Piercing Aftercare 101: How to Clean and Care for Your New Piercing

Caring for Your New Piercing: The LeMel Aftercare Guide

Everything you need to know for happy, healthy healing.

At LeMel, we believe your ear piercing should be a beautiful experience from start to finish — from the sparkle of your new 14K gold studs to the confidence that comes with knowing you’re taking great care of them. Whether it’s your first piercing or you’re adding to your ear stack, a little attention goes a long way in helping your ears heal comfortably and stay radiant.

Step 1: Keep It Clean

Your new piercing is an open wound and needs gentle, consistent care.
Here’s how to clean your ear piercing safely:

Wash your hands first — every time.
Clean the area 2–3 times a day using a sterile saline solution or a gentle, fragrance-free soap and warm water.
Rinse and pat dry with a clean paper towel or disposable gauze. Avoid cloth towels, which can harbor bacteria or snag your earrings.

Avoid alcohol or hydrogen peroxide — they can dry out the skin and delay healing.

Step 2: Protect Your Piercing While It Heals

Your new jewelry is doing its job — leave it in place until the piercing is fully healed.
Here’s how to protect it:

No twisting or rotating: let the piercing breathe and heal naturally.
Avoid swimming pools, hot tubs, and lakes for 24 hours — bacteria in the water can cause irritation.
Sleep smart: try not to sleep directly on the piercing, and change your pillowcase often.
Keep hair products and perfumes away from the area.

A “hands-off” approach really is best when it comes to caring for your ear piercing.

Step 3: Be Patient with Healing

Everyone heals at a different pace, but here’s what to expect:

Lobe piercings generally heal in about 6–8 weeks.
Cartilage piercings take longer — anywhere from 3–12 months.

During that time, it’s normal to experience mild tenderness, redness, or crusting. That’s just your body doing its job. If you ever notice increased swelling, pain, or pus, reach out to a healthcare provider.

Step 4: When to Change Your Earrings

It’s tempting to switch up your look, but give your piercing the full time it needs before swapping jewelry.
We recommend:

Waiting at least 6 weeks for lobes, and
6–12 months for cartilage.

When you’re ready, visit us at LeMel to pick your next set of 14K gold studs, huggies, or hoops — all hypoallergenic and safe for sensitive skin. Shop all of our favorite piercing studs here.

Quick FAQs

How do I clean my piercing (in 3 sentences)?

Clean your piercing twice daily with saline solution. Cleanse with a mild soap, such as Cetaphil, when showering. You can change your earrings after 6 weeks.

Can I bring my own earrings to a piercing appointment?

All piercings at LeMel are performed with new 14K gold earrings purchased in-store to ensure safety and healing.

How quickly can I change my earring after piercing?

You can change your earrings 6 weeks after a ear lobe piercing and 1 year for the cartilage.

Help, my ears are infected!

While we pierce as safely as possible each body heals differently, and sometimes that healing process doesn't go as expected. Unless otherwise directed by your primary care provider, it is best to leave the earring in place in case of infection, this helps keep the channel open to allow fluids to drain naturally. There are always exceptions to this, such as in the case of an embedded earring or an allergic reaction. Please contact your healthcare provider in the case of embedment or allergic reaction.

Can kids get pierced?

We pierce all ages. We can pierce babies as soon as they have their first round of vaccines. Anyone under 18 must have a parent or guardian present to get pierced.

What if I’m pregnant or nursing?

We don’t perform piercings during pregnancy, and recommend consulting your doctor if you’re nursing.

💖 The LeMel Difference

At LeMel, every piercing is performed by a licensed nurse using sterile technique and 14K gold jewelry. Our goal is to make the process safe, luxurious, and fun — from your first appointment to full healing.