Ear piercing is a common practice that many people choose to do for cosmetic reasons. While professional piercing studios provide a sterilized environment and proper training, some may wonder if it’s possible to pierce their own ears safely at home. There are risks and things to consider before taking the DIY approach.
The Basics of Ear Piercing
Ear piercing involves creating a small hole in the earlobe or cartilaginous part of the ear using a piercing needle or piercing gun. Jewelry, usually a small stud earring, is inserted into the fresh wound to keep it open during the healing process, which takes approximately 6-8 weeks.
The earlobe contains relatively few nerve endings and blood vessels, making it one of the least painful parts of the ear to pierce. Piercing the cartilaginous upper ear can be more painful due to the increased number of nerves.
Professional vs. DIY Piercing
Having your ears pierced professionally is the safest and most recommended option. Reputable piercing shops adhere to strict health and safety practices, including:
- Using single-use, sterilized needles and jewelry
- Wearing gloves during the procedure
- Disinfecting the piercing area thoroughly
- Proper training for the piercing technician
This helps minimize the risks for infection, bleeding, trauma to the tissue, and other complications. Going to a professional also means getting advice on proper aftercare and jewelry selection.
Piercing your own ears lacks these safety measures. Without the proper tools and training, it can be difficult to pierce the needle through the right spot in a controlled manner. Sterilizing jewelry and equipment at home is also challenging.
Risks of Self-Piercing
Some of the main risks of piercing your own ears include:
- Infection – Unsterilized equipment can introduce bacteria into the open wound, causing local infections like abscesses or widespread infections like hepatitis or tetanus.
- Excessive pain/bleeding – Missing the proper piercing spot can cause increased pain, bleeding, and trauma.
- Scarring/misshapen holes – Without precision, the piercing may heal with scarring or be unevenly shaped.
- Allergic reaction – Allergy to certain metals in self-pierced jewelry can cause rashes, swelling, and itching.
- Further injury – Accidental slips or movement during self-piercing could pierce nearby soft tissues like nerves and blood vessels.
If any symptoms of infection, significant bleeding, or trauma occur after self-piercing, it’s important to seek medical care. Leaving jewelry in an infected piercing can allow the infection to get worse.
What You’ll Need for Self-Piercing
If you understand the risks and still choose to pierce your own ears, having the proper sanitized equipment can help reduce complications:
- New, sterilized piercing needles or piercing gun
- Rubbing alcohol and/or antibacterial soap to disinfect earlobes
- Sanitized piercing studs or earrings
- Clean gauze or cotton balls
- A handheld mirror to see your earlobes
- An ice cube to numb the earlobes before piercing
- Antibacterial ointment for aftercare
Never try to self-pierce with household objects like needles, push pins, nails, or paper clips. Reusing or sharing piercing equipment also spreads infections easily.
How to Pierce Your Ears at Home
If you choose to self-pierce, follow these steps for each ear:
- Wash your hands and earlobes thoroughly with antibacterial soap and warm water.
- Disinfect earlobes with rubbing alcohol, using a cotton ball.
- Apply ice to earlobes for 5 minutes to numb the area.
- Mark the desired placement with a pen. Common spots are the center of the earlobe or along the edges.
- Follow product instructions to properly load the sterile piercing earrings into the piercing gun or assemble the piercing needle.
- Position the gun or needle perpendicular to the marking on the earlobe, using a mirror for visibility.
- In one fluid motion, push the needle or gun through the earlobe.
- Insert the piercing stud or jewelry into the fresh hole before removing the piercing device.
- Cover both sides of earlobes with clean gauze or cotton balls.
- Carefully wash ears and apply antibacterial ointment per aftercare instructions.
Avoid touching the piercings and only rotate jewelry during cleaning. It’s best to leave the starter piercing earrings in for at least 6 weeks during the healing process. See a doctor for any signs of infection. Proper aftercare helps minimize scarring and misshaping of the piercing holes.
Ear Piercing Aftercare and Cleaning
Caring for new ear piercings properly is key to minimizing complications. Follow these tips:
- Wash hands before touching piercings.
- Use a sterile saline spray or solution to clean piercings 1-2 times daily.
- Rotate jewelry gently during cleaning to prevent sticking and promote drainage.
- Rinse off any crusty buildup with clean water.
- Dry piercings thoroughly after cleaning.
- Avoid touching, rubbing, or handling piercings otherwise.
- Apply a light coat of antibacterial ointment if needed for the first few days.
- Avoid submerging new piercings in baths, pools, etc.
- Only change jewelry after 6 weeks minimum, and sanitize new jewelry.
Notify your healthcare provider if significant redness, swelling, oozing, increasing pain, or fever occur – these may indicate infection. Seek help promptly to prevent complications.
Ear Piercing Pain Level
Pain from ear piercings varies depending on location, individual pain tolerance, and the piercing technique used. Here are rough pain estimates:
| Piercing Type | Pain Level (0-10) |
|---|---|
| Earlobes | 2-4 |
| Cartilage | 4-6 |
| Tragus | 4-5 |
| Conch | 4-6 |
| Industrial | 6-8 |
Earlobe piercings are relatively quick and less painful since the tissue is thin and has fewer nerves. Cartilage piercings hurt more because the tissue is denser with more nerve endings. Industrial piercings through the ear cartilage can have prolonged, sharp pain during the process.
How Long Do Ear Piercings Take to Heal?
On average, earlobe piercings take:
- 6-8 weeks to heal fully
- 2-4 weeks before jewelry can be changed
Cartilage and upper ear piercings take longer to heal:
- 3-12 months for full healing
- 6-8 weeks before jewelry change
Healing times can vary based on:.
- Location on the ear
- Jewelry type – rings typically take longer than studs
- Individual healing ability
- Infection risk and proper aftercare
Some people may be able to change earlobe studs after 4 weeks if healing is progressing well. Always monitor piercings and ask a professional if unsure about changing jewelry too soon.
Ear Piercing Age Guidelines
Here are some general guidelines on the age to get different ear piercings:
| Piercing Type | Recommended Minimum Age |
|---|---|
| Earlobes | 6-10 years old |
| Cartilage | 10-15 years old |
| Other upper ear | 15-18 years old |
Younger children have higher risks of excessive pain, trauma, and infection after piercings. They’re also less likely to keep the area clean and refrain from touching the piercings during healing. Teens and adults are more responsible for proper aftercare.
Newborns and infants should never get piercings. The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly advises waiting until children can actively take care of the piercing sites themselves.
Tips for Easing Ear Piercing Pain
Some ways to help minimize pain from new or existing ear piercings include:
- Having an experienced professional do the piercing
- Numbing earlobes with ice beforehand
- Choosing the earlobe instead of cartilage
- Using a piercing gun rather than a needle if possible
- Taking over-the-counter pain medication beforehand
- Applying a warm compress to relieve soreness
- Wearing lightweight starter earrings until healed
- Avoiding touching or sleeping on new piercings
Proper aftercare also keeps piercing sites comfortable during healing. Oral pain relievers, topical numbing creams, and anti-inflammatory products can help with ongoing discomfort.
Jewelry Options for New Ear Piercings
Choosing the right starter jewelry for new ear piercings reduces chances of reactions and infections. Recommended jewelry types include:
- Surgical stainless steel – hypoallergenic and durable
- 14-18K gold – minimizes reactions
- Niobium or titanium – lightweight and biocompatible
- Platinum – rare reactions
- Plastic – prevents metal allergies
Avoid low-quality metals like nickel, copper, chrome and brass which commonly cause allergic reactions. Plated/vermeil jewelry can expose nickel underneath. New piercings should only use studs, not rings or hoops, to allow proper healing and drainage.
Conclusion
While self-piercing earlobes has less risks than other body parts, visiting a professional piercing studio is unequivocally the safest option. Proper anesthesia, sterilized equipment, and experience creates ideal conditions for new piercings.
If you do attempt to pierce your own ears, understand the risks of infection, trauma, uneven results, and other complications. Make sure to have the proper sterilized piercing supplies, follow safe technique, and provide diligent aftercare. Consult a doctor for any concerning symptoms after a DIY piercing.