Once your eyebrow piercing heals, you may decide to change the jewelry, or you may decide to remove the eyebrow ring permanently. In either case, it is vital that you use the proper procedure to remove the piercing since improper removal can cause problems such as permanent scarring and/or infection.
Time Frame
Unless you are taking your eyebrow ring out for good, you must wait until it fully heals. Eyebrow piercings take six to eight weeks to fully heal, according to the Center for Young Women's Health. If you try to change the eyebrow ring before the area is healed, you may not be able to get a new eyebrow ring in and the hole may close.
Procedure
Wash your hands with antibacterial soap and warm water. Dry your hands using a paper towel. Clean the area around the eyebrow piercing with warm water. Allow to air dry. Place your non-dominant hand on a portion of the eyebrow ring that doesn't contain the ball that unscrews. Grasp the ball that secures the eyebrow ring. Turn the ball until it comes off the barbell or ring. Slide the ring or barbell gently out of the skin.
Prevention/Solution
When you remove any body piercing, infection may occur. To prevent an infection, clean the area using a solution made for piercings or saline solution. Allow the area to air dry. Apply triple antibiotic ointment or bacitracin ointment to the area. Both of these products are available over the counter.
Considerations
If you are putting in new eyebrow jewelry, do so after you clean the area but before you put the antibiotic ointment on. The new jewelry should be clean and sterilized before you attempt to put them in. You can place the new jewelry into rubbing alcohol to clean and sterilize it. If you notice anything on the jewelry, use a cotton ball or cotton swab dipped in alcohol to remove it.
Warnings
If you think your eyebrow piercing is infected, don't remove the eyebrow ring unless your doctor instructs you to. The American Academy of Family Physicians states that body piercing jewelry allows the piercing to drain and may prevent the area from abscessing. Signs of infection include drainage from the piercing, swelling and redness around the piercing and pain in the area.
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