You may have heard it before, “make sure you twist the earrings so that the jewelry doesn’t get stuck in place”. Bluntly put, this is false, and simply put- is not a reality. Twisting, pushing, touching your jewelry when cleaning a new piercing is never recommended, and there are several important reasons for this:
Irritation and Damage: Twisting or moving the jewelry can cause irritation to the healing piercing- leading to complications like irritation abscesses (piercing pimples) and irritation bumps. Healing piercings form a delicate fistula or channel inside the piercing hole. The friction/excessive movement and pressure on the delicate tissue (it is a wound until it is healed) can lead to microtears and damage, slowing down and disrupting the healing process.
Introduction of Bacteria: Twisting or pushing the jewelry can introduce bacteria, oils, and dirt from your hands/fingers into the piercing, increasing the risk of infection. The piercing is a healing wound, and any contact with unclean hands can be harmful.
Discharge: Twisting or pushing jewelry can push out any natural discharge or lymph that the piercing produces during the healing process, which it produces in order to regenerate tissue/cells, and heal itself. This discharge is a normal part of healing and helps to clean the wound. This often hardens and you will have what we call “crusties” around the piercing site that you may notice on your jewelry. By twisting/pushing your jewelry, you risk forcefully pulling/ripping those “crusties” off. This can cause many issues like scar tissue build up, trauma to the piercing site/tissue, and irritation abscesses. It does need to be cleaned away as if it is left to build up it can harbor bacteria and lead to infection. However, it is best to wet the area (using sterile saline wound wash) to help soften those crusties before gently cleaning them away, ideally with sterile non-woven Gauze (if this is unavailable to you, a Q-Tip will suffice)- and remember, it is important to always keep your piercing DRY, so be sure to dry it after cleaning and showering. A hair dryer on a cold setting can help with this.
It's important to follow the aftercare instructions provided by your Professional Piercer. Typically, these instructions will include avoiding unnecessary touching or movement of the jewelry during the healing process. If you have concerns about your piercing or its aftercare, or if you notice any issues, consult with your piercer for guidance on how to care for your specific piercing properly. Remember, don’t play with your piercing!