Your parents get to decide when you're ready to get your ears pierced, but doctors suggest waiting until you're old enough to care for them. That means cleaning your ears until they've healed.

How Do I Care for Pierced Ears?

You’ll need to take care of pierced ears whether you have both ears pierced, just one, or more than one piercing in the same ear. These tips can help:

• Leave your new earrings in until your ears are healed, so your piercings don’t close up. This takes at least 6 weeks.
• Keep your piercings clean. Wash your hands with soap and water before caring for your ears or touching your earrings. Use a saline piercing spray on both sides of the hole with your earrings still in.
• Make sure that your earring backings aren’t too tight because that can bother the area.

Always let an adult know if your ear hurts, looks red, or swollen.

With proper care, your pierced ears won't get infected or close up before you have a chance to wear your new earrings!