Does it hurt? Does getting your ears pierced hurt? This is a common question that goes into the mind of those who are getting their ears pierced for the first time. The short answer is generally yes, but only temporarily.
Getting ears pierced has become a tradition for most cultures. For some, it is part of their tradition. For others, they are adapting to the trend. Pierced ears add accent to your style. They also give you more personality.
You should prepare yourself before getting ears pierced. Though some may go to the nearest piercing ears shop and have their ears pierced immediately, it is often a safer bet to have everything prepared. Here is a list of things to know before getting pierced ears.
Different states have their own regulations regarding the eligibility of people for piercings. Some areas prohibit those under 18 years old to get a piercing or tattoo unless allowed or even accompanied by their parents.
It is good to eat a full meal before having your ears pierced because it can keep your body's sugars stable. Not having something in the stomach may bring your blood sugars low and make you faint during your piercing ears session.
It is best to look around and find a good and reputable shop for ear piercing. Make sure that this shop has all of its devices cleaned and disinfected. It should also only use single-use sterilized needles for piercing.
Aside from “Does getting your ears pierced hurt,” you can also ask other questions to the shop like “How do you dispose of the needles” or “Do you use disposable gloves” to the handler or owner.
It is also best to skip retail or accessory shops that use piercing guns because these cannot be sterilized. They can also tissue damage because of trauma and swelling in the ears. Either way, you will feel pain for a while.
Do ear piercings hurt? Honestly, it will hurt. Any foreign object that punctures your body will definitely cause some pain. Needles that are pierced to your earlobes will hurt. The level of pain with regard to the experience is relative, though. Some say that it only lasts for a minute or two. Others say it hurts a lot.
With that said, take note of our ranking of the types of ear piercing pain levels from worst to least:
1. Anti-tragus piercing
2. Conch piercing
3. Daith piercing
4. Industrial piercing
5. Helix Piercing
6. Rook piercing
7. Cartilage piercing
Again, we recommend getting your ears pierced with a needle rather than a gun for various reasons. One-time needles are safer and cleaner while piercing guns cannot be fully sterilized. Another main reason is that needles hurt less compared to piercing guns.
Do ear piercings hurt during the procedure? Yes, most would say that it does hurt. Does it hurt after it is done? It is normal for your ears to hurt after an ear piercing. But the swelling and redness would subside in the next few days. The soreness can be felt in one to two weeks to one month depending on the type of piercing that was done to your ears.
The ear piercing pain will be gone in two months because the cartilage would have completely healed by then. If your ears have recovered from the pain and then they become swollen again, it is usually a sign of infection.
Ear piercing pain usually subsides a few days after the procedure. But if the pain is too much to handle, you can always use over-the-counter pills. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are good painkillers to bring you relief.
Others use chamomile tea compress. The tea bag is placed in boiling water for two to three minutes. Let it cool down and then apply the bag to the area where you feel discomfort.
Wash your ears with water and cleanser to prevent any infection that would increase the pain after piercing. You should also prevent yourself from touching the piercing to avoid aggravating the damaged tissues.
The average cost of ear piercing is usually $40 per ear. Cartilage and tragus piercing on one ear cost a little higher – around $60 to $70. The cost of ear piercing will also depend on the type of earring that you choose.
You can get babies’ ears pierced as early as infancy. It really depends on the decision of the parents. Some have their kids’ ears pierced a little older so that they can take care of the pierced ear. The right age for piercing is the prerogative of the parent.
As far as having your kids’ ears pierced inside a shop, take note that some states only allow ear piercing with parental permission for those who are under 18 years old.
You have two options to get your ears pierced- mall kiosks or piercing shops. The former are retail shops that offer ear piercing using piercing guns. We do not recommend this because of safety reasons. The devices they use are not properly sterilized and guns can cause serious tissue damage to the ears.
If you are to have your ears pierced, it is better to go to reputable piercers or piercing shops. They are experts in the field and know the proper way of ear piercing. They also offer high-quality jewelry compared to retail shops.
If you have not decided yet whether to get your ears pierced or not, you have other options. You can go for magnetic earrings. These are types of earrings that use magnets to keep them attached to your ears. Some are even rare earth magnets that look good as stud earrings.
Swelling of the ears after the piercing is normal. But if the pain increases after one to two weeks, it may be a sign of infection. If the redness persists after a week, you should also watch out for a possible infection.
Does getting your ears pierced hurt? Yes, it does. Is infection normal? No, it is not. This is why you should go to recommended ear piercing shops for the procedure. You should also keep your ears clean to avoid infection.
In case your ears get an infection, you can do it at home by preparing a saline solution and applying it to the infected area. You can also buy saline products in the market. If you have a fever because of the infection, seek medical attention immediately.
