So, I'm attempting to gauge my left ear again. [Want to get to either 4 or 2 gauge] Right now I have a claw/hook taper in, and I'm thinking it's at about an 8 gauge. Last time I did this, my ear got SEVERELY infected....though it could have been from the type of earring I used [it was acrylic] I was wondering if anyone had any other good suggestions as to keep infection away while in the process of gauging? I have been using rubbing alcohol and so far it seems to be healing pretty good....but I heard somewhere that alcohol isn't the best idea [not sure why] so...now I'm a little confused. Anyone?????
alcohol kills skin cells. the dyes in acrylic are toxic. switch to an antimicrobial undyed unscented soap, or saline solution. and trade the acrylic for implant grade stainless steel. then you will be in good shape. only stretch once every six weeks minimum. the longer you wait, the better. and only go two gauge sizes at a time (10-8-6-4-2 etc)
Eh. All the stretched ear people I've been around have smelly ears. I don't know what causes that....but try to keep the stink under control. Haha. I live by hot salt water for my piercings. It cleans them and gets rid of infection/prevents it.
smelly ear funk is a combination of the moisture your body excretes and dead skin cells. since your wearing the jewelry tightly over skin, when the moisture excapes, it also mixes with the dead skin cells you also naturally shed. this combination forms the stuff commonly known as 'ear cheese', and it smells. taking the jewelry out (after full healing of course) while showering fixes the problem completely.
It may not be the type of plug.... because my left lobe is 16mm and I wear an acrylic plug and its fine... all the advice I can give is - 1. Stretch slowly and at 2 gauges at a time - 14,12,10,8,6,4,2,0 2. Get rid of the alcohol solution and use salty water Goodluck
I'm between 6 and 4 gauge right now and it's doing great. I have been using alcohol, though I know I shouldn't, it's working really well, and I'm afraid to try anything else since it's going so good. Acrylic is okay for a lot of people, camdread, but I have really sensitive ears. Like insanely sensitive ears. So I'm going to stick to surgical/stainless steel just to be safe. It's looking good, and it doesn't smell a bit! Honestly!
Most people rush when it comes to gauging out you lobes or anything piercing for that matter. WELL DON'T. Just because you got some shiny knew 0g plugs doesn't mean you newly pierced ears will see them for a long time. Your skin has only so much give before it rips. When this happens is when the bleeding and the infections usually accure. It's called a blow out, and too bad of a blow out can ruin your ear. Stretching two gauges at a time is your best bet. 14g,12g,10g,8g,6g,4g,2g,0g,00g,000g You get the point. Time is needed between stretchings both for your ear to heal to the new gauge as well as begin to stretch again to even further gauges. I highly recommend using weighed jewelry (i.e. heavier metal hoops, lobe weights, special made jewelry for gauging,..whatever!) so you have the ability to have them stretch on there own at there own pace without the risk of blowing your ear out. Be warned don't put too much weigh on your ears like with a padlock or something similar. This my result in major ear/head aches and possible bruising or blow outs. From gauge to gauge you will know when it is time to move to bigger jewelry. When the gauge is big enough the next size jewelry should slide into the hole with little or no problems. This can be expensive route but try buddying up with a friend who is gauging there ears or whatever. This makes buying jewelry cheaper and if your piercings are healed to leave no open wound with proper cleaning, of course, you can share your hoops. Using tapers to force you ear to the next gauge is possible but not recommended at all. It can damage your ear to the point that surgery might be needed to fix it. So simply put weight, time, patience, and some money is all ya need to stretch your lobes safely and effectively
Well thank you for the advice. Gauging it to 4 gauge went quicker than expected, but I did NOT push it... My ears naturally stretch easily. Even if I just wear regular earrings in overnight for a few days in a row, my piercing gets larger. I tried to keep it in one spot so that it wouldn't tear the skin, but when I would wake up my taper would be pushed through even more so, but...it never bled, or hurt, so I'm assuming it's okay. Thanks for all the advice. I am going to sit with this 4 gauge hook-taper thing in it for a while, and in time, I think I might go to 2 gauge and end it there. If I have any questions I'll be sure to contact you, since you really seem to know a lot. Thanks again
