Ear piercing the right way: A stress-free guide for parents
Posted on: 01/07/2025
With the school holidays approaching, many children in the UK are looking forward to a special milestone: getting their ears pierced for the first time. Summer is a popular time for this rite of passage, with the six-week break providing the perfect window for healing before the new school term begins.
For many young people, it’s an exciting and memorable experience, but for parents, it can bring a few concerns, too. From preparation and aftercare to spotting signs of infection, there’s a lot to consider. To help make the process smooth and stress-free, the experts at Chapelle are here to share everything parents should know about their child’s ear piercing.
Preparing for the piercing appointment
Consider timing the piercing at the very start of the school holidays to allow for the full healing period — six weeks is typical for a lobe piercing. Choose a reputable, professional piercing studio or jeweller.
Before booking an ear piercing for your child, take a few preparatory steps to ensure the experience is smooth and positive. Talk to your child about what to expect — a quick sting or pinch, a bit of aftercare, then the excitement of choosing their first pair of earrings.
On the day of the appointment, bring along some form of identification for yourself and your child, as guardian consent will be required for under-18s. Experienced piercers will look to make sure both the child and the adult with them are comfortable. They should be able to explain how the equipment used is sterile and wear gloves while doing the piercing.
Aftercare tips
Proper aftercare is crucial to prevent infection and ensure a smooth healing process. After the piercing, your piercer will provide instructions, but here are a few general tips to follow:
- Clean the area twice daily with a sterile saline solution. Your piercer may recommend a particular product, but over-the-counter options are widely available at most pharmacies. Avoid using tap water, as it can irritate the skin and delay healing.
- Wash your hands thoroughly before touching or cleaning the pierced area. Ideally, try to avoid touching the piercing altogether unless necessary for cleaning.
- Gently rotate the jewellery around 180 degrees each day. This can help keep the piercing clean and prevent the jewellery from becoming embedded in the hole.
- Avoid getting soaps, shampoos, and other products on the piercing site during the healing process. To help keep the area dry in the shower, you can use ear guards — small protective covers designed to shield the ears from water. After washing your hair, make sure the piercing area is thoroughly dried before applying any aftercare products.
Earlobe piercings typically heal within six weeks, but this can vary from person to person. Following the aftercare routine closely gives the best chance of a quick and complication-free recovery.
Common issues and how to deal with them
It’s normal for the piercing site to be a little red or tender for the first few days after piercing. However, keep an eye out for signs of infection. These include:
- Swelling or increased redness
- Persistent pain or throbbing
- Yellow or green pus or discharge around the piercing site
- Warmth around the piercing site
If you notice any of these symptoms, clean the area gently and contact your GP or pharmacist for advice. Minor infections can often be managed with good hygiene and topical treatments, but in more severe cases, medical attention may be needed.
Other common issues include a bump around the piercing site caused by knocking the piercing during sleep or play. To reduce the risk of this, encourage your child not to sleep on the pierced ear (or to sleep on their back if both ears are pierced). These friction bumps usually go away on their own and are not generally a cause for concern.
What not to do
Occasionally, a bump around the piercing site can be caused by a reaction to the jewellery itself. When selecting earrings, opt for high-quality, hypoallergenic materials such as medical-grade stainless steel, titanium, or 14k gold.
It’s important not to remove earrings too early, even if the piercing appears healed. Similarly, don’t let your child change earrings before the recommended healing time. Avoid swimming in pools or natural water bodies during the first few weeks, as this can introduce bacteria.
Different piercing locations on the ear
The earlobe is the most common — and safest — place for a child’s first piercing. It heals relatively quickly and is accepted by most UK schools. Cartilage piercings, such as the helix or tragus, are generally not recommended for younger children due to longer healing times (often up to 12 months) and a greater risk of infection.
Before getting any piercing, it's worth checking your child’s school's policy. Some schools only allow one stud per earlobe, and jewellery is usually required to be removed during PE lessons. Discuss these rules in advance so your child is prepared when the term starts again.
“A child’s first piercing should be a special milestone and a positive memory to look back on. To make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible, always visit a reputable jeweller or professional piercing studio that prioritises hygiene and uses high-quality, hypoallergenic materials for jewellery.
“With the right preparation and proper aftercare, the first piercing can be an exciting and worry-free experience for both parents and children alike.”
— Jamie Cooper, Gold Jewellery Buyer at Chapelle
About Chapelle:
With 40 years of jewellery expertise, Chapelle believes that beautiful jewellery and top brand pieces should be available to everyone. That's why all of their diamonds, jewellery, and watches are at least 30% off the RRP. Founded in 1979 by husband-and-wife duo Paul & Margaret Mortimer, Chapelle Jewellers began life as a family-run business in Nottingham. Since joining the F.Hinds family in 2019, they've continued to offer even greater value, bringing luxury jewellery and fantastic prices to more customers than ever. Find out more at https://www.chapelle.co.uk/