Changing your tragus jewellery: a practical guide

By Robin Jehanno, piercing specialist at Solstice Bijoux.

Have you had your tragus pierced and feel like changing your jewellery? Is your piercing jewellery too tight and do you need to remove it?

The problem is, you're worried about rushing into it and getting something wrong…

You're in the right place 😁

That's today's topic at Solstice! In this article, we'll look at when and how to change your tragus jewellery.

Let's get started!

When can you change your tragus jewellery?

Let's get straight to it 🙂

Wait until your piercing has fully healed before changing the jewellery yourself. If an adjustment is needed during healing, have your piercer assess it and make the change; a fixed period of two or three months isn't enough to decide (see the APP's aftercare recommendations).

Tragus placement

Remember, you shouldn't change your tragus jewellery yourself until your piercing has healed!

But how can you tell? 🤔

How do I know if my tragus piercing has healed?

The healing process for a tragus piercing is gradual, so look at the piercing itself rather than relying on time alone.

To work out whether your piercing has healed, pay attention to these signs:

The colour around your piercing hole should be normal, like the rest of your ear
No fluid (pus or blood) should be coming from the wound
Your piercing should not be painful
The crusts should have fallen away
Your cartilage should not be swollen

These signs are reassuring, but have your piercer confirm that your piercing has healed before changing the jewellery for the first time.

Does your piercing still look as though it hasn't fully healed? Wait and ask your piercer to check it again before you change the jewellery.

If you change your tragus jewellery too soon, you could experience several complications…

Risks and complications

Changing your tragus jewellery before your piercing has finished healing carries real risks.

You guessed it… I'm talking about infections (but that's not all).

Changing your jewellery could also contribute to raised scarring, which may look like a bump. Unsuitable jewellery may contribute to irritation, but a bump is not necessarily a keloid.

Several factors may contribute to infections:

Not washing your hands before fiddling with your tragus piercing
Wearing unsuitable jewellery for a healed piercing, or choosing the wrong size or fastening
Not disinfecting your new jewellery before changing it

Be careful: following these 3 points doesn't mean you won't develop an infection 😉

Changing your jewellery too early can irritate the piercing.

How can you change your tragus jewellery yourself?

Has your piercing finally healed, and has your piercer given you the go-ahead to change your jewellery?

Great news 😁

To change your tragus jewellery yourself, follow these steps:

First, wash your hands and dry them thoroughly
Gently remove your initial piercing jewellery. If it's too tight, ask your piercer for help. Avoid forcing it or using small pliers yourself.
Use clean jewellery, insert it and fasten it without forcing it. If it doesn't go in easily, ask your piercer to fit it
Then gently clean the area

Open gold-tone Aliona hoop, showing the hinged fastening in detail.