While humans have stretched their ear lobes for thousands of years now, modern-day ear gauges seem to be growing in popularity. If you’re thinking about getting ear gauges, however, you need to know what to expect.
Although getting ear gauges is a great way to stand out and show off your style, they have their drawbacks as well. You’ll need to be proactive if you want to stretch your ear lobes out correctly, avoid pain and discomfort, and be happy with the results.
Here’s everything that you should consider before getting ear gauges.
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They May Not Go Back to Their Natural State
Before getting ear gauges, it’s important to realize that the changes you make to your ears could be permanent.
Not all ears that are stretched out will be able to go back to “normal” and a few different factors will affect whether it’s possible for your ears to revert back to their natural state or not. Some of the things that may affect whether your ears will easily go back to normal include the elasticity of your skin, how long you wait before stretching your ears to various sizes, and more.
While your ears may stretch and go back to normal just fine, they may not. In some cases, you’ll need plastic surgery to get your ears to return to their normal state after getting ear gauges.
You Should Avoid Stretching Your Ears Too Quickly
One of the things that you should realize if you’re getting ear gauges is that you need to stretch your ears out very slowly. You should make sure that the tissue has enough time to recover from the last stretch before you proceed to another one.
Trying to skip sizes and get to a larger gauge quickly is a recipe for disaster. If you try to stretch too quickly it could tear tissue and cause problems.
Generally speaking, you should wait at least 8 to 12 weeks between your stretches. This will help ensure that you have enough time to recover after each one.
It’s Possible to Cause Damage to Tissue
Remember that you should make a serious effort to avoid tearing or scarring tissue.
Tears to tissue won’t only cause pain and discomfort but they can also affect the elasticity of your skin. Tears can make it harder to stretch your earlobes in the future and can also make it harder for your skin to return to normal if you decide to quit wearing gauges.
Be sure to recognize the drawbacks of stretching your ears too quickly and damaging tissue, since it can lead to a lot of problems with having your ears look the way you want them to.
You Shouldn’t Experience Pain While Stretching
Remember that you shouldn’t feel any pain when stretching your ears and you should only feel just a bit of pressure when doing it. If your ears hurt or you feel physical pain, then chances are that you’re doing something wrong.
One of the biggest causes of pain while stretching your ears is trying to move on to the next size gauge too quickly. Doing so could lead to you experiencing a blowout, a ring of scar tissue that forms on your gauged earlobe. These blowouts can be painful and can cause inflammation.
Be sure that you avoid stretching your ears too quickly and stop if you feel any pain.
A Taper Will Help You Stretch Your Ears More Easily
While many people choose to stretch their ears with their hands and by switching to different plugs, the process can go more smoothly if you use a taper.
Ear tapers are spiky objects that you can insert into your pierced ears to start stretching them out. There are various gauges that you can use and you can upgrade the diameter once you need to increase the size.
Be sure to use the taper for the size plug that you’ll be putting in once your ear has been stretched. You should also make sure to sterilize all piercing and tapering equipment before use.
You Might Want to Get Help From a Professional
If you’re stretching your earlobes, it’s a good idea to get help from a professional rather than doing it by yourself.
A professional can help you know for sure whether it’s time to stretch your ears to the next size or if you should continue to wait. You could risk hurting yourself when trying to use a taper on your own and could end up causing permanent damage and scarring if you’re not careful.
If you want to ensure that everything goes according to plan with your stretched ears, consider getting some outside help.
Be Sure to Take Care of Your Gauges
When piercing your ears and getting new gauges, you should be sure that you have a solid washing and care routine that you’ll follow. Be sure to take care of your gauge earrings.
First of all, you’ll want to be sure to wash your piercing twice daily with warm water and a chemical-free soap. You should also soak your earlobes twice daily with a mixture of salt and water as well. In addition to this, it can be helpful to massage your earlobes every day while also using coconut oil or jojoba oil.
You should also be careful with your piercing. Avoid touching the piercing when you have dirty hands and make sure that nothing gets caught in it.
Understanding What to Expect From Ear Gauges
If you’re thinking about getting ear gauges, you should be sure that you understand what you’re getting into. While getting ear gauges can be great for your personal style, be sure that you understand how to stretch your ears and take care of them properly.
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