Hello, i had the top of my ear pierced yesterday, with an ear gun at a jewellers. (Stirling silver stud as i dont wear gold) I wasnt told anything about after care, but i am reading conflicting info on the net, in regards to aftercare. I have the solution to put on the piercing, but i cant take the piercing out so the solution is just running over the stud. Also, some friends have told me to twist the piercing daily-however this is too painful and it hurts too much to do that-i have read on the net that you shouldnt twist the earring but other people say you do-im confused.
I heard a while back that it was not advisable to pierce cartilage with a piercing gun as the force will sometimes shatter the cartilage and the ear collapses with no cartilage to hold it shape.
I assume its pierced with a butterfly type backed stud too then. When I had mine done some 30 years ago I suffered with it for ages....it was so uncomfortable. I then changed it to a andralok type earring and have been pain free ever since.
they shopuldnt have pierced it with a gun it can shatter and damage the cartilage, id clean it with hot water with salt in it for the time being, but if its realy painful and your worried id pop into a local piercing shop they should be able to advise you best on aftercare and other questions you might have.
Keep a close eye on it too. I had mine done (a long time ago mind) and skin like stuff literally seemed to form over it overnight. I thought the stud had come out at first as I couldn't feel it but it was literally inside!
A GP had to cut it out with a scalpal! Needless to say I left that bit alone after that though that was piercing 8 of 9.
Twisting will get easier as it settles (though it's a painful area!) as you get bits of stuff which sticks around it (dead skin maybe?) so best not to let that build up.
A cotton bud is a good idea or you could drop or squeeze some solution over the area, say with some cotton wool though you will waste more this way. You could try getting a little spray bottle for it, though make sure stays sterile.