Aftercare Routine

[pitchblackmind]

I stretched my ears for the first time last week, beginning at 14g. I didn't have any problems getting them in, but of course, they were pretty sore for a couple of days afterwards.

I was wondering if my aftercare is decent.

Twice a day (once in the morning and then at night):

1. Sea salt soak for 2 minutes
2. Clean lobes and plugs with Dr. Bronner's Tea Tree Organic Bar Soap
3. Massage lobes using Emu Oil or Holey Butt'r

[caadam]

You might want to switch to a less drying Dr. Bronner's. I love using that soap for my ears, too, but I tend to use peppermint (which I dilute heavily) or lavender. I bet the baby Dr. Bronner's would be even better.

Also, are you taking out the plugs when you clean and massage your ears? If you are, I suggest you start keeping them in and clean around them. Pulling plugs in and out of freshly stretched lobes and cause irritation and scar tissue. Try to not mess with them for another week or so.

[pitchblackmind]

Thanks, caadam.

Yes, I have been removing my plugs, but I will keep them in, as you suggested.

[TonyxMAE]

There is such a thing as too much aftercare.
You should lighten it up a bit.

[caadam]

Ah! Good point.

But how can they lighten it up a bit, you know? Maybe start doing their care routine every other day, and just doing either sea salt soaks or washing with soap. Maybe not even do it twice a day!

See what happens. ♥ IMO, I would keep to the sea salt soaks first and leave out the soap washing for now. See how your ears do with that. If you don't like it, you can just use the Dr. Bronner's instead. My ears haven't suffered from just using it, as long as I dilute it properly so they won't dry out.

And maybe you can start doing this routine just once a day. Pick the time you want to do it.

Those are my thoughts on it (now that I noticed lol), but perhaps someone else has a better suggestion than me.

[TonyxMAE]

Well there isn't a need to be doing both the sea salt soaks and cleaning with the soap.
Since you recently stretched I'd stick to the sea salt soaks maybe once or twice a day and that's it.
Once your ears are healed from the stretch you can do the regular daily routine of cleaning with soap and the massages.

[SpaceCadet410]

I would say that for a fresh stretch u should sea salt soak for 5 mins Twice a day. Then once Its healed and ur about to stretch again massage with emu oil evryday up until ur neXT stretch. H2OCEAN Is a GOOD solution for sea salt soak altho it doesn't replace the initial procedure. You can find it at any tattoo or piercing shop for 15 to 20. its good for if ur on the go and may not have time to soak ur ears. just spray it on ur lobes let sit for like 2mins then wipe off