When it comes to daily maintenance, the best thing you can do to promote a healthy, healed piercing is regularly cleaning around your earring. Make sure you wash your ear twice daily with gentle antibacterial soap and clean hands. You can then follow it up with an ointment or cream if your piercer suggests one. Dermatologist and professor Mona Gohara shared her favorite products to use with Self – Vaseline, Aquaphor, and other over-the-counter petroleum creams all made the list. The specialist does warn that antibiotic creams can cause further irritation unless prescribed by a doctor for fighting a piercing infection.
During the first few months of your healing process, you can irritate your piercing simply by lying directly on your ear while sleeping, frequently changing your jewelry, or even swimming while the piercing is still fresh. If you notice that your piercing becomes swollen, red, and tender to the touch, it's probably infected. You may also notice that the area around your piercing is itchy, hot, or secreting a pus-like substance. Not to fear: Infections are a common side effect of new piercings, and they will usually go away with the proper care. If you notice your piercing is infected, continue your cleaning routine and try not to touch it too often. If you begin to experience more serious signs of infection, like a fever, chills, or an embedded earring that cannot move, seek medical assistance.
