Flesh Tunnels, Flesh Plugs, Ear Stretchers

How to Stretch Your Ears
Problems Associated with Ear Stretching
Size Conversion Table

With proper care and education about ear stretching, it is possible to have healthy, beautiful ear lobes to adorn with a wide array of jewellery, even if there are problems along the way. The key is to know how to prevent potential problems with preventative care, and understanding what to do when problems do arise.

Blow-Outs


Blow-outs occur when the skin fistula is thrust out the back side of the piercing by the pressure of wearing a piece of jewellery that is too big for the opening. This creates an extra lip of tissue around the edge of the piercing that could have to be physically removed if not tended to in a timely manner, as it will continue to grow and stretch. Blow-outs occur when a piercing is stretched either too early or too quickly, although the time frame of the process can vary depending on the individual so there are no hard and fast rules. The only non-variable is that the skin must have a proper amount of time to heal completely in between stretching.

The first thing to do when a blow-out is noticed is to downsize the diameter of the jewellery that is currently worn by at least one size. With proper care, the blow-out should reabsorb into the skin. Downsizing also helps thicken the lobe by building collagen, thus making the texture of the ear less puckered, as tends to happen with ears that have been stretched too quickly. It is also important to massage the lobe with some sort of moisturizing oil such as Vitamin E or jojoba oil, which helps to enhance blood circulation, and thickens the flesh, allowing it greater elasticity for further stretching. Vitamin E is also known to help break down scar tissue. If the preceding tips are not successful in repairing the damaged ear, it may be necessary to seek an experienced professional who will tie off the affected skin, forcing it to die so it may subsequently be removed.


Infection



To avoid infection and stress to lobes, let ears breath for a few hours each day. Removing jewellery allows better blood and oxygen flow to the ear, which in turn helps to thicken skin tissue. Regular removal also helps keep plugs from being absorbed into the ear tissue. If necessary, a bit of lube or Vitamin E can be helpful in reinserting jewellery after resting. Always wash hands with anti-bacterial soap prior to handling jewellery or touching ears; also be sure that jewellery is clean and free of debris. Affected areas should be cleaned at least one daily with salt water or a saline solution; any sebum which forms in the piercing should be cleaned out regularly. Castile soap is also recommended for cleaning piercings and is a nice, natural alternative to some types of anti-bacterial liquid soap, which can be harsh on the skin.

Tearing

Tearing is another complication of stretching the ear too fast and too soon, resulting in an opening or splitting of the lobe. Unfortunately, outside of plastic surgery, there is no way to repair this type of damage so it is best to do everything possible to avoid it. If the area around the piercing begins to thin, cease stretching and place a smaller piece of jewellery in the fistula. To continue to correct the problem, moisturize the ear with Vitamin E, jojoba oil or another high quality moisturizing oil to increase blood flow, thicken the skin and restore elasticity. In order to keep small fissures from opening during the healing process, soak lobe with warm water prior to inserting jewellery. Once the ear is completely healed, the stretching process can begin again. Take great care not to allow scar tissue to form, as is can make further stretching difficult.


Choosing Appropriate Jewellery



Choosing the appropriate type of jewellery can ward off many potential problems that frequently occur while stretching the ears. Always select jewellery that is appropriate for the occasion. Do not sleep in flared pieces, as they can slip more deeply into the piercing while sleeping, causing tearing. The best jewellery for sleeping is a soft silicone plug or tunnel. Ear plug jewellery pieces should be long enough that the edges fall outside the skin on either side of the lobe, assuring that the piece does not become enclosed inside the fistula.

Jewellery for stretched ears comes in many shapes and materials, with some materials being more appropriate for certain points in the process. For the stretching procedure itself, surgical stainless steel, Teflon and glass are preferable; they are not porous and stave off infection because they do not harbor bacteria. Glass is hypoallergenic so it’s perfect for those with sensitive skin.

When ears are completely healed, look into some organic alternatives such as wood, bone and natural stone; the human body tends to react positively to natural materials. Wood may seem like an unusual choice, but is actually said to thicken the skin and reduce sebum, therefore keeping the piercing fresh and free from odour, which is a common problem. Metal tends to attract sebum and dead skin cells faster than organic materials. Generally speaking, man-made jewellery such as acrylic and plastic are not recommended for long-term wear as their porous surfaces harbor bacteria and can lead to infection.

When it’s time to buy the next size of jewellery, don’t be tempted to skip a gauge. Skipping gauges increases the chance of creating scar tissue, which has the appearance of small cracks surrounding the piercing, and makes changing gauge troublesome. It bears repeating to say that the stretching process should be done gradually and thoughtfully, allowing the piercing to heal completely before continuing to the next gauge. Skipping gauges increase your chances of experiencing complication. Overstretching can lead to nerve damage in which feeling may never return to the ear. It is also possible to harm blood vessels; with a lack of circulation, tissue loss is possible.

Bleeding

Generally speaking, there should not be bleeding at any point through the stretching process. Recall that the size of the fistula is increased slowly over time with gentle stretching; the skin should not be torn. Ears tend to bleed when they have not been allowed sufficient time to heal before trying out new jewellery. If bleeding occurs, the stretching process should be halted and the piercing should be treated as though it were fresh. Downsize jewellery at least one size and begin doing saline or salt water soaks at least one per day. Once the ear has completely healed, the stretching may commence again; this restorative process may take as long as 3-4 months.


In summary, there are a few main points that will keep piercings healthy and allow the stretching process to move along without cause or concern. Do not attack the method of increasing gauge size, embrace it. Move along slowly and with purpose, treating piercings with care and allowing them to heal completely before moving on to the next size. Don’t skip gauges or otherwise try to move the process along more quickly. Immediately decrease the size of jewellery if any problems arise, then treat piercings as if they were new. Massage regularly with jojoba oil or Vitamin E which will increase blood flow to thicken tissue and improve elasticity, making the stretching process move along more smoothly. Finally, allow ears to rest regularly without jewellery for improved skin condition. Following these common sense suggestions will ensure healthy lobes and avoid common problems associated with ear stretching.