Ear Piercing
Ear piercing is quite common in most cultures for both men and women. In the United States women have the majority of ear piercing. It is traditional to have just one hole on each ear but in recent years it has become popular to place a double piercing at the lobe of the ear or one high up on the top of the ear. Men generally only have one of their ears pierced.
Small children are often seen in the American culture with earrings, almost all of them are girls. Infants can get their ears pierced when they are just a couple of weeks old with the consent of the parents. The process is quite painless for individuals who have it done at a jewelry shop.
An ear piercing gun that looks like a staple gun is used to insert them. For infants and small children they are sat on their parents lap while the process is done. Earrings called studs are used at the time of the piercing. After about six weeks they can be removed and different types of earrings can be used.
After the initial ear piercing is completed it is important not to remove the studs early. The piercing can end up closing up if you don’t follow the instructions you are given. You need to use ear cleansing solution on the piercing for the first couple of days to prevent an infection. If you do get an infection it needs to be looked at by a professional.
In other cultures ear piercing are often a symbol of something significant such as a girl coming of age to be married or a rite of passage for males. Some cultures create very large holes in their ears in order to place objects through them such as pieces or bone.
The decision to get your ears pierced is a personal one. Many children have it done for them when they are little by their parents. Others choice to do it because their friends are or because their culture engages in the behavior. Ear piercing is a safe procedure as long as you have it done by a professional and you watch for signs of infection.
