Piercing Aftercare

 

Once you leave the piercing studio the care of your new piercing becomes and is your responsibility.  The quality of your piercing will be affected by the aftercare you use and your care of the area during the healing process.  If you have any problems with your piercing DO NOT REMOVE JEWELRY and come in as soon as possible!

 

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

 

• Saline Solution: helps maintain balance and promotes quick healing.  Sterile wound wash saline can be purchased at the shop and comes in a pressurized can.  Do not use antibiotic saline, contact cleaning solutions or enzyme solutions.   

 

• Q-Tips or Gauze: helps to clean under jewelry and in difficult and tight spots.

 

    WHAT NOT TO USE

 

• Do not use any product that has an active ingredient including, but not limited to: H2Ocean, Provon, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, bactine, ear care solutions, antibacterial soaps (Dial or Softsoap), petroleum-based ointments (Neosporin), Betadine or Hibiclens.

 

Cleaning Instructions

Body piercings need to be cleaned 2 to 3 times daily, everyday, for the entire healing of the piercing, which may be 6 months to a year depending on the piercing.  Most people clean morning and/or night, in the shower and possibly when the get home from work or school.

 

Make sure to wash your hands before cleaning or touching the area around your piercing.  Take a Q-Tip and spray one side with the wound wash saline.  Clean one side of the piercing and remember to get underneath any beads or gems.  Make sure not to take a dirty Q-Tip and touch the nozzle of the wound wash saline.  Spray wound wash saline on the other side of the Q-Tip and clean the inside or other side of the piercing.  It is better to do a cleaning after a shower then before as to clean any soap residue or fragrance from body washes from your piercing. 

 

What is Normal?

Bleeding, bruising, discoloration and/or swelling are not uncommon.  Any break in the skin, including a new piercing can bleed or bruise.  These are not indications of any complication.  Reduce intake of aspirin, alcohol, and caffeine.  For above-the-neck piercings try sleeping with your head elevated above your heart to limit overnight swelling.  Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory products such as Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.) may help minimize swelling.  Some tenderness or discomfort in the area of a new piercing is not unusual.  You may feel stinging, burning, aching or other unpleasant sensations off and on for several days or longer.  During healing there may be some itching.  Secretion of a fluid, which contains blood plasma, lymph, and dead cells, is perfectly normal.  It is liquid, whitish-yellow in color and forms a crust on the jewelry at the openings of the piercing.  This is not pus, but is an indication of a healing piercing.  Do not pick at the piercing.  Once healed, the piercing may secrete a semisolid, white, strange smelling substance from the oil glands that is not pus, but indicates a healed piercing.  Piercings may have a tendency to have a series of ups and downs during healing by seeming healed and then regressing.  

 

Don’t….

• Do not touch your piercing without washing your hands!  Do not play with your piercing!

• Do not wear clothing that may effect your piercing through excessive friction!

• Do not submerge your piercing in water (i.e. bathtubs, lakes, pools).  These places are laden with bacteria & chemicals!

• Do not change the piercing early unless advised by your piercer. This could interrupt the healing process!

• Do not tan the pierced area, which will expose the tissues to harmful UV rays.  If you decide to tan loosely cover the area.  Be careful with band-aid adhesive and lotions as they can irritate the piercing!!

• Do not apply harsh facial cleansers, make-up, lotions, sprays, lip balms, etc. to the pierced area!