Is there a way to switch earrings painlessly, or it’s just my ears that need attention?
If you don’t have any redness or swelling around the piercing, your ears are probably fine. Piercings can contract slightly over time, especially if you don’t wear earrings on a regular basis. Ωστόσο, if your earlobes are wet, it is much easier to slide earrings in and out. I clean the posts/hooks as well as my earlobe with an alcohol swab (don’t use isopropyl alcohol on new or irritated piercings as it will hurt and can make infections worse, use hydrogen peroxide instead) immediately before inserting a new earring. The alcohol provides a bit of lubricant so the post slides in much more easily. Another way is to dip the very tip of the post or hook in petroleum jelly before sliding it in, which is something my grandma taught me.
To help the piercings stretch out again, try to wear smallish hook earrings during the day and sleep with small studs in at night. Clean them with a cotton swab every time you change earrings.
If you DO have any swelling, redness, inflammation, or pus coming out of the piercings, you may have an infection. If this is the case, you can treat it by using a warm compress 4 times a day and clean it with a cotton ball dipped in Hydrogen Peroxide at least that often. Take the earrings out and clean them thoroughly once a day, and never touch your earlobes without washing your hands thoroughly beforehand. If you don’t see improvement after 3–4 days, see a medical professional. Επίσης, beware of nickel allergies. If you have an allergy to nickel, or skin irritations, then stick to posts that are gold or surgical steel. Most jewelry that is nickel free will have something saying there is no nickel on the card, but when in doubt, steer clear.
One other thing you can try is switching out earrings just after a shower, as the warm water and steam relaxes the skin a little bit and the water helps it slide in more easily. Don’t do this in the shower because it is too easy to drop them down the drain. I learned that the hard way… But keeping them clean is the main thing and slide them in as gently as you can, don’t force it. Good luck:)