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THERE ARE MANY REASONS AS TO WHY EARS DO NOT HEAL; why ears become infected or irritated. Perhaps, only one or two overlooked preventative measures are needed to remedy your discomfort and promote faster healing.
IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING HAVING YOUR EARS PIERCED FOR THE FIRST TIME, find a technician that uses equipment (needles) that does not contain Nickel alloys, and is willing to sterilize the earrings that you bring in. Most people that have metal sensitivities are allergic to nickel and many ear infections begin with the initial piercing process.
Proper aftercare for any new piercing is necessary to ensuring that your piercing heals completely. Many of the following suggestions can also be helpful if your ears have been pierced for a while and have not healed completely, have lumps or are occasionally tender. YOU MAY BE OVERLOOKING SOMETHING SIMPLE that could slow down healing. If your piercings have closed due to complications, wait a year before trying again.
While your ears are healing, IT IS IMPORTANT TO WEAR EARRINGS THAT ARE ALLOY FREE. Commercially Pure Grade 1 thru 4 Titanium that is sourced in the USA is free of alloys that can cause allergic reaction in most people (refer to May 3rd posting). There will always be exceptions, but the percentages are low. Small post earrings are usually recommended for new piercings where there is less pulling or migration of the hole.
RESIST THE URGE TO CHANGE EARRINGS until your ears are completely healed: it will be worth the wait. Experience suggests that for newly pierced ears, 6 weeks to 3 months is not an unreasonable wait, and can be as long as 6 months, even if everything goes well. The thickness and density of your earlobe could be a factor to consider in the length of time it takes to heal as-well-as scarring from previous piercings.
HEALING PIERCINGS REQUIRES PATIENCE AND DUE DILIGENCE! Sometimes complications occur. Trouble shooting and added aftercare may be needed to successfully heal a troubled piercing.
PIERCING AFTERCARE:
MAINTAIN GOOD PERSONAL HYGIENE; wash your hands when caring for unhealed piercings and try not to handle your earrings in-between cleanings.
Piercings can be cleaned with a sterile salt solution with cotton balls or swabs, all available at the pharmacy. You can also prepare a sea salt soak recipe at home. Gently rotating the earrings will help keep them clean. Cleaning three times a day may be required for the first few days; two times a day minimum until the piercing is healed.
• Dip a cotton ball or swab in cleaning solution.
• DO NOT USE rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or antibacterial ointment. These contain ingredients that inhibit your skin cells from regenerating and healing.
• Use a warm sea salt solution as an alternative to a store-bought cleaning solution. Use 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt per 8 oz purified water. Do not use table salt, which contains iodide.
• Change out the cotton balls or swabs as they get dirty and DO NOT use the same cotton balls or swabs on both ears.
TROUBLE SHOOTING OTHER POSSIBLE CAUSES OF IRRITATION:
• Move the earring from front to back on your ear, making sure that the BACKER IS NOT TOO TIGHT.
• If possible, sleep on your back and avoid sleeping on your side. If you must sleep on your side, sleep on a donut pillow designed for side sleepers and change pillow coverings nightly at first. Tee-shirts can be used to cover your pillow or rolled up to form a donut that you can place around your ear.
• TELEPHONES held against a fresh piercing can introduce bacteria into the open skin.
• HAIR PRODUCTS and dyes can be extremely irritating. If you are not able to adequately cover your ears when using these products, clean your ears afterwards with your sea salt solution to reduce the irritants.
• PERFUME applied behind your ears, and scented body lotions.
•SWIMMERS should take the same precautions as they would with hair products.
• Be aware of putting on and taking off clothing that could get caught on your earrings, including scarves, hats and accessories.
• TRY A DIFFERENT STYLE OF EARRING. I have designed an ear wire with all the advantages of a hoop, but without the drawbacks.
ONCE YOUR EARS HAVE COMPLETELY HEALED
which will take a minimum of six to twelve weeks, you can swap out your starter earrings. Be aware that even if there is no longer any inflammation, the piercings may not be fully healed. For some people, it may take 5 to 6 months before you are ready to wear dangle earrings. By waiting until your ears are completely healed, future problems may be avoided.
Also, trying on too many earrings in one sitting can irritate your ears. You may need to keep one pair in for a day or two to let them calm down or remove them completely. An essential oil blend can calm down irritated ears. (see below)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT CAN HELP IN HEALING:
I have found that ESSENTIAL OILS CAN AID IN THE HEALING PROCESS and are effective for getting rid of or shrinking large lumps or keloids (scar tissue) that appear in the earlobes. It is important to use unadulterated therapeutic grade quality essential oils. More information on what synergistic blend of essential oils I use.
The Titanium that I use exclusively in my designs is from USA sourced materials, COMMERCIALLY PURE GRADE 1 & GRADE 2 TITANIUM and hypo-allergenic to most ears with acute metal and alloy sensitivities.
This article is a basic compilation of practical information available. A more comprehensive explanation, on any one topic, can easily be found by doing a keyword search. If your ears show signs of being severely infected, do not hesitate to follow up with your Dr.
Additional Resources:
modelcitizentattoo
IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING HAVING YOUR EARS PIERCED FOR THE FIRST TIME, find a technician that uses equipment (needles) that does not contain Nickel alloys, and is willing to sterilize the earrings that you bring in. Most people that have metal sensitivities are allergic to nickel and many ear infections begin with the initial piercing process.
Proper aftercare for any new piercing is necessary to ensuring that your piercing heals completely. Many of the following suggestions can also be helpful if your ears have been pierced for a while and have not healed completely, have lumps or are occasionally tender. YOU MAY BE OVERLOOKING SOMETHING SIMPLE that could slow down healing. If your piercings have closed due to complications, wait a year before trying again.
While your ears are healing, IT IS IMPORTANT TO WEAR EARRINGS THAT ARE ALLOY FREE. Commercially Pure Grade 1 thru 4 Titanium that is sourced in the USA is free of alloys that can cause allergic reaction in most people (refer to May 3rd posting). There will always be exceptions, but the percentages are low. Small post earrings are usually recommended for new piercings where there is less pulling or migration of the hole.
RESIST THE URGE TO CHANGE EARRINGS until your ears are completely healed: it will be worth the wait. Experience suggests that for newly pierced ears, 6 weeks to 3 months is not an unreasonable wait, and can be as long as 6 months, even if everything goes well. The thickness and density of your earlobe could be a factor to consider in the length of time it takes to heal as-well-as scarring from previous piercings.
HEALING PIERCINGS REQUIRES PATIENCE AND DUE DILIGENCE! Sometimes complications occur. Trouble shooting and added aftercare may be needed to successfully heal a troubled piercing.
PIERCING AFTERCARE:
MAINTAIN GOOD PERSONAL HYGIENE; wash your hands when caring for unhealed piercings and try not to handle your earrings in-between cleanings.
Piercings can be cleaned with a sterile salt solution with cotton balls or swabs, all available at the pharmacy. You can also prepare a sea salt soak recipe at home. Gently rotating the earrings will help keep them clean. Cleaning three times a day may be required for the first few days; two times a day minimum until the piercing is healed.
• Dip a cotton ball or swab in cleaning solution.
• DO NOT USE rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or antibacterial ointment. These contain ingredients that inhibit your skin cells from regenerating and healing.
• Use a warm sea salt solution as an alternative to a store-bought cleaning solution. Use 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt per 8 oz purified water. Do not use table salt, which contains iodide.
• Change out the cotton balls or swabs as they get dirty and DO NOT use the same cotton balls or swabs on both ears.
TROUBLE SHOOTING OTHER POSSIBLE CAUSES OF IRRITATION:
• Move the earring from front to back on your ear, making sure that the BACKER IS NOT TOO TIGHT.
• If possible, sleep on your back and avoid sleeping on your side. If you must sleep on your side, sleep on a donut pillow designed for side sleepers and change pillow coverings nightly at first. Tee-shirts can be used to cover your pillow or rolled up to form a donut that you can place around your ear.
• TELEPHONES held against a fresh piercing can introduce bacteria into the open skin.
• HAIR PRODUCTS and dyes can be extremely irritating. If you are not able to adequately cover your ears when using these products, clean your ears afterwards with your sea salt solution to reduce the irritants.
• PERFUME applied behind your ears, and scented body lotions.
•SWIMMERS should take the same precautions as they would with hair products.
• Be aware of putting on and taking off clothing that could get caught on your earrings, including scarves, hats and accessories.
• TRY A DIFFERENT STYLE OF EARRING. I have designed an ear wire with all the advantages of a hoop, but without the drawbacks.
ONCE YOUR EARS HAVE COMPLETELY HEALED
which will take a minimum of six to twelve weeks, you can swap out your starter earrings. Be aware that even if there is no longer any inflammation, the piercings may not be fully healed. For some people, it may take 5 to 6 months before you are ready to wear dangle earrings. By waiting until your ears are completely healed, future problems may be avoided.
Also, trying on too many earrings in one sitting can irritate your ears. You may need to keep one pair in for a day or two to let them calm down or remove them completely. An essential oil blend can calm down irritated ears. (see below)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT CAN HELP IN HEALING:
I have found that ESSENTIAL OILS CAN AID IN THE HEALING PROCESS and are effective for getting rid of or shrinking large lumps or keloids (scar tissue) that appear in the earlobes. It is important to use unadulterated therapeutic grade quality essential oils. More information on what synergistic blend of essential oils I use.
The Titanium that I use exclusively in my designs is from USA sourced materials, COMMERCIALLY PURE GRADE 1 & GRADE 2 TITANIUM and hypo-allergenic to most ears with acute metal and alloy sensitivities.
This article is a basic compilation of practical information available. A more comprehensive explanation, on any one topic, can easily be found by doing a keyword search. If your ears show signs of being severely infected, do not hesitate to follow up with your Dr.
Additional Resources:
modelcitizentattoo
Copper bracelet by Linda Landauer
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HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR COPPER JEWELRY AND KEEP IT LOOKING BEAUTIFUL...EVEN WHILE TRAVELING!
I LOVE wearing copper jewelry, and I am generally pleased with the full range of oxidation. BUT, when I want my copper to sparkle, I want it to be a FAST and SUPER SIMPLE process!! I have tried many methods and have it refined to this…and it works!
Read on if you are one that loves the look of copper, but are not willing to invest much time or effort in maintaining its beauty.
In the picture above, the top image shows a tarnished bracelet...the bottom image is after swishing it around in a few tablespoons of lemon or lime juice for a few minutes. (concentrate works great)
WHILE TRAVELING: order a lemon wedge and empty glass or cup with your meal. Squeeze the lemon, swish, rinse, blot and wear. THAT’S IT!
Read on if you are one that loves the look of copper, but are not willing to invest much time or effort in maintaining its beauty.
In the picture above, the top image shows a tarnished bracelet...the bottom image is after swishing it around in a few tablespoons of lemon or lime juice for a few minutes. (concentrate works great)
WHILE TRAVELING: order a lemon wedge and empty glass or cup with your meal. Squeeze the lemon, swish, rinse, blot and wear. THAT’S IT!
THE TRUTH BEHIND GRADE 1 TITANIUM VS. GRADE 2 TITANIUM
Grade 1 Titanium compared to Grade 2 Titanium
I am publishing my first post on facebook from an article that I feel will be beneficial to all that have endured the discomfort associated with metal and alloy allergies. This is an excerpt from a post by Mark Picard;
He starts out…”First and foremost, to explain the grades of titanium to everybody so you understand what these numbers mean. Grades 1 through 4 are referred to as “unalloyed” commercially pure titanium grades. An unalloyed metal is one that does not include any elements of another metal. Many grades of titanium are alloyed with stronger metals, to achieve a higher overall strength. Now we can get down to business. The following is being quoted from Wikipedia:
“Grades 1-4 are unalloyed and considered commercially pure or “CP”. Generally the tensile and yield strength goes up with grade number for these “pure” grades. The difference in their physical properties is primarily due to the quantity of interstitial elements. They are used for corrosion resistance applications where cost, ease of fabrication, and welding are important.””… the rest of the article can be read by following this link http://dabtech.org/truth-behind-grade-1-titanium-vs-grade-2/
Grade 1 titanium is a softer metal and responds to the forming and shaping of wire and sheet metal with hand tools, which allows for a range of skill levels that you see in handmade titanium jewelry. Unlike other metals (e.g., silver or copper), “softer” titanium metal does not equate to “easier to work with”…quite the opposite! I enjoy forming grade 1 titanium and find it ideal for the one-of-a-kind jewelry that I design.
The grade 2 earrings, shown on the right of the picture, will stand up to more abuse having been machined milled. The tiny ball post earrings are fabricated by Dirinda Patterson and are now available on my website.
