There is no federal regulation of the piercing industry, and many states don’t have legislation on the topic, so you’ll want to research and visit different shops and parlors in person so that you can check for cleanliness and learn about how experienced the piercers are.

You should also study their piercings: do you like how the piercings were placed? Besides seeing what your friends recommend, you can also go online to look for reviews of the shops you are thinking about going to for your piercing.

Experts recommend that you look for an autoclave at the shop, which is a sterilizing machine. [1] X Research source

Avoid going to a parlor or shop that uses piercing guns. Even when the needle is changed out between uses, the gun may still have blood or tissue on it from previous customers. Piercing guns also cause a great deal of tissue damage compared to piercing needles.

Health professionals firmly recommend that only fresh needles be used to pierce your cartilage.

Don’t be afraid to get up out of the chair if your piercer skips any of these steps.

Choose a mild soap, and avoid any cleansers with perfumes, which can irritate your sensitive skin.

Mix 1/8 teaspoon (0. 6 g) of sea salt with 8 fluid ounces (240 mL) of warm water. Don’t use table salt, which contains anti-caking ingredients that can cause irritation. Be sure to measure the salt carefully so you don’t create an overly salty solution, which can damage the healing tissue.

Then, gently apply the saline solution all around your piercing.

Because they are so sticky, they can also trap dirt and bacteria, potentially setting you up for further trouble.

Don’t think that letting the shampoo wash over your ears will be sufficient for cleaning your piercings. If anything, the ingredients in your body wash or shampoo can further irritate your piercing.

You may even want to wear your hair pulled back from your piercing for a while.

If both of your ears are pierced, then try to sleep on your back and avoid doing anything that will put pressure on the piercings. [12] X Research source

Consider using the speaker-phone function for a while!

If your ear or the surrounding skin is red or swollen, you may have an infection developing. An infected ear may also produce a green or yellow discharge, and may be extra tender to the touch. [14] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source Similarly, if your ear is warm to the touch or if you develop a fever, your new piercing may be infected, in which case you should definitely seek medical attention.

If you take the earring out too early, it could begin to heal over and trap the infection inside the wound. This can lead to the formation of an abscess, which can be serious and painful to care for. [15] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source

Talk to your doctor about what is being prescribed for your infection; a stronger drug is often needed.

The best choices for a new piercing are niobium, titanium, or 14 or 18 carat gold.

If you pierced your pinna (the area above the lobe of your ear), it can take up to 12 to 16 weeks to heal. [18] X Research source

Even after the piercing has healed, it’s a good idea to keep something in it as much as possible to prevent it from closing up.

This simple step will help ensure that your ears are healthy and that you can enjoy experimenting with fun and different accessories.