wondering what happened? answers would be swell.

[russell]

okay, so i was wearing a 00 for a few weeks, and i decided to stretch to 7/16ths. i didnt have a taper, but when i pulled on my plug i saw space. so i dead stretched to a 7/16ths double flared silicone plug.

silicone-dumb
double flared-dumb

it was okay for about a week, but one morning i woke up and my ear was swollen. it almost had that feeling when you can feel your getting a pimple. ya know? it felt like there was pus or something. the area affected was the bottom part on the back of my lobe AND that soft pressure point behind your ear. if you dont know what i mean please ask and ill try to re explain it.

so i took out my seven sixteenths, and put in a externally threaded steel 0.

ive been doing sea salt soaks every night. any suggestions on what else to do, and what even happened? it seems to be getting better.

the onl advice i can give myself is dont stretch with silicone. ive even stretched with acrylic in the past and have had not a single problem.

thanks guys
-russell

[leighmarie]

the onl advice i can give myself is dont stretch with silicone.

That's definitely good advice. At the least Silicone can cause uneven stretching, as well as tears and blowouts.

It's good you downsized straight away though. I'd suggest staying at that size a couple of months and then try again.

[corazon_de_oro]

I'd suggest staying at that size a couple of months and then try again.

This. A few weeks isn't really long enough to leave between stretches. And next time you stretch get some single-flare jewelry in a more suitable material... but I'm sure you figured that out, haha.

Also be careful with externally-threaded jewelry, especially if your ears are sore. The threading can cut your skin so don't be taking it out for at least a few days.