Ear piercing, what do I need to know?

[damililove]

For my daughters 13th birthday this year we are going to get her ears pierced and I wondering:
-since she had them pierced before(at age 1, closed up by 2) will that be a problem
-I vaguely remember needing "special" earrings at first, what kind and how long before she can have different ones.

I was planning to go to her doctor for the procedure but wanted to get her the earrings before hand so I wanted to know what to buy. Thanks for any insight.

Ayana

[scsigrl]

The ones they start with have very sharp post so it can go through the ear. They use to say you needed to keep those in for 6 weeks. They need to be turned a few times a day.

I will ass this, do not get ones with to small a front. I did that when I too got them done for my 13th Birthday. I got little gold balls and the ball went through the hole and was stuck in my ear. Because the holes were so new they healed over and my Mom had to dig it out NOT fun!

[onyxravnos]

do not not not not not go and get her ears peirced at the mall or any of those types of places. Using a peircing gun is a sure fire way to have constent issues with infection as well as to pretty much insure they don't heal corectly. Take her to a professional peircer (IE like a tattoo shop) they are trained and licenced to pireced and care for piercings unlike the mall people.
The other good thing about going there instead is the jewelry is much better quality.

[mommajb]

Take any adverse reaction seriously.

I have always had sensitive skin but after my ears were pierced it developed into a full blown allergy. I have tested + against several metals (including cobalt and nickel). These metals are used in buttons on jeans, door knobs, most watch backings, etc. I can deal with no jewelry but the severity of the reaction to other everyday things is irritating not to mention the initial reaction and ER visit.

[imahappymama]

I second the professional piercing studios. They have access to good equipment, high-quality jewelry and will show you how everything has been sterilized prior to being used on your daughter. NO MALLS!!! ALso, I had my ears pierced when I was younger and also let them close up. The piercer knew this and avoided any scar tissue that I had in my lobes.

[PoppyMama]

3rding (is that a word?) the advice to go to a professional piercer. Make sure they show their clean technique too.

[Simplicity]

I agree, I'd only go to a professional piercer to have this done.

Visit the Association of Professional Piercers webpage for tons of information and to find a shop in your area.

safepiercing.org

[mikaela]

Where are we here... I'm either fourth-ing or fifth-ing the professional piercing recommendation

Having said that, you should also know that it may take a bit of research to find a piercer who will pierce a 13-year-old. It took me about a month to find someone willing to pierce my underage son. Most reputable places just will not pierce someone under 18, whether the parent is there or not. I can't actually say that this a bad policy, but it was a PITA and a bit ironic when I couldn't take my son to the studio that I myself use.

If you know a fabulous piercer, start there; otherwise, you can start by doing a search at the Association of Professional Piercers.

There's also the option of just doing it yourself. Lobe piercing is probably the safest and easiest piercing to do at home - and what a cool experience for you and your girl to share

Whatever you decide, make sure you post some "after" pics for us!

[UnschoolnMa]

We went to a piercer for ears and Dd's nose peircing. We had no trouble getting them done (Dd is 14). Dd has kept it clean and it's doing great.

[LaLaLaLa]

I'd like to reiterate going with high quality (actual gold) earrings. I'm allergic to anything silver, or whatever it is that they mix silver with to make an alloy, so have never been able to wear anything except gold earrings without my piercings getting itchy and oozy. Goes to prove I'm a classy girl, right? If your dd has an allergic reaction right off the bat to silver, as I've heard is not uncommon, that might dampen the enthusiasm for the whole experience.

[damililove]

Thank you all so much for all the information. Wow have times changed. So I guess people don't put straws in their holes any more to keep them from closing up. Thanks so much for the website. I found a place in my area that I am familiar with, and come to find out I need a birth certificate because me and dd have different last names. Good thing I asked this question or I would be totally clueless. Had no idea there was such a thing as a professional piercer. Thanks again for all the info, dd is going to be so surprised.

[laoxinat]

DS is a professional piercer and recommends the following:
Do NOT touch the piercing. At.all.
Shower daily and run clean water over both sides of each piercing
Do NOT touch the piercing. At.all.
Be sure to rinse away all traces of conditioner, etc.
Do NOT touch the piercing. At.all.
No alcohol, peroxide or triple antibiotic ointment.
Do NOT touch the piercing. At.all.
Be ready for dd to want more more more! We talked at length about placement and people's judgement. (We are all pretty...pierced)
Our stock answer to rude stares/comments is- "The difference b/t pierced people and unpierced is pierced people don't judge you for NOT being pierced"
hth!

[jul511riv]

dd's been asking and she'll be 3 next month...so I've been thinking. I was 4 or 5...and she is being persistnat, even though I told her it COULD hurt a bit.

Thoughts?

[PoppyMama]

Originally Posted by laoxinat

DS is a professional piercer and recommends the following:
Do NOT touch the piercing. At.all.
Shower daily and run clean water over both sides of each piercing
Do NOT touch the piercing. At.all.
Be sure to rinse away all traces of conditioner, etc.
Do NOT touch the piercing. At.all.
No alcohol, peroxide or triple antibiotic ointment.
Do NOT touch the piercing. At.all.
Be ready for dd to want more more more! We talked at length about placement and people's judgement. (We are all pretty...pierced)
Our stock answer to rude stares/comments is- "The difference b/t pierced people and unpierced is pierced people don't judge you for NOT being pierced"
hth!

My DP is also a professional piercer and that sounds pretty much like his advice. I can't remember if he uses saline rinses for these types of piercings. He is always appalled that the "walmart" ear piercers have you rotate the earings.

[PoppyMama]

Originally Posted by jul511riv

dd's been asking and she'll be 3 next month...so I've been thinking. I was 4 or 5...and she is being persistnat, even though I told her it COULD hurt a bit.

Thoughts?

My DD got hers done for her 4th birthday. We went the "walmart" piercer route and she ended up with lots of infections and they took about 4 months to heal properly. If you can't get a Pro to do it at her age I would go to the doctor.

[Viewfinder]

Resulting metal allergy: me, too!

Originally Posted by mommajb

Take any adverse reaction seriously.

I have always had sensitive skin but after my ears were pierced it developed into a full blown allergy. I have tested + against several metals (including cobalt and nickel). These metals are used in buttons on jeans, door knobs, most watch backings, etc. I can deal with no jewelry but the severity of the reaction to other everyday things is irritating not to mention the initial reaction and ER visit.

This is the first time I've ever heard of anyone else having this reaction.

Me: 16, ears pierced with sewing needle, whisky, and potato. Never healed, gave up and let it close. (The adventure was exciting and fun and memorable, though! The people who were there, family party, adults and teen kids, and younger--the whole thing was great).

My skin: Allergic to metals from then on.

I suggest that YOU put a spot where YOU think the hole should be, and where it should go through to. A pro shouldn't mind you doing that... there have been plenty before you who were. It's YOUR kids' ears.

Have fun.

VF

[CookieMonsterMommy]

Originally Posted by mikaela

There's also the option of just doing it yourself. Lobe piercing is probably the safest and easiest piercing to do at home - and what a cool experience for you and your girl to share

This "wiki how to" thing has a LOT of crap in it, please don't follow this for advice.

[mommajb]

viewfinder, most people think its crazy that I am so allergic to so many metals. I feel so validated on this now.

OP, please report back on how all this goes and with pictures. :

[mikaela]

Originally Posted by CookieMonsterMommy

This "wiki how to" thing has a LOT of crap in it

Care to elaborate?

[CookieMonsterMommy]

Originally Posted by mikaela

Care to elaborate?

Sure thing!

Get a real piercing needle, but if not, a sewing needle or piercing earring (with sharp edge) works best

Except that sewing needles are often made of cheap (read: irritating, allergy producing) metals and are usually MUCH smaller than the earing post you'll be using. You're causing more tissue damage then necessary.

rubbing alcohol will not sterilize the needle, earring, or your ear unless you leave them soaking in the alcohol all day

Misinformation

Put something sturdy on the back of your ear like a slice of potato. This is so when you push the needle in, you have something to push against, rather than tugging the skin.

That's great, but no mention is made of making sure not to handle the potato in order to prevent spread of germs

Stick whatever you chose slowly through your ear until all the way through.

I guess this is debatable, and obviously you don't want to chuck a spear at someone, but "slowly"? Ow!

Twist needle on daily basis so that it doesn't get stuck in one position

Or even better, don't. Leave it alone. That's what most professional piercers recommend-with good reason.

Don't let it become infected! If it does, do not remove the piercing! Doing so will seal the infection within the earlobe, which can cause many problems.

That's just insanely inaccurate, for so many reasons... (bolding mine)

The discussion page also has some good arguments as to the accuracy of the info given.