Piercing Aftercare

Body Piercings

Cleaning solutions:

•Packaged sterile saline solution with no additives (read the label), or a non iodized sea salt mixture: Dissolve 1/8 teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt into 8 oz of warm distilled or bottled water. A stronger mixture is not better; a saline solution that is too strong can irritate the piercing.

•A mild, fragrance free liquid soap—preferably anti-microbial or germicidal.

Cleaning Instructions for body piercings:

•Wash your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning or touching your piercing for any reason.

•Saline soak for five to ten minutes once or more per day. Invert a cup of warm saline solution over the area to form a vacuum. For certain piercings it may be easier to apply using a clean paper towel saturated with the saline solution. A brief rinse afterward will remove any residue.

•Soap no more than once or twice per day. While showering, lather up a pearl sized drop of soap to clean the jewelry and the piercing. Leave the cleanser on the piercing for no more than thirty seconds, then rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of soap from the piercing. It is not necessary to rotate the jewelry through the piercing.

•Dry by gently patting with clean, disposable paper products. Cloth towels can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry, causing injury.

What is normal?

•Initially after piercing: some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness, or bruising.

•During healing: some discoloration, itching, secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid (not pus) that will form some crust on the jewelry. The tissue may tighten around the jewelry as it heals.

•Once healed the jewelry may not move freely through the piercing; do not force it. If you fail to include cleaning your piercing as part of your daily hygiene routine, normal, but smelly, bodily secretions may accumulate.

•A piercing may seam healed before the healing process is complete. This is because piercings heal from the outside in and although it feels fine, the tissue remains fragile on the inside. Be patient, and keep cleaning your piercing through out the entire healing period.

•Even healed piercings can shrink or close in minutes after having been there for years! This varies from person to person; if you like your piercing, keep jewelry in, do not leave it empty. If removed reinsertion can be difficult or impossible.

What to avoid:

•Avoid cleaning with Betadine, Hibiclens, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Dial, or other harsh soaps, as these can damage cells. Also avoid ointments as they prevent necessary air flow to the piercing.

•Avoid Bactine, pierced ear care solutions, and other products containing Benzalkonium Chloride (BZK) and Benzethonium Chloride (BZT). These can be irritating and are not intended for long term wound care.

•Avoid over-cleaning. This can delay healing and irritate your piercing.

•Avoid undue trauma such as friction from clothing, excessive motion of the area, playing with the jewelry, and vigorous cleaning. These activities can cause formation of unsightly scar tissue, migration, prolonged healing, and other complications.

•Avoid all oral contact, rough play, and contact with others’ bodily fluids on or near your piercing during healing.

•Avoid submerging the piercing in unhygienic bodies of water such as lakes, pools, hot tubs, ect. or, protect your piercing using a waterproof wound sealant bandage (such as Tegaderm). These are available at most drug stores.

•Avoid all beauty and personal care products on or around the piercing including cosmetics, lotions, and sprays, ect.

In the event that an infection is suspected, quality jewelry or an inert alternative should be left in place to allow for drainage of the infection. Should the jewelry be removed, the surface cells can close up sealing the infection inside the piercing channel, resulting in an abscess. Until the infection is cleared up leave quality jewelry in place!

All instructions listed above are suggestions for the healing of body piercings. Different methods may work for different individuals.

Most importantly listen to your own body, and only use piercing care suggestions from a professional or credible source.

Each body is unique and healing times vary considerably. If you have any questions, please contact your piercer.

Oral Piercings

Cleaning solutions:

Use one or both of the following for the inside of your mouth:

•Antimicrobial or antibacterial alcohol free mouthwash.

•Packaged sterile saline solution with no additives (read the label), or a non iodized sea salt mixture: dissolve 1/8 teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt into 8 oz of warm distilled or bottled water. A stronger mixture is not better; a saline solution that is too strong can irritate the piercing.

Cleaning Instructions for inside the mouth:

•Rinse mouth with cleaning solution for thirty seconds after meals and at bed time (four to five times daily) during the entire healing period. Cleaning too often or with too strong of a rinse can cause discoloration and irritation of your mouth and the piercing.

Cleaning Instructions for outside of the mouth for lip, cheek, and labret:

•Wash your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning or touching your piercing for any reason.

•Dry by gently patting with clean, disposable paper products. Cloth towels can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry, causing injury.

What is normal?

•For the first three to five days: significant swelling, light bleeding, tenderness, or bruising.

•After that: some swelling, light secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid (not pus).

•A piercing may seem healed before the healing process is complete. This is because piercings heal from the outside in, and although it feels fine, the tissue remains fragile on the inside. Be patient, and keep cleaning your piercing throughout the entire healing period.

•Even healed piercings can shrink or close in minutes after having been there for years! This varies from person to person; if you like your piercing, keep jewelry in- do not leave it empty. If removed reinsertion can be difficult or impossible.

What to do to help reduce swelling:

•Allow small pieces of ice to dissolve in the mouth.

•Take an over the counter, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen according to package instructions.

•Don’t speak or move your jewelry more than necessary.

•Sleep with your head elevated above your heart during the first few nights.

To maintain good oral hygiene:

•Use a new soft-bristled toothbrush and store it in a clean area away from other toothbrushes.

•Brush your teeth and use chosen rinse (saline or mouthwash) after every meal.

•During healing, floss daily and gently brush your teeth, tongue and jewelry. Once healed, brush the jewelry more thoroughly to avoid plaque build up.

Oral piercing tips:

•Once swelling has subsided, it is vital to replace the original longer jewelry with a shorter post to avoid intra-oral damage.

•Do not play with your jewelry. Long term effects include: permanent damage to teeth, gums, and other oral structures.

•For lip, labret, and cheek piercings: be cautious about opening your mouth too wide as this can result on the jewelry catching on your teeth.

•Avoid sexual contact including french kissing or oral sex during healing (even with a long term partner).

•Because it is often necessary to change jewelry during the healing process, it should be done by a qualified piercer.

•All instructions listed above are suggestions for the healing of body piercings. Different methods may work for different individuals.

•Most importantly listen to your own body, and only use piercing care suggestions from a professional or credible source.

•Each body is unique and healing times vary considerably. If you have any questions, please contact your piercer.