AboutBrian Skellie Expertise I can answer questions in regards to and not limited to: jewelry safety, specifically material, shape, proportion, and related issues; aseptic technique and sterilization as it applies to piercing safety; ethical issues of technique and bedside manner; the aftercare and recovery process for piercings.
Experience
Past/Present clients
Tens of thousands of one on one client experiences. http://www.piercing.org/ Body jewelry design and safety expert: Member ASTM committee F04(www.astm.org)
Member AAMI (www.aami.org)
Research advisor and educator for the APP for over a decade(www.safepiercing.org) teaching advanced studio setup, sterilization and equipment management, freehand piercing, aseptic/sterile technique and much more.
Distributor for SciCan StatIM sterilization and cleaning products. http://www.piercing.org/statim/
Expert: Brian Skellie Date: 7/21/2008 Subject: just a couple questions
Question i pierced my own ears about 4 days ago using a clamp and a sterilized sewing needle, and its doing okay, but today i noticed a minute amount of swelling on the bottom of both earlobes, and the swollen portion appears a slight pink. they dont hurt unless i mess with them, could this be a problem? every night i take out my earrings and clean the holes with liquid soap and water.
also, if you have the time, i was wondering if you could tell me: i plan on gauging my ears and the needle i used was about the size of a paper clip, about what size do you think that is and which size do you think i should go up to next? And also, how long should i wait to do so after my ears heal from the initial piercing?
Answer Since sterile means no germs, and sewing needles are not going to get that clean at home, which explains your infection. Taking out and reinserting the piercings to clean them is damaging to the growing skin and not advisable. http://piercing.org/pexy/recovery/recovery.html describes gentle care in detail.
You will probably be fine, as long as you take care of them, but I strongly suggest that you not try this again at home. The infections can be very severe, and disease is possible as well if the equipment is not 100% new and disposable, sterilized by autoclave and handled with sterile technique.
The jewelry is probably 18 or 20 in thickness by gauge, and you should make sure to heal for 3-6 months before you work on enlarging these piercings. http://piercing.org/faq/stretching.html describes how to do this without damage and scarring. I can provide you with a safe sterilized titanium tapered claw shaped piece of jewelry to get you from size 20 up to 12, and then another and more beyond.
