BODY PIERCING AFTERCARE

Piercings need to be cleaned only once or twice daily during the initial healing with a mild medicated soap such as Provon or Satin. Do not clean more often as this can irritate your piercing, and possibly delay your healing. Don't use alcohol, peroxide, Betadine or Hibiclens as they are overly strong and drying. First, wash hands thoroughly with liquid antibacterial soap and hot water. Never touch healing piercings with dirty hands to avoid infection. Soak the piercing site with warm water and remove any crust. But never pick with fingernails! Apply a small handful of cleaning solution to the area with your clean hands. Cleanse the area and the jewelry, and gently rotate the jewelry back and forth a few times to work the solution to the inside. Allow the solution to cleanse there for a minute. Rinse the area thoroughly under running water, while rotating the jewelry back and forth to completely remove the cleanser from the inside and outside of the piercing. Gently pat dry with gauze or tissues.  Beware that cloth towels can harbor bacteria.  Don't apply any ointments on your piercing. These prevent oxygen from reaching the wound and form a sticky residue which can cause complications. They are not designed for use on healing piercings. Don't use bandaids on a healing piercing. They limit air circulation and the adhesive can irritate the surrounding area. If you must get into a pool, lake, or jacuzzi, use a breathable, non water-permeable wound sealant such as Tegaderm (available at drug stores). 

ORAL PIERCINGS: Use an alcohol-free antimicrobial or antibacterial mouth rinse such as Tech 2000 or Biotene. Do not use Lysterine or other mouthwash which contains alcohol. It can irritate and delay healing. Rinse mouth for 30-60 seconds with solution after meals during the entire minimum initial healing time. Sea salt rinses: dissolve a pinch of non-iodized (not table salt) sea salt to one cup warmed bottled water. Rinse mouth with sea salt no more than twice a day.

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. Tightness is normal. Do not expect jewelry to swing freely in most body piercings, even after they are thoroughly healed.

In the event that the piercing drains a thick pus discharge instead of the normal liquid secretion, you may wish to see a physician for evaluation and possible antibiotic treatment. If you do have an infection, the jewelry should be left in the piercing to allow for drainage of pus. If the jewelry is removed, the holes can close up, resulting in an abscess.

• Wash your hands prior to contact.
• Leave the piercing alone except for when you are cleaning it.
• It is not necessary to rotate the ring while healing except during cleanings.
• Leave the starter jewelry in during the entire minimum initial healing time.
• Leave jewelry in at all times. Or use a clear retainer to maintain the piercing until jewelry can be reinserted. Even older healed piercings can shrink or close in minutes after having been there for years.
• Wear clean, comfortable, breathable fabric clothing in the area of a body piercing.
• Get enough sleep, eat a nutritious diet, avoid undue stress, recreational drugs, and alcohol consumption. The healthier your lifestyle, the easier it will be for your piercing to heal.
• Showering is safer than taking a bath, as bath tubs tend to harbor bacteria.