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FAQ's

Ear piercing

Here you will find the answers to many common questions about ear piercing.

What makes ear piercing with Blomdahl safe?

Medical ear piercing from Blomdahl is based upon what within the health care industry is known as “modern aseptic technique” and is carried out using sterile disposable products. This means that our products and methods are safely designed in order to avoid the spreading of infections when piercing.

Our piercing earrings are developed in consultation with skin care specialists to be suitable for everyone, even those who suffer from allergies. You can choose between carefully selected plastic and titanium of pure medical qualities. The piercing earrings are designed to facilitate the healing process. For instance, the earring backs on Blomdahl piercing jewellery are always fixed at the tip of the post where it encapsulates the tip. The piercing jewellery is also designed to make the hole slightly wider in the beginning, which eases the switch to normal earrings after the healing period.

Our quality-assured manufacturing takes place in Halmstad, Sweden, in accordance with ISO 13485, an international quality standard for medical devices. This means that we have full control and traceability over all stages of production, from materials used to finished product.

How does it feel to have your ears pierced? Everyone experiences an ear piercing differently. Some say it burn a little, others that they can barely feel it at all. Although children may have longed for getting their ears pierced, it sometimes happens that they change their mind after the first hole. Because of this, we have developed medical simultaneous ear piercing, which means that both earlobes are pierced at the same time. The whole procedure is faster, feels safer and is more comfortable for the child.

What are the benefits of having both earlobes pierced at the same time?

When children are about to have their ears pierced, both the children themselves and their parents tend to have several concerns. One of these concerns is: does it hurt? Everyone experiences an ear piercing differently. Some say it burns a little, others that they can barely feel it at all. Although children may have longed for getting their ears pierced, it sometimes happens that they change their mind after the first hole. Because of this, we have developed medical simultaneous ear piercing, which means that both earlobes are pierced at the same time. The whole procedure is faster, feels safer and is more comfortable for the child.

Is there an age restriction on having your ears pierced?

In the UK there are no rules governing how old you must be before you can have your ears pierced. For young babies health care professionals recommend the child to be at least 28 days before it is generally considered safe. It should be noted that if a child is under the legal age (16), a parent or guardian’s consent is required. It is thus up to each parent to decide if or when they want their children to have an ear piercing. Although the parents are responsible for taking care of their child’s newly pierced ears, it is recommended that the child understands some parts of the aftercare instructions. For example, that no one should touch the newly pierced hole and that it is important to be careful when putting on/taking off T-shirts and jumpers, etc.

When is a good time of the year to have your ears pierced?

You can have your ears pierced at any time of the year. When swimming in a pool, lake or ocean, consider the following: The longer period of time that has passed since the time of piercing, the better. Avoid keeping your head under the water. After bathing, clean with either liquid soap and water or with Blomdahl Piercing Aftercare cleansing swabs, which are gentle on the skin and easy to use – see instruction no. 2 in the aftercare instructions .

How much does it cost to have your ears pierced?

Pricing can vary around the UK due to rent, rates and licensing costs etc. Generally, starting prices range from £18 to £23 per pair. Some styles will be a little more.

What part of the ear can be pierced? You can have your earlobe pierced one, two, or even three times, providing there is enough space (see green markings).

You can also pierce the upper ear cartilage, just inside the rollover edge (see green markings).

NOTE! - However, there is a higher risk of infection in the ear cartilage – as there is much less blood supply in the cartilage, it does not have the same built-in protection against infection as the soft part of the ear (the ear lobe). Therefore, when having the ear cartilage pierced, it is especially important to follow the written aftercare instructions that you will receive at the time of piercing. If you still notice an infection in the cartilage, we recommend that you remove the earring, clean/disinfect and seek immediate medical attention.

Why is it so important to choose safe materials when having your ears pierced?

Approximately 15 percent of all women suffer from nickel allergy, which is the most common form of contact allergy. Contact allergies can develop at any time in life, and an ear piercing makes the skin more vulnerable to inappropriate materials, such as nickel, gold, palladium, cobalt and so on. That is why Blomdahl use only the safest materials. Our piercing earrings are developed in consultation with skin specialists to be suitable for everyone, even those who suffer from allergies. You can choose between carefully selected plastic and titanium of pure medical qualities.

Pure medical titanium is the safest metal. It is the same type of material that is used for medical purposes, for example in dental implants. Therefore, if you wear earrings made from pure, medical titanium, you will not have to worry about nickel and other harmful substances.

Pure medical plastic is unique in that it contains 0% nickel. It is made of the same type of material that is used for wound stitches or skin sutures. It has been used for over 40 years within the health care industry and there have been no reported cases of allergy. Therefore, if you wear earrings made from medical plastic, you will not have to worry about nickel and other harmful substances.

How do I take care of my newly pierced ears? An ear piercing is in fact a small wound. It is important to take proper care of it throughout the healing period (approx. 6–12 weeks), in order to avoid it getting infected. By following the aftercare instructions, you can minimize the risk of infection. In the written aftercare instructions you are advised to clean the hole thoroughly twice a day, using soap and water or Blomdahl Piercing Aftercare cleansing swabs, which are gentle on the skin and easy to use.

Why should I avoid rotating the piercing earring?

A common misconception is that, if you do not rotate the piercing earring, the skin will get stuck to it. This is not true. What is true is that rotating the piercing earring without first having cleaned your ear, earring and hands thoroughly, can infect the ear piercing.

When can I remove the piercing earring?  If you have had an earlobe pierced, you can remove and replace the piercing earring after 6 weeks, at the earliest. It takes longer for a hole in the cartilage to heal, so if you have had your cartilage pierced, we recommend that you leave the piercing earring for at least 12 weeks.

How do I remove the piercing earring? Follow the instructions below:

To remove the piercing earring: Wash hands and ears thoroughly. A good time to remove the piercing earring is right after a shower/hair wash. With one hand, take hold of the jewellery part (front) of the piercing earring. With the other hand, take hold of the earring back and wiggle it back and forth, until you feel it loosens. Carefully remove the piercing earring and insert a clean earring. Piercing earrings are only intended to be used during the healing period.

What should I bear in mind after having replaced the piercing earrings with normal earrings?

It takes up to a year before the holes are completely healed. Please consider the following:

  • Always wear earrings. If you go without, the holes can shrink and/or close completely.
  • Take extra care when changing earrings. The skin that has grown within the holes is still thin and delicate and can easily tear, which may cause an infection. Therefore, always make sure to wash your earrings and your hands before the change, and make sure that the area around the holes is kept clean, dry and airy. If you use earrings with earring backs, these should not be pressed tightly against the back of the ear.
  • The risk for developing a contact allergy is at its greatest during the first year. This is why it is extra important to wear safe earrings during this time. Blomdahl have with the aid of skin care specialists, developed skin friendly jewellery suitable for everybody and especially for those who have just had their ears pierced.

Skin friendly jewellery

Here you will find the answers to common questions about skin friendly jewellery.

What should I bear in mind after having replaced the piercing earrings with normal earrings?

It takes up to a year before the holes are completely healed. Hence consider the following:

  • Always wear earrings. If you go without, the holes can shrink and/or close completely.
  • Take extra care when changing earrings. The skin that has grown within the holes is still thin and delicate and can easily tear, which may cause an infection. Therefore, always make sure to wash your earrings and your hands before the change, and make sure that the area around the holes is kept clean, dry and airy. If you use earrings with earring backs, these should not be pressed tightly against the back of the ear.
  • The risk for developing a contact allergy is at its greatest during the first year. This is why it is extra important to wear safe earrings during this time. Blomdahl have with the aid of skin care specialists, developed skin friendly jewellery suitable for everybody and especially for those who have just had their ears pierced.

Why should I choose skin friendly jewellery from Blomdahl?

Contact allergies can develop at any time in life and you can for example become allergic to nickel if you use jewellery containing nickel. Approximately 15 percent of all women suffer from nickel allergy.

Although nickel allergy is the most common type of contact allergy, jewellery can contain many other allergens, such as cobalt, gold, epoxies and acrylates. They may also contain toxic, carcinogenic or otherwise unhealthy substances, such as lead, cadmium, formaldehyde, phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA).

Blomdahl skin friendly jewellery is developed in consultation with skin specialists to be suitable for everyone who wants to avoid contact allergies and other health risks.  We use only the safest materials. Therefore, Blomdahl is recommended for children and adults who want to be able to wear jewellery every day, without having to worry about their skin and health.

How should I care for my jewellery? 

Remember to handle your skin friendly jewellery carefully. That way it will stay beautiful for longer. When you are not using your jewellery, protect it by keeping it in its packaging.

Remove your jewellery when showering. Avoid exposing your jewellery to makeup, hair care products, alcohol and other chemicals.

  • In order for your jewellery to retain its lustre, remove and clean it with uncoloured soapy water as often as possible. For earrings made out of medical plastic, this also means that the earring backs will be more secure.
  • Earrings made out of medical plastic are usually quite resistant, yet the posts, hooks and pendants are soft and need to be handled carefully.
  • In order to make the titanium earring backs tighter and therefore more secure, press the loops of the earring back slightly together before use.

 

Why is all jewellery from Blomdahl delivered in hygienic packaging?

In order to guarantee that you are the first person to come into contact with your new jewellery, we deliver it in a so-called Clean Pack. It keeps the jewellery hygienic until the packaging is opened. The label acts as a seal.

What do nickel-safe/nickel-tested/nickel-free mean?

Even if jewellery is marked nickel-safe/nickel-tested/nickel-free, it does not mean that it is entirely free of nickel. This is because nickel is present in virtually all metals, sometimes as a mixed in ingredient and sometimes in the state of pollution.

 

The EU Nickel Directive (2004/96/EC) limits the amount of nickel that jewellery is allowed to leech from any jewellery in contact with the skin. However, even if these guidelines are being followed, people who are extra sensitive are still at risk of developing nickel allergy.

If you use Blomdahl you will not have to worry about nickel, cadmium, lead or any other harmful substances. Our jewellery is developed in consultation with skin care specialists to be suitable for everyone, even those who suffer from allergies. 

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