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Lobe piercing is among the most widespread and available types of body modification. It is also one of the most popular since the earlobe is rather easy to pierce, it heals much faster in comparison with other piercings, and you can put just any type of jewelry into it. However, proper aftercare is required such that this would heal fine and will look beautiful sans changes. This article will walk you through the stages of healing a lobe piercing, some helpful tips on aftercare, and what to expect during its healing.
What to Expect During Lobe Piercing Healing
The Piercing Process
It has to do with the lobe being cleaned by the piercing professional, after which he or she ensures that a sterilized needle or piercing gun makes a small hole in your lobe. Most piercing shops have transitioned from using piercing guns to needles due to how safe they are for the tissues and less traumatic for the same. Nevertheless, there are still places that use guns. Then, the piercer will thread the initial jewelry into the newly-made hole—a stud or hoop made from a hypoallergenic material, such as surgical steel or titanium.
You’ll feel a little prickling sensation at this juncture but, as mentioned, the pain is usually low and fleeting. Right after the piercing is made, your body has already started to heal it.
Stages of Lobe Piercing Healing
Note that this piercing takes 6 to 8 weeks to heal; this may vary depending on aftercare and individual factors. Knowing the different stages of healing will go a long way in enabling you to provide the proper care needed to avoid complications.
First Stage: The Inflammation (Days 1-7)
First week: The body is reacting to a piercing as it would to any other wound. Some redness, swelling, and tenderness may be noticed at this time since parts of the body have just undergone some kind of trauma. Light bleeding or minor discharge of clear fluid may occur when the body has just initiated its healing processes.
Second Stage: Early Healing (Weeks 2-4)
The swelling is gone at this stage, and new tissues begin to grow around the jewelry. There will have subsided swelling and pain by now but aftercares are to be continued. This will still be a little bit sensitive; beware not to alter the jewelry yet.
Stage 3: Maturation (Weeks 4-8)
This new tissue has completely formed, and this is the final phase of healing for a piercing—becoming far more stable. While your piercing may appear visually to be healed, the inside of the tissue remains sensitive. In fact, avoid rough contact with your earlobe. You will want to continue cleaning the piercing until the above-mentioned 8-week mark has been satisfied.
How to Care for a Lobe Piercing
As it happens with all other piercings, the aftercare regarding this piercing would keep the lobe out of any kind of infection or would cause it to heal up very quickly. The following ways are some of the ways that would help the lobe piercing to properly heal.
1. Piercing Cleaning
You are supposed to clean your lobe piercing twice a day using saline solution or a piercing aftercare spray. This is followed by avoiding alcohol and hydrogen peroxide since both are known irritants to the skin, hence may slow down the healing process.
2. Avoid Touching the Piercing
One of the ethics that are usually violated during the new piercing is touching or twisting. This may conclusively introduce infection into the wound due to bacterial invasion. Only touch the piercing while cleaning, and always wash your hands beforehand.
3. Sleep Carefully
This puts unnecessary pressure on the piercing, and can just prolong the healing period. When at all possible, sleeping on your back or opposite side will prevent irritation of the piercing. If this is simply too hard, a travel pillow with a hole in the middle will help take some pressure off of your ear.
4. Be Ponderous of Your Hair and Clothing
It also gets hair and your clothes caught in the jewelry and that can cause irritation or even tear the piercing. Be very much aware of combing your hair or dressing in shirts and sweaters with care so as to avoid getting your piercing snagged.
5. Only Hypoallergenic Jewelry
The type of jewelry you put in it will determine whether your piercing heals well or not. Hypo-allergic materials like titanium, surgical steel, and 14-karat gold have very minimum chances of producing any allergic reaction. Avoid cheap jewelry or costume jewelry until the piercing is well.
6. Not Submerge in Water
During the healing period avoid soaking your piercing in pools, hot tubs, lakes, and oceans. The water may contain infecting bacteria. You can shower as long as you clean your piercing afterwards.
Common Healing Issues: Lobe Piercing
Even with the very best aftercare, some complications arise. Here is how you identify and treat some of the common issues you may experience in the healing process.
1. Infection
These include infection signs such as excessive redness, swelling, pain, or yellow green pus. With these kinds of signs and symptoms, you have to consult with a health professional or your piercer for further assistance. Most of the infections are well-treated with proper cleaning and extreme ones with antibiotics.
2. Piercing Bumps
Besides, allergic reactions or trauma to the place will further inflame bumps which might appear around the piercing. If you do get a bump, continue with your cleaning saline solution, avoid touching when there is no need, and in some weeks if it does not improve go and seek advice from a professional piercer.
3. Jewelry Rejection
Sometimes your body rejects certain kinds of jewelry by migration or by pushing the piercing. If it seems the jewelry is moving or if the hole is a bit larger than normal, try hypo-allergic material, or ask for recommendations from your piercer.
Lobe Piercing Healing – FAQs
1. How long does lobe take to heal?
Lobe piercings are supposed to heal in about 6 to 8 weeks. Of course, this may vary from individual to individual, considering the individual variables and aftercare of the piercing.
2. How long before the 8th week can I change my jewelry?
It is always good to choose a time of changing jewelry when your piercing is completely healed. Changing early may irritate it or cause infection. In case you need to change early, seek a professional piercer.
3. What kind of jewelry is best to heal with?
Of course, hypoallergenic materials like titanium and surgical steel and 14-karat gold are the best when it comes to healing piercings. Never use any nickel-based jewelry because this may just be one of those causes of allergic reactions.
4. What to do if my piercing gets infected?
Should you suspect an infection, clean the area well using a saline solution, and avoid the urge to touch the piercing area. Should this not improve or the case prevail, then consult your doctor or visit your piercer to seek further advice.
5. Can I go swimming while my lobe piercing is still healing?
It is good to stay away from swimming in pools, lakes, or the ocean during the healing time because such grounds are full of bacteria which afterwards can cause infections.
6. Why is my lobe piercing swollen after several weeks?
It is normal that the swelling would occur for the first few days, and it is going to return also as a reaction to irritation or infection after weeks. Follow your aftercare routine correctly and avoid any form of trauma to your piercing.
Conclusion
Lobe piercing is relatively easy to heal, given the much care and attention rendered to it. You clean the piercing, avoid fiddling with it needlessly, and wear hypoallergenic jewelry; within weeks, you have an after-effect which comes back as a healthy beautiful piercing.
Or perhaps you want a new lobe piercing or professional advice on how to take care of it afterward? You get more tips about body art from Magic Art Society. One thing that they surely make sure to show through their videos is the best practices when it comes to piercing care, while engaging a network of professionals in safe and creative body modification.
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