Why is it that when people stretch their ears (plugs), after a certain gage, the piercing stinks?

i haven't encountered this issue yet, as i am only a 6 gage. but I am very wary of going higher now.
Why is it that when people stretch their ears (plugs), after a certain gage, the piercing stinks?
Because they aren't cleaning their piercings. It's just from the tissues in your lobes. They can produce gunk that stays on the plugs and if you don't clean them, they can stink.





One of the main reasons why I clean my plugs daily.
Why is it that when people stretch their ears (plugs), after a certain gage, the piercing stinks?
The stink is normal.. it's called sebum and it's there from the sweat and dead skin cells in the piercing.


To minimize the smell you can wear organic jewelry (once the stretch is healed, of course) and that seems to make the smell a lot less.





But it's something you just have to get used to - my septum piercing had that smell when it was at 12 gauge (it's 8 now), as does my 14 %26amp; 2 gauge navel.. along with quite a few other piercings.
Reply:A piercing can stink no matter what size it is. If yours doesn't smell now than you must take care of it very well. You can keep on stretching it if you want. please vote best answer, I could really use the points.
Reply:Well if you're not cleaning your ears then the tissues and bacteria get trapped in the ears and then it gives off a bad smell.


You're probably taking good care of your ears which is why it's not smelly.
Reply:Even at a 6 a piercing can work up a funk, so keep on cleaning your piercings.





When you have a piercing, it forms a tube of skin inside itself as it heals. This skin sheds dead cells just like all the rest of the skin on your body does. As these cells shed, they can get trapped in between your piercing and your jewelry. Once they are trapped, smelly little bacteria can grow and feed on the shed skin. This creates that funky smell and the gunk that can be found on dirty piercings. This gunk can even irritate a piercing, so if someone complains that their stretches are always sore, suggest washing.





I have no idea why people with stretched ear lobes assume this smell is to be accepted. The skin inside a piercing needs washed occasionally to stay healthy just like anywhere else. You may find that you don't need to clean daily (it is delicate skin and may not like daily soap), but at least every few days is a good idea. Keep in mind that any piercing can get a funk going, so if you notice one it is time to clean the area.





How often you need to clean can also be affected by the material of jewelry you are wearing. Acrylics are famous for irritating ears and generating a maximum amount of funk in the shortest given time. Materials like organics that allow a piercing some breathing room tend to keep funk down to a minimum. Which materials work best for you is a personal choice, just be aware of the differences and clean accordingly. For example I wore glass plugs for months and needed to clean them every couple of days. Now I have in silicone earskins and they are so light that I can go a week funk-free.





Stretched piercings are just like hair. Some people need to wash it every day, some people can go for days on end. What you are wearing in your piercings and your body itself declare how much washing you need to stay funk free and healthy.





You can stretch as large as you please without fear of being smelly. As long as you wash your piercings, you won't smell a bit.








Check out this lovely faq on stretching for help with this and some other questions: http://www.onetribe.nu/catalog/stretchin...