Ear Stretching Aftercare Instructions

 Caring for your stretched ears is one of the most important parts of the entire process. A fresh piercing is very different from a fresh stretch. If you stretch properly (wait long enough between sizes, never skip sizes) you should not have any open wounds to care for. If you stretch too fast and experience a rip or tear in your earlobe, you will need to treat it like a new piercing. The best way to do this is with hot sea salt soaks. Soak your earlobes in a mixture of 1/8-1/4 teaspoon of sea salt per one cup of water for five to ten minutes every day until they heal. NEVER apply alcohol, peroxide, or Bactine to your ears. They're too harsh and will kill healthy cells.

Keeping Your Newly Stretched Ears Healthy

The best way to maintain healthy stretched ears is with oil massages. These should only be done on earlobes with no open wounds or irritation. The purpose of oil massages is to break down any scar tissue that's been created by the piercing or built up during the stretching process. Some good oils to use are emu oil, vitamin E oil, jojoba oil, Naked oil, and bio oil. There are also products designed specifically for stretched ears but they're usually more expensive. The massaging itself is more important than what oil you're using, so don't worry if you can't afford certain things. Vitamin E oil is usually the cheapest and easiest to get, since you can buy the capsules at any drugstore and squeeze the oil out of them.

Ear Stretching Aftercare Practices

Like most things with stretching, massages are best when done after a hot shower so your pores will be open and your lobes can better absorb the oil. Remove your jewelry, apply a small amount of whatever product you're using onto your fingertips and your earlobe, and begin massaging. There's really no set amount of time to massage your ears, but five minutes or longer is best. It can get boring, so listen to music or something to entertain yourself! Massages are a great way to keep your ears happy and healthy!