Stretched earlobes are a different kind of body mod. They seem to attract a slightly different crowd, and it’s frequently about size instead of quantity. Also, they take considerably longer than getting a standard piercing. So, if you’ve made the jump and started stretching up your lobes – or if you already have stretched lobes and just want some tips on keeping them healthy – read on. Stretched piercings require a different style of aftercare.
First of all, it’s not just earlobes that get stretched. Other common piercings for stretching include labrets, septums, nostrils, and conchs. For this moment, we are going to focus on earlobes simply because they are the most common of all. First there is the stretching process. You should hopefully be doing this with single flare glass plugs. (Did you read our post on that? No...? Click here to read more) You should be stretching one gauge or no more than one millimeter at a time. (This may require hunting down plugs in strange sizes.) You should never apply any kind of ointment to your lobes, antibiotic or moisturizing. These create a warm, moist environment that is a perfect home for bacteria. And don’t make your own sea salt solution to clean them. You need sterile saline spray.
Once you’ve gotten your lobes to the gauge you want, you still need to care for them differently. Your earlobes need to breathe so make sure you take your plugs out for at least a few hours a day. Ideally, you should be able to get to a point where you can take them out overnight. Otherwise, moisture can get trapped in the fistula and cause your lobes to become weepy, irritated, and painful. This is doubly true if you wear silicone, as silicone doesn’t allow for any kind of airflow causing a higher risk for moisture issues. So long as your lobes are healthy and in good condition, you should be giving them the occasional massage with a good quality, body safe oil like jojoba or sweet almond. When you shower, make sure your lobes are fully dry before putting your plugs in, and clean your plugs before you insert them. And when it’s time to go up a size, make sure you don’t force it. If you’re having trouble getting the jewelry in, your lobe isn’t ready. You can try using heavier plugs, such as stone plugs, or using hanging ear weights to help it along.
A few more brief tips on the subject of stretching your lobes:
- Tapers are not jewelry. You should not be wearing straight tapers in your ears.
- Acrylic is not safe for stretching with or for wearing in freshly stretched lobes.
- If it hurts, if it bleeds, stop what you’re doing. Your lobes aren’t ready yet.
- If you get a blowout, take your jewelry out until it heals. Better to lose some size than to have your lobes heal up looking funky.
- If you’re wearing straight or single-flare plugs, don’t forget to check your O-rings occasionally. (This is actually a good tip for all jewelry – check those ball ends too!)
Stretched piercings have been around throughout history. With the proper care and maintenance, your stretched lobes can stay healthy and happy for as long as you care to keep them. Happy piercing!
