how to clean pierced ears

How necessary is cleaning for ear cartilage piercings?

I got a helix piercing about five days ago, and the piercer instructed me to clean it 2-3 times a day. But there isn't much to clean: there's no crust accumulation on the ring, and the wound doesn't seem to leak at all. So, how necessary is the cleaning? As far as I understand, it irritates the wound quite a bit, and if there's nothing to clean, isn't it better to just leave it alone?

level 1

Remember: A hot shower will do a great job cleaning your ear.

level 1

There's different view of cleaning. Some love to clean twice a day.

I prefer the LITFA(leave it the Fuck alone) way, don't touch it, don't clean it. Your body is made to heal, if you're in good health, eating good, you don't need to do anything and it will heal. That how I did most of my piercings.

level 1

I think 2-3 times a day is probably excessive if you feel that it doesn't need it. LITFA works really well for most people, if you can actually LITFA. If you find you fiddle with it, or if things such as hats or hair touch it throughout the day, soaking it once a day with a saline soak is usually a good idea.

level 1

When I got mine done, I cleaned it once a day and sometimes even once every couple days, mine was the same there was no crust or any irritation!

level 1

How were you told to clean it?

level 2

Soak if necessary under the shower or with a saline solution. Wash hands with a pH-neutral soap. Remove the visible crust with a non-fluffy cotton stick, or with (soapy) hands. Then shift the decoration a bit and clean the part that was inside the channel. Rinse with flowing water. After it dries, apply a disinfection spray (I'm using ProntoLind).

I've read all over the internet that moving is not recommended, but these are the instructions he gave me.

level 2

This.

You're suppose to be soaking it with sea salt 2-3 times & not move it.

level 1

i am not a professional, but 2-3 times a day seems a little bit excessive to me. that's a lot of touching/moving for a new piercing. keep in mind that everyone's body is different and has different reactions to things, you might just be a super speedy healer! if there's no crusties you're probably fine with just sea salt soaks and the LITHA method (leave it the hell alone).

level 1

I wouldn't clean any wound on my body three times a day, unless I worked in a coal mine or dirt farm or something.

level 2

Dirt farming sounds like a really easy job.

level 1

I'd say if there's really nothing to clean leaving it alone should be ok, as long as you continue to keep an eye on it in case something does develop.