# I want to get a piercing -- tell me about them!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-get-a-piercing-tell-me-about-them/447044>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [April 27, 2008, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-get-a-piercing-tell-me-about-them/447044 "2008-04-27T04:40:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-get-a-piercing-tell-me-about-them/447044/41 "2008-04-30T04:49:05Z")

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[QUOTE=Red Barchetta]  
By the way, now that I have this piercing, how best do I take care of it? The pamphlet they gave me suggested soaking it in sea salt twice a day, then putting some kind of anti-bacterial liquid on it (is liquid hand soap okay?).  
[/QUOTE]

You can also use the saline solutions that come in spray cans to use with rinsing contact lenses. I’ve used that lately because I can’t find the stuff I used with my nose piercing the first time [H2Ocean]. I’ve also found spray formula saline solution in the first aid area of the drugstore, it’s called “wound wash.”

Antibacterial hand soap is perfect for washing piercings. Just make sure you rinse the area well and that you wash your hands well before messing with your piercing.

> [@](#):
>
> But beyond that, I’ve heard contrary opinions as to whether the barbell should be rotated or not. Some say it helps prevent the ear from healing into the barbell, while others say it can cause scar tissue and infection by “dragging the crusties” though it. What’s the straight dope on this?
> 
> Also, should I use hydrogen peroxide to help clean it?

PEROXIDE IS A NO NO. Absolutely no no. It will irritate the living crap out of the healing skin.

Rotating the barbell? Hmm. I’d call the person that did your piercing and ask. I was told with my eyebrow to CAREFULLY wiggle it a tiny bit while washing it but not to go jerking it all over creation.

Now I wanna go out and get another hole in my ear!!

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**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-get-a-piercing-tell-me-about-them/447044/42 "2008-04-30T13:46:29Z")

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All I ever did was wipe it with a little isopropyl on a cotton ball and twist the stud daily - no problems. But maybe I was just young, stupid, and lucky.

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