Piercing Aftercare
Cleaning Solutions
• Sea Salt Solution:
4 teaspoons of non- iodized sea salt dissolved in one gallon of distilled water. A stronger mixture is not better! Sea salt solution that is too strong can irritate the piercing. Sea salt solution soaks help relieve swelling, redness and encourage circulation so you can heal faster!
• Sterile Saline Solution:
In a pressurized can with no additives (read the label). Avoid using contact cleaning solutions or soaking/wetting solutions. You can find saline solution in any health/ first aid section of stores.
Cleaning Instructions
for Body Piercing
1. Always wash your hands thoroughly before cleaning or touching your body piercing.
2. Soak your piercing with Sea Salt Solution at least 2 to 3 times a day or more (preferably before each cleaning). Pour the sea salt solution into a small, clean cup and heat it up (make it as warm as you can handle). Invert the cup overyour piercing, lay back and soak for 10 – 15 minutes or until the solution is cold(the longer you soak the better). For certain placements, it may be easier to soak using fresh gauze or a cotton ball saturated in the solution.
3. Clean your piercing 2 to 3 times a day or when activity may cause the jewelry to move (exercise, etc.). Navels: clean whenever the piercing feels tight or uncomfortable Spray the piercing and surrounding area with sterile saline solution or use sea salt water.
4. Spray a cotton swab with saline solution or sea salt water and use it to gently remove any crusty matter from the jewelry and around the piercing. Do not move the jewelry back and forth through the piercing (this damages the fragile tissue inside of your new piercing, slowing down the healing process).
5. Spray the piercing again to rinse away any crusty matter. * If cleaning with sea salt water, rinse area with water.
6. Allow piercing to air dry.
Oral Piercings Cleaning Instructions
(Use one or both of the following solutions for rinsing oral piercings.)
•Alcohol-free, antiseptic mouthwash (eg. Biotene Original) diluted 50/50 with water. Rinse your mouth for 30 to 60 seconds approximately 5 times a day for the first 4 weeks.
• Sea salt solution (4 teaspoons of non-iodized sea salt dissolved in one gallon of distilled water). Rinse with lukewarm sea salt solution for 30 to 60 seconds several times a day.
What You Can Expect
The Normal Healing Process
Initially: Some bleeding, localized swelling or tenderness, redness/discoloration and perhaps some bruising.
During Healing: Some discoloration, itching, secretions of whitish or yellow fluid (NOT pus) that will form around the outside of the incision/puncture and the entry point of your jewelry.
The Normal Healing Process
Initially: Some bleeding, localized swelling or tenderness, redness/discoloration and perhaps some bruising.
During Healing: Some discoloration, itching, secretions of whitish or yellow fluid (NOT pus) that will form around the outside of the incision/puncture and the entry point of your jewelry.
SPECIFIC AFTERCARE INSTRUCTIONS:
NOSTRIL: Be careful of using too much makeup and hard or abrasive facial cleansers. Always pat your face dry; loose or "looped" towel fibers can easily get caught on a piercing and even tear it out. Be careful of your towel catching on it when drying your hair or after getting out of the shower.
NAVEL: Avoid tight clothing on your navel area - this is the most common cause of irritation.
NIPPLES: Again avoid tight fitting clothing. Women report that wearing a bra or A-Shirt for support helps with the soreness, especially in bed and during exercise.
ALL ORAL PIERCINGS: Tongue, Labret, etc. Avoid spicy foods, high grain alcohols, smoking and making out. AVOID ALCOHOL BASED moutwashes (Use, e.g., Biotene).
TONGUE: For swelling or soreness take Aleve or Advil. Eat slowly and think about how you are chewing. NO KISSING OR SEXUAL CONTACT until completely healed. Gently brush your tongue with your toothbrush -- it will help remove mucus and dead skin cells.
LIP/MONROE: Do not play with it! If you leave it alone it will heal faster. Remember to clean the outside too, it is not sufficient to just rinse your mouth with a mouthwash, etc. Consult with your piercer after it has healed about shortening the length of the piercing's post to avoid damage to teeth and gums.
GENITAL: REMEMBER -- ALL PIERCINGS ARE AN OPEN CHANNEL INTO YOUR BLOOD STREAM. Sexual contact during the healing phase could be dangerous to you and your partner. Exercise safe sex protocol and be gentle with your new piercing - it will heal faster. Urine may be the best ally to your healing piercing -- urine is sterile to your body and the best rinsing agent you have, thought not to replace general saline aftercare.
NOSTRIL: Be careful of using too much makeup and hard or abrasive facial cleansers. Always pat your face dry; loose or "looped" towel fibers can easily get caught on a piercing and even tear it out. Be careful of your towel catching on it when drying your hair or after getting out of the shower.
NAVEL: Avoid tight clothing on your navel area - this is the most common cause of irritation.
NIPPLES: Again avoid tight fitting clothing. Women report that wearing a bra or A-Shirt for support helps with the soreness, especially in bed and during exercise.
ALL ORAL PIERCINGS: Tongue, Labret, etc. Avoid spicy foods, high grain alcohols, smoking and making out. AVOID ALCOHOL BASED moutwashes (Use, e.g., Biotene).
TONGUE: For swelling or soreness take Aleve or Advil. Eat slowly and think about how you are chewing. NO KISSING OR SEXUAL CONTACT until completely healed. Gently brush your tongue with your toothbrush -- it will help remove mucus and dead skin cells.
LIP/MONROE: Do not play with it! If you leave it alone it will heal faster. Remember to clean the outside too, it is not sufficient to just rinse your mouth with a mouthwash, etc. Consult with your piercer after it has healed about shortening the length of the piercing's post to avoid damage to teeth and gums.
GENITAL: REMEMBER -- ALL PIERCINGS ARE AN OPEN CHANNEL INTO YOUR BLOOD STREAM. Sexual contact during the healing phase could be dangerous to you and your partner. Exercise safe sex protocol and be gentle with your new piercing - it will heal faster. Urine may be the best ally to your healing piercing -- urine is sterile to your body and the best rinsing agent you have, thought not to replace general saline aftercare.
The Piercing may discharge a whitish/yellowish secretion. These crusty dicharges may be removed with a Q-Tip and warm water or a saline solution just prior to the actual cleaning. When this matter is removed, you need only a little soap or saline solution and then gently turn or rotate the jewelry back and forth through the Piercing a couple of times. Rinse the area with water to remove all traces of soap. Cleaning is usually easily done in the shower. For some piercings, such as ear or surface piercings, cleaning can be done by placing your cleaning solution in a glass and "cupping" it to your ear or other surface area.
Diet, rest and your general health all affect how your body will heal. The healthier your lifestyle, the quicker you will heal.
AVOID: Hot Tubs, Lakes, Pools, Soaking Baths -- all have bacteria and/or chemicals that can infect or irritate your piercing while it heals. And use COMMON SENSE. If a piercing is likely to be exposed to dirt or debris, wear protective covering. Do not let pets lick a new or healing piercing. Do not "clean-out" your piercing with anti-biotics or products made for cleaning wounds (NO hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alchol, Bactine, Neosporin or petroleum-based ointment) or bandage your piercing like a wound.
WARNING: Over-Cleaning your piercing can prolong the time it takes to heal. The interior of your piercing is like a "tunnel" -- over time, your body creates new cells that line the tunnel and create a new barrier for your skin from outisde exposure. Agressive cleaning, playing with your piercing or stress by tugging or pulling can tear out the new cells while it is healing, making the entire process begin anew and extending the time it eventually takes for your piercing to heal.
Diet, rest and your general health all affect how your body will heal. The healthier your lifestyle, the quicker you will heal.
AVOID: Hot Tubs, Lakes, Pools, Soaking Baths -- all have bacteria and/or chemicals that can infect or irritate your piercing while it heals. And use COMMON SENSE. If a piercing is likely to be exposed to dirt or debris, wear protective covering. Do not let pets lick a new or healing piercing. Do not "clean-out" your piercing with anti-biotics or products made for cleaning wounds (NO hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alchol, Bactine, Neosporin or petroleum-based ointment) or bandage your piercing like a wound.
WARNING: Over-Cleaning your piercing can prolong the time it takes to heal. The interior of your piercing is like a "tunnel" -- over time, your body creates new cells that line the tunnel and create a new barrier for your skin from outisde exposure. Agressive cleaning, playing with your piercing or stress by tugging or pulling can tear out the new cells while it is healing, making the entire process begin anew and extending the time it eventually takes for your piercing to heal.