Earstretching.net

ok so 3 days ago i tried to stretch to 0g after having 2g plugs for about 3 months and i had been taping the past 2 weeks prior to the stretch 1-2 layers of ptfe tape a day. so i took at hot shower and tried to stretch my right ear after a little work the plug went in and i tried with the left ear but it wasnt about to go in so i left the left ear at a 2g and left the right at a 0g well after the stretch there was no blood or pain for about 1 hour then it started hurting but it was tolerable and still no bleeding so i did a sss and went to bed i did 3 sss the next day and the same the day after still tolerable pain but not blood or other discharge. well this moring i woke up and took a shower and it was throbing so i screwed off the back of the plug and found blood so i imediatly took the plug out and put a clean 2g plug in but when i took it out i found a piece of i am guessing skin? it has been a couple hours and it has dried crusty blood and its still swollen and painfull to the touch. is it an infection? a blow out? idk what else to do other than stay at 2g and sss or should i downsize to a 4g? any help will be greatly apriciated.

also the 0g plug i had in was a screw on tunnel but it had very litle wearable area i am wondering if that played a part in what happened thanks logan

i have been using only clean jewelry and 316 surgical stainless steel to stretch with other than the ptfe tape

Sometimes things go wrong even if you are going about things in a safe way. It's an unfortunate risk, but you seem to have your heart in the right place. : )

First, I would probably downsize to 4g to take any extra pressure off your piercings. It will help you heal faster. Also, keep up the SS soaks morning and night. 3 times a day would be the max I'd recommend.

As you do this, keep an eye on your lobe. If you go for several days without any sign of improvement, or gets worse, seek medical attention. Since you seem to be taking positive action as things come up, I doubt you'll encounter this, but there's always a chance.

One comment about screw-on tunnels. The wearable area is often much smaller than other types of plugs and tunnels because there is either external threads (bad news) or a seam where the two pieces meet on internally threaded tunnels. I always stretch with single-flare plugs. I prefer glass since it is, most often, not made with o-ring channels, so you don't have to struggle getting the new, channeled, plug through your lobe and it's smooth and piercing safe. That said, steel is fine, too, but try to avoid plugs with channels in them so they don't catch on your piercing.

Once you're healed up, give your lobes a few extra weeks (6 or so) before going back up to 2g. Once you're there and you've given the re-stretch 6-8 weeks to heal up, stretch to 1g before you go to 0g. 1g is an uncommon size, but it is really important since 2g-0g is a 2mm stretch. 1g will give you the same 1mm stretch you've gotten used to doing and should help you avoid some of what you've run into thus far.

You can get 1g plugs from companies like Glasswear Studios. There is some variety in style and they make lots of colors. : )

https://www.glasswearstudios.com/cgi-bi ... egory=7CFP

https://www.glasswearstudios.com/cgi-bi ... key=07CLES

https://www.glasswearstudios.com/cgi-bi ... n&key=7SCB

https://www.glasswearstudios.com/cgi-bi ... n&key=7SCP

thank you so much for the info! my ears are both still at 2g i was planning on going down to 4g after work today but it is doing a lot better! no more pain still a little tender to the touch but no blood at all and minimal discharge! i am planning at staying at 2g until atleast the first of next year to give them plenty of time to heal up then i will tape up to a 1g but how long should i stay at a 1g before going to 0g?