Evie Summers
Sleeping on a new piercing can be uncomfortable and painful. It can cause further skin irritation, headaches, and infections. The piercing may also get snagged in the pillowcase, and there is a risk of tearing the skin around the piercing if hair gets tangled in it. It is recommended to sleep on your back to keep pressure off the piercing and to use a travel pillow to create a hollow opening for your ear.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pillowcases | Use a smooth pillowcase to reduce the risk of snagging your piercing. Change pillowcases frequently to prevent skin cells, oils, and makeup from irritating the piercing. |
| Hair | Brush or style your hair slowly to avoid catching the piercing. |
| Salon Visits | Inform salon staff about your healing piercing so they can be extra careful. |
| Infection | Use an aftercare solution to keep the piercing clean and avoid potential infections caused by tossing and turning. |
| Healing Time | Healing times vary, but it can take around three to four months for helix or pinna piercings. |
| Sleeping Position | Sleep on your back to keep pressure off the piercing and minimize irritation and pain. |
| Earring Type | Choose small studs instead of larger earrings to minimize pain, discomfort, and the risk of getting caught in hair or bedding. |
| Metal Sensitivities | Avoid jewelry containing allergens if you have known metal sensitivities. |
| Pillow Type | Use a U-shaped travel pillow to create a hollow opening for your ear piercing, reducing direct pressure on the piercing. |
| Allergic Reactions | Sleeping with earrings can increase the risk of allergic reactions to nickel, which is present in costume jewelry. |
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What You'll Learn
Piercings can heal crooked if slept on
Piercings, especially new ones, can be uncomfortable to sleep on. If you have a new piercing, you must leave the studs in for around six weeks or longer, or until your piercer advises you otherwise. This is because piercings are technically small wounds, and sleeping on them can cause further skin irritation, pain, headaches, infections, and even tearing of the skin.
If you sleep on a new piercing, it can also heal crookedly. This is because the pressure while healing can make the piercing permanently crooked. To avoid this, it is recommended to sleep on your back to keep pressure off the piercing. Alternatively, you can use two pillows side by side and rest your head so that your ear sits in between them.
Once your piercing has healed, you should still take care when sleeping with earrings in. This is because it can increase your risk of developing an allergic reaction to nickel, a common allergy, or an infection.
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Allergic reactions can occur
It is important to keep your piercing clean to avoid infection. Wash your piercing at least once a day with fragrance-free soap and water, and apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to promote healing. Pillowcases should be changed regularly to prevent skin cells, oils, and makeup from causing irritation.
If you have a new piercing, it is recommended to sleep on your back to keep pressure off the piercing and minimise irritation and pain. You can also use a travel pillow—these U-shaped pillows can be worn around the neck to stabilise your head and neck while sleeping. This type of pillow can also be used while side-sleeping to create a hollow space for your piercing, preventing direct pressure.
If you experience any symptoms such as worsening soreness, redness, or pus, seek medical advice.
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Infections are a risk
Ear piercings are prone to infection, especially during the healing process. This is because a new piercing is essentially an open wound, and sleeping with earrings in can increase the risk of infection. The risk is heightened if earrings are left in for an extended period without cleaning, as bacteria can become trapped.
Infection prevention is critical during the healing process. To avoid infection, it is recommended to keep the piercing clean and to change pillowcases frequently to prevent skin cells, oils, and makeup from causing irritation. Fragrance-free soap and rinsing with water are advised for cleaning the piercing. Additionally, applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly promotes moisture, which aids in wound healing.
Signs of infection include worsening soreness, redness, or pus. If any of these symptoms occur, it is important to seek medical attention. It is also recommended to inform hair stylists about your healing piercing so they can be extra careful when brushing or styling your hair.
It is generally advised to avoid sleeping with earrings, especially with older piercings. However, new piercings require keeping the studs in for at least six weeks or until the piercer advises otherwise. This is because the wound needs to heal, and removing the earrings too early can cause the piercing to close.
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It can cause pain and irritation
Sleeping on a new piercing can be uncomfortable and painful. The piercing is technically a small wound, and there may be pain during the healing process, which can be disruptive to sleep. The skin surrounding a new piercing can be susceptible to irritation, and this can be made worse by prolonged contact while sleeping. This can also lead to infection.
If you have a new ear piercing, sleeping on that side can put pressure on the piercing, causing pain and irritation. This can be avoided by sleeping on your back, which will keep pressure off the piercing and minimise further irritation and pain.
To avoid pain and irritation, it is recommended to use small studs, sometimes called "nap earrings", instead of larger earrings when you initially pierce your ears. Smaller studs are less likely to cause pain and discomfort if you lie on them, and they are also less likely to get caught in your hair or on your pillow at night.
You can also use a travel pillow to help you sleep after a piercing. These U-shaped pillows are usually worn around the neck to provide head and neck stability while sleeping sitting upright. Using this type of pillow while side-sleeping creates a hollow opening for your ear piercing, preventing direct pressure on the piercing and helping you sleep better.
To reduce the risk of infection, it is important to keep your piercing clean. Wash your piercing at least once a day with fragrance-free soap, and apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to the surface of the piercing to aid healing.
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Earrings can get caught or snagged
- Irritation and infection: The risk of irritation and infection is increased when earrings get caught on surfaces during sleep. This is due to the transfer of skin cells, oils, and makeup from the surface to the piercing, as well as the potential for bacteria to become trapped if earrings are not cleaned regularly.
- Pain and discomfort: Snagging can cause pain and discomfort, especially if the earring is pulled or torn during sleep. This can disrupt sleep and prolong the healing process.
- Crooked piercing: If earrings are constantly getting caught or snagged, there is a risk of the piercing healing crookedly. This is because the constant pressure and tension on the piercing can affect its alignment.
- Damage to the piercing site: In some cases, snagging can lead to tearing of the skin around the piercing, causing further pain and increasing the risk of infection.
To reduce the risk of earrings getting caught or snagged during sleep, it is recommended to:
- Choose small studs or "nap earrings" instead of larger earrings to minimise the risk of entanglement.
- Sleep on your back to keep pressure off the piercing and minimise the risk of entanglement with hair or bedding.
- Use a travel pillow with a U-shape to provide head and neck support while sleeping. This creates a hollow opening for the ear piercing, reducing direct pressure on the piercing.
- Opt for smooth pillowcases and change them frequently to prevent snagging and reduce the transfer of irritants to the piercing site.
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Frequently asked questions
It is generally advised not to sleep on new piercings as it can cause further skin irritation, pain, headaches, and infections. It can also cause the piercing to heal crookedly, or get snagged in your pillowcase or bedsheets.
Try to sleep on your back to keep pressure off the piercing and minimise irritation and pain. Use a travel pillow—a U-shaped pillow that goes around your neck—to provide head and neck stability while sleeping. You can also place your ear in the hollow opening to prevent direct pressure on the piercing.
Gauging how long to wait until you can sleep on a new piercing depends on the individual and the type of piercing. For helix or pinna piercings, it takes around three to four months to heal. For other piercings, it can be several weeks to months. Once you can sleep on your piercing without feeling pain, use a smooth pillowcase to reduce the risk of snagging.
