When my ear piercing feels irritated, the first thing I do is take out the jewellery and clean the area with a saline solution.
Saline is just a mix of a little sea salt (sodium chloride) and warm water. It’s used in medical settings for all sorts of things — from cleaning wounds and scratches to hydrating eyes and even in IV drips.
It’s really easy to make at home, but it’s super important to get the salt-to-water ratio right. Too much salt can actually dry out the skin or cause irritation and even burns.
All you need is warm mineral water and fine-grain sea salt. I usually use iodized sea salt, as it contains extra elements that help with healing. Any good-quality sea salt can work — just make sure it’s fine, not coarse or rock salt.
🚫 Avoid using Epsom salt — it’s a completely different compound and not safe for piercings.
How to Prepare Saline Solution
It’s really simple to make at home. Just pour 1/4 teaspoon of fine sea salt into a cup with about 220ml of hot water (that’s roughly one regular mug). Stir well until the salt fully dissolves.
How to Use It
I take a clean paper towel, fold it into a thick pad, and dip it into the warm saline solution I’ve just prepared. Then, I press the soaked pad gently onto the irritated piercing and hold it there. I keep soaking the area repeatedly, applying light pressure each time.
When the pad dries out, I simply dip it back into the solution and repeat. You’ll probably need to re-dip it a few times. I usually continue this process for around 10 minutes.
Hope it helps! Let me know if you’ve tried it or if you have any tips of your own — I’d love to hear your feedback.
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