Getting ears pierced is quite exciting as well as an entrance into the adventure of trying a new style. Most of them ask how many precautions need to be taken afterward, mainly during activities such as swimming. There are care processes to be followed so that all parts can heal in order to regain proper look and comfort for having ears pierced. This, of course happens to be an activity that majority in the world like swimming, it is just interesting how it may be safe to your pierced ear.
This piece of writing moves on with more information on is it safe to swim after piercing ears and more excellent tips at the car following your new piercing to avoid further complications.
Ear Piercing Healing Time
A little background knowledge before discussing a topic such as swimming should know the general healing process with an ear piercing. In average terms, any kind of piercing is going to take anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months to complete, depending on the type and individual factors. At such time, an ear piercing of an individual is liable to get infected and inflamed or get damaged if in any environment-exposure to body of water, as a swimming pool, lake, or ocean may provide.
Why Swimming May Prove Hazardous?
The wound that is caused by piercing your ears is basically an open hole in your skin. Regardless of how small it is, the hole has to be looked after and covered until it heals. That’s why swimming is dangerous:
Exposure to Bacteria: Regardless of the pool, lake, or ocean you swim in, it is usually full of bacteria. Most pools contain chlorine treatment that eliminates the germs but when the water is not treated correctly, the bacteria live in the water. Swimming in a lake or in an ocean increases the risk of infection because thousands and thousands of microscopic organisms swim around open body water.
Chlorine Irritation: Chlorine, which most people use in swimming pool water, does irritate to the sensitive tissues around a recently pierced ear; it may result in delay and complications of inflammation, redness, and discomfort.
Saltwater Risks: Though saltwater is an alleviating effect for minor cuts and sores, piercing in a newly pierced ear can hurt or be stinging painful. It could even make the skin of that area drier and sometimes create scabbing or even an infection.
How long to swim after getting ear pierced?
This is based on the piercing and healing it is going through. Generally, one should avoid swimming at least 4-6 weeks after getting a pierced ear. This is performed simply because this way, enough time is allowed to the piercing in order for the formation of an initial healing layer of tissue that covers the hole and consequently, decreasing the susceptibility towards infection.
Check after this amount of time to see if it is healed entirely; no swelling, redness or discharge and swim. But even during this healing phase it is wise to be careful swimming in bodies of water that you do not know to be of high quality such as lakes or ocean.
Swimming Safely with New Piercings: Guidelines
If you’re itching to get back to the pool or beach after getting your ears pierced, here are some tips to help minimize the risks:
Cover the piercing: Before getting into the swimming pool, apply a waterproof bandage or a cover designed for piercings. Sometimes, water carries bacteria into the piercing, so covering it reduces the chances of infection. Just make sure the cover you use breathes since you wouldn’t want moisture trapped in it, encouraging bacteria to start growing.
Clean your piercing after swimming: rinse with saline solution or a mild, non-alcoholic antiseptic, clean the punctured area where bacteria, or even saltwater can collect.
Swim in safe waters. Whenever possible, swim in chlorinated pools and frequently cleaned pools. Do not swim in lakes or oceans until they have been treated as a source of water until your piercing has healed.
Avoid Immersion of Your Ears for Long Duration Even after the healing time period, do not keep your ears immersed in water for long. Try to remain in the pool or sea for the least possible time and avoid immersion of your head in the water.
Monitor for Signs of Infection: If you feel that there is a sign of infection such as increased swelling, redness, pain, or pus, then you should not swim and should consult a health care professional. Infections have to be treated in time so that they don’t become a further complication.
What to Do If Your Piercing Gets Infected?
If you get an infection in your ear piercing from the time you start swimming, do something about it immediately. Actually, you can treat the infection pretty well. But when you do not take the time to treat the infection, then permanent damage will await you in the ears, along with scarring, too. And this is how you will approach when you believe that you get infected:
Clean the Piercing: Saline solution should be used in the cleaning of the piercing, although harsh things and alcohol on the wound tend to intensify the wound.
Apply an Antiseptic: A weak antiseptic may be used on the piercing to kill the bacteria and, therefore, prevent infection.
Seek a Professional: If the infection does not respond or even gets worse, seek advice from a health professional or a professional piercer. The latter may advise using antibiotics or any other treatments.
Conclusion
Basically, it is not advisable to swim right after piercing your ears as it could pose a danger to infection and irritation. Therefore, the best choice would be waiting until the piercing heals, which is safe enough. To further guard the piercing against coming into contact with harmful bacteria and harsh chemicals like chlorine during healing, one needs to follow the guidelines as stated above. For uncertainty, however, consult the piercer or a health expert.