used 18k earrings, and did not take them out for probably about 2 months, maybe more.

did the same when my kids ear were pierced.....18k and they were 4 months and about 7 months.....didnt take them out for even longer, turned them half a turn, and used some peroxide for cleaning.

NEVER heard the "dont give blood for two years" thing.

Me either so I Googled it.

From the Red Cross website:

Piercing (ears, body), Electrolysis

Acceptable as long as the instruments used were sterile or single-use equipment.

Wait 12 months if there is any question whether or not the instruments used were sterile and free of blood contamination. This requirement is related to concerns about hepatitis.

Re: Got my ears pierced for the first time and . . .

aprimo — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 05:20:55 GMT

Huh, never heard of the blood donation thing. But maybe that wasn't the case when I had mine done almost 30 years ago. I had mine done with a gun, using surgical steel studs. I recall cleaning them with peroxide and turning them a lot. I don't remember how long they took to heal, but it was longer than I wanted, for sure.

I think I didn't have them done in elementary school because my dad thought I was too young. He wanted me to look and act like a little girl (his little princess) for as long as possible. And then I think after that I didn't want to do it because I was afraid it would hurt. I hated getting shots too and I guess I figured at least I had a choice about the ear gun.

But then earrings became a bigger thing with my friends as we got older and I could only wear clips. My mother bought me so many fashion clip earrings, and you may remember the fashion of the '80s. They were big, brightly colored, geometric shapes with cheap glued on mystery metal clips. And it turns out I have a problem wearing anything but gold or silver on my ears. My ears got red and raw too many times from cheap clip earrings and that's why I finally decided to get them pierced.

Hope they heal up soon Java!

Re: Got my ears pierced for the first time and . . .

sphynxlvr — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 06:18:30 GMT

I got my cartilage pierced about 5 yrs ago at a piercing and tattoo shop. I have four piercings on my lobes done in elementary and high schools. I can tell you from experience the cartilage piercing, done with a needle and then using surgical steel earrings, was a better experience. My first 6 piercings were done with a gun and 14k gold studs put in. I remember having to turn them at least once a day. I had to clean them with alcohol 3X a day and once a day put Neosporin on them.

My cartilage piercing done 5 yrs ago at the piercing/tattoo shop was totally different. I had to wash the piercing with liquid antibacterial soap (Dial the orange kind) at least once a day. I had to soak the piercing in salt water (1/4 t salt to 1/2c very warm water) at least 2X a day. I just got a paper towels and saturated them and placed on my ear with a towel on my shoulder to catch the dripping water or you could purchase a product called H2ocean and just spray the piercing. That was it. They strongly advised against any ointment. They wanted the piercing kept clean and dry. I did receive written care instructions also from the piercer.

I got my 6 original piercings redone by the piercers at the tattoo shop. I got a slightly larger gauge. I wanted to wear NeoMetal earrings with my dd, ds, and dh birthstones and the 4th piercing my anniversary month stone. My cartilage is my birthstone The bottom two are the ones I change everyday. The NeoMetal has a flat back and it is very comfortable to wear and sleep in! I do not take these 4 (well 5 including the cartilage piercing) out. I used to change them but I decided instead of a mother's ring or tattoo, I would just wear my family in my piercings.

I love all my piercings. The cartilage took the longest to thoroughly heal. If I were you, I would wait at least 6 months before I changed my earring. That being said, I might consider going to a piercing/tattoo shop in your area and just talking to a piercer. Look at their jewelry and see if there is anything you might like. Ask if they carry NeoMetal and if you can look at it. I LOVE my NeoMetal earrings! They never 'poke' me and they never lose their backs or come off. Piercers are usually very willing to talk to you.

Good luck and enjoy your piercings!

Re: Got my ears pierced for the first time and . . .

WSfan — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 06:28:17 GMT

I got my ears pierced around 1970 by our family physician, in his office, with a hypodermic needle on a syringe filled with anesthetic. Don't recall it hurting too much. My instructions were to clean the earlobes with alcohol twice a day, front and back, and turn the earrings daily. I believe that I had to keep the earrings in for 6 weeks. All this took place 45 years ago, so my memory may be a little fuzzy on the details.

Re: Got my ears pierced for the first time and . . .

JavaQueen — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 06:45:51 GMT

Thanks all for sharing your experiences! The good, the bad and the ugly.

Yes, I was given instructions, but me being Nervous Nelly, I went Googling and earthed up all kinds of things. I figured that you being jewelry lovers, you would have gone through it.

Truth to tell you, I remember friends' experiences with ice cubes, needles, pieces of cork and potatoes (!) and I was too chicken! You know what? At this stage in my life, I have undergone so many procedures, that there were things that hurt a lot more than that piercing. There are just so many more options in earrings. Clips are few and far between and they're not the most comfortable to wear. But I wouldn't have done it if I hadn't been pushed.

Again, thanks for your input!

Java

Re: Got my ears pierced for the first time and . . .

violann — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 14:52:54 GMT

My ears were pierced by a psychiatrist (family friend LOL) who used a darning needle and a potato.

Re: Got my ears pierced for the first time and . . .

Lacey1 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 15:01:32 GMT

As a dumb kid, my mother wouldn't give me permission to go to the 'Piercing Pagoda' at the mall. My girlfriend did it with ice cubes, a needle and a piece of potato. She inserted the old starter studs, (alcohol soaked), that she had when she got her ears pierced.

Yikes! It turned out okay, but how stupid!

Re: Got my ears pierced for the first time and . . .

SANNA — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 15:09:29 GMT

Congratulations! It is never too late. I had it done by dermatologist at the age of 15 and my mother at 64 . Just keep it clean with alcohol,then put some Neosporine and turn them a few times a day. Neosporine will keep the puncture moisturized and infection free. Enjoy!

Re: Got my ears pierced for the first time and . . .

GloriBee — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 15:44:52 GMT

On 2/8/2015 kathoderay said:
On 2/8/2015 sunshine45 said:
got my ears pierced when i was in 6th grade i believe......turned them half a turn, used 18k earrings, and did not take them out for probably about 2 months, maybe more.

did the same when my kids ear were pierced.....18k and they were 4 months and about 7 months.....didnt take them out for even longer, turned them half a turn, and used some peroxide for cleaning.

NEVER heard the "dont give blood for two years" thing.

Me either so I Googled it.

From the Red Cross website:

Piercing (ears, body), Electrolysis

Acceptable as long as the instruments used were sterile or single-use equipment.

Wait 12 months if there is any question whether or not the instruments used were sterile and free of blood contamination. This requirement is related to concerns about hepatitis.

WOW! I cannot believe I never knew this. Always figured it was perfectly sterile. I have had it does twice (2 per ear) with a gun. I worry about stuff like this, so I am surprised it never occurred to me to question the sterility of the process!

Re: Got my ears pierced for the first time and . . .

rustysmom — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 16:18:58 GMT

I got my first holes done in the late 60's, I was 11 or 12. Back then they had these self piercing earrings, they were a hoop that you put on and each day you pushed on it a little and eventually the wire went through your ear. Don't remember how long it took but I do remember that shortly after they went through, my nephew who was just a little baby at the time yanked one out. Now I remember that being painful but we put it back in and I have never had any problems with them. My second holes were done in the 80's when having 2 holes in your ears was just becoming popular. That was done in one of those piercing kiosk in the mall with a gun and I never had any problems with those either. If I remember right I got gold studs in those. My daughter always had problems. We had hers pierced in the mall when she was a young teen and her ears were so sensitive that they were always getting infected. I even bought here earrings that were nylon posts for sensitive ears and they still bothered her. She finally just let them grow closed. She is almost 35 now and still does not have pierced ears.

Re: Got my ears pierced for the first time and . . .

Justice4all — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 16:45:44 GMT

If you try on earrings, alcohol the posts and ear nuts or hooks. If there is any itching or redness, alcoholing seems to help. Alcohol swabs are good. I have helped many a teen or tweenager this way!

Re: Got my ears pierced for the first time and . . .

kitty60 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 16:57:05 GMT

Lacey1 I hear you. Did mine myself in the 70's. Locked myself in the bathroom with a sewing needle, ice cube and bottle of alcohol. No instructions except stab the needle through. I must say in my 50's I got a second hole at the mall, much quicker and easier.

I guess the most important thing is to keep them clean.

Re: Got my ears pierced for the first time and . . .

brii — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 17:01:10 GMT

I had my ears pierced in the 70's. Had to go to the doctor to have it done. LOL

I pierced my kids' ears when they were 3 months old at Clair's. They barely winced. The noise that gun makes just gets to me.

Enjoy your new earrings. I'm sure they'll be fine.

(Never heard about the blood donation thing either)