The dermatologists and other docs I know who do ear-piercing, and my husband has been known to do piercings for his office staff, always recommend the twisting technique as a way of making sure the healing, seeping puncture wound doesn't "glue" itself to the metal for too long and stick so that when you do eventualy move the earring or stud, you re-open the wound and cause it to bleed.

Sterile technique and quality, non-allergenic metals are very important. I was addressing this issue above as a self-piercing question because that's what it was. But ideally, people who want piercings should get someone who knows sterile technique and has sterile needles and quality metal earrings (or other jewelry items) to do that job for you.

Cheap metals don't cause infection. Bacteria and viruses are what cause infections. But certain metals, particularly nickel but also, for some, copper and some steel alloys, can trigger strong allergic reactions and irritations. Stainless steel, 14- or 18-karat gold, titanium, and platinum are safer metals for the skin. (But good luck affording platinum!)