the "crusties" :P

[ninjapirate]

I was kind of reluctant to post this but then I looked at other threads and realized you guys have heard it all, so ^^'

I read around and you guys say to use some type of lube when sliding in tapers, I always use Vaseline and I realize whenever I do that it slides in fine but I always get crusty gunk for days, even after I clean it it still manages to get gross. Over the weekend I was at the mall and bought size 8 tapers, and put them right in, no lube or anything, they went in perfectly and there's no gunk now. Is it safe to just be without Vaseline, provided I stretch slowly and stuff?
Thanks for the help.

[WindowLicker]

As you've discovered, it is possible to stretch without any lubricant, but it's not recommended. Personally I use St. Ives vit e lotion to lube and massage. If you don't have any crusty crap in your piercing without using Vaseline then I'd recommend using anything but.

[subakamoo]

I recommend using oil that has only pure jojoba or vitamin e, something with added ingredients might not be as good for your piercing.
Also when I'm in the shower I soap my ears with non-scented antibacterial soap, that definitely helps keep the crusties and smell away. After a fresh stretch I just wash around the outside of my piercing so I don't have to remove the jewelry and so it can heal faster.

[liplockshock]

You shouldn't be using vasaline to lubricate. Vasaline is too heavy, it doesn't absorb easily. It forms a layer on top of your skin which tends to capture bacteria and you're more prone to infection that way.
You should either use a water based lube (like ky... weird I know), bio oil, vit e, or jojoba oil. That's what my piercer told me and it's worked pretty well so far