The popularity of ear piercings has increased globally, with several types of piercings available. People use ear piercings as a form of fashion to express themselves and their creativity. So, does getting an ear-piercing hurt?
The simple answer to this frequently asked question is that ear piercings hurt. As the piercing initially goes inside your ear, you will feel a sharp sensation, but it goes away after a few seconds or minutes. The level of pain you feel primarily depends on your pain threshold and are different for everyone.
Even though piercing hurts differently for each person, the process is much less painful nowadays compared to the past. This is because ear piercing machines today get done with the process instantly. Additionally, small amounts of topical anesthetic cream are applied to the part of your ear where the piercing will be to reduce its pain.
Continue reading to learn more about ear piercings!
What Can You Do To Minimize Ear Piercing Pain?
One of the most essential parts of getting an ear piercing is to get it from a highly experienced practitioner. This will not only reduce the pain while getting an ear piercing but also ensure that there are no infections later. Putting an anesthetic is also vital when getting ears pierced because they numb the required area to make the process more painless.
It is helpful to take someone with you while getting your ears pierced. This is because you can talk to your friend and hold their hand to focus on them instead of the piercer. However, you can put some music on if you are alone to distract yourself from the pinching pain of the ear piercing.
Also, if you have sensitive skin, it is better not to get them pierced from areas with cartilage, such as the helix and inner ear. This is because the harder tissue will make it challenging for the piercing to settle in, continue to hurt, and even get infected, causing more pain.
However, getting your earlobes pierced is less painful as they have more fatty tissues and fewer nerves.
Before getting your ear pierced, putting an ice cube/pack on your ear is beneficial. This works like anesthetic creams to numb the area and makes it harder for the brain to comprehend where the pain is actually coming from.
Having learned how painful ear piercings can be, let’s look at how you can care for a new piercing.
How To Prevent Ear Piercings From Getting Infected
Taking sufficient care of your ears is crucial after getting a new piercing. This is because a new opening has been created within your natural skin, and so it will take time for your body to adjust to it. Although this increases the chances of getting an infection, you can prevent it by following the guidelines mentioned below.
Clean Your Ears Regularly
Using soap and water, you must clean the pierced area of your ear at least twice a day. It is advised to create a gap between the two cleaning times by first cleaning it in the morning and again before you sleep.
Rubbing alcohol swabs can also be used to clean the pierced area. However, you must avoid resorting to antibiotic creams or ointments because they make you more vulnerable to allergies if used frequently.
Keep Your Earrings In For A Long Time
Even though you may be excited about changing your ear piercings to more trendy ones often, you should not take them out too soon. Earlobe piercings heal faster than cartilage piercings and so must be kept in for at least six weeks before you can change them.
However, the cartilage needs more time to heal because of the harder tissue and more nerves in the area. Thus, you must leave the piercings for about four months. Even when you do take them out, it should only be for some time because the openings may close as they are still fresh in the skin.
Wear The Correct Earrings
When you do change earrings, you must ensure that the new material does not result in an allergic reaction. Earrings should not comprise materials like nickel because they can make your skin itch and cause allergies. Therefore, the best materials to prevent allergic reactions are titanium and “fourteen-carat gold.”
Refer to this video for more guidelines on taking care of your ear piercings:
Even if you take all the necessary precautions to take care of your ear piercing, it may still get infected. Keep reading to learn more about ear infections!
How to Tell If Your Ear Piercing Is Infected
Although it is common for your ears to swell and turn red for a few days following the piercing, they should start looking more healed every day. So, if you observe that the appearance of your ears fluctuates from being normal to suddenly reddish and crusty, they are most likely infected.
If you are unsure whether you have an infection, it is advised to visit a dermatologist or primary care provider so that they can diagnose you and provide a treatment plan.
Having learned about ear piercing care and prevention from infections, you must know what the different types of piercings are.
Types of Ear Piercings
There are numerous types of ear piercings. Although any part of your skin can get pierced if you wish, common areas for ear piercings are divided into three categories.
One of the most common ones is lobe piercing. The soft and round part of your earlobe can be pierced to make a standard lobe piercing or a transverse love piercing.
Another kind are outer ear piercings which are primarily used for chains and studs. These include the forward helix piercing, snug piercing, industrial piercing, and tragus piercing.
Although inner ear piercing has several types, it is not too common as it is the most painful of all three types. It includes helix piercing, rook piercing, and orbital piercing.
Conclusion
Ear piercings cause pain, but their level depends on each individual’s pain threshold. To prevent ear piercings from causing infections and causing further pain, it is crucial to look after them well by washing them regularly and wearing the correct earrings.
