PIERCING AFTERCARE

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CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS

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

SALINE rinse as needed while healing. For most piercings spray neilmed fine mist directly onto the piercing, or use gauze or clean disposable paper towel saturated with wound saline solution to soften crust and debris.

REMOVE crust and debris from around the piercing gently using a qtip trying to be careful not to move the jewelry itself when possible.

RINSE site as needed to remove cleaning solution residue. No twisting, moving or
rotating jewelry is necessary during cleaning or rinsing.

DRY by using a hair dryer on a cool low setting or by gently patting with clean, disposable paper products. Do not use cloth towels as they can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry causing injury. Drying is especially important for kids earlobe piercings for the entire duration of the healing process.

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THINGS TO AVOID

• Avoid cleaning with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial soaps, iodine, or any harsh products, as these can damage cells. Also avoid ointments as they prevent necessary air circulation.

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

• Avoid over-cleaning. This can delay your 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 the formation of unsightly and uncomfortable 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 stress and recreational drug use, including excessive caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.

•  Avoid submerging the piercing in unhygienic bodies of water such as lakes, pools, hot tubs, etc. If swimming is unavoidable, when possible, protect your piercing using a waterproof wound sealant bandage. These are available at most drugstores and work best for nipple, navel, and surface piercing placements. If a waterproof bandage wont work for your particular piercing, rinse, your piercing with water briefly when you’re done and then dry thoroughly. Count that rinse and dry as one of our cleanings for the day.

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

•  Don’t hang charms, chains or any object from your jewelry until the piercing is fully healed.

• Do not sleep directly on a healing cartilage piercing can cause irritation, even causing shifts in the piercing’s angle. If you find yourself turning over in you sleep, you can buy a piercing pillow on Amazon, use a travel pillow to put your ear in the hole or even a towel wrapped in a circle to protect your piercing.

WHAT IS NORMAL?

Initially: during the first week or two, residual bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness and bruising can all be normal.

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 in 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.

Please note: piercing may seem healed before the healing process is complete. This is because tissue heals from the outside in, and although it feels fine, the interior remains fragile. Be patient, and clean as needed 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.

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THINGS TO DO

Always wash your hands prior to touching the piercing; leave it alone except when cleaning. During healing it is not necessary to rotate your jewelry

Exercise during healing is fine; listen to your body, modify movements when needed if anything is pinching or hurting.

Make sure your bedding is washed and changed regularly. Wear clean, comfortable, breathable clothing that protects your piercing while you are sleeping.

Showers tend to be safer than taking baths, as bathtubs can harbor bacteria. If you bathe in a tub, clean you tub before you get in, try to keep it brief as soaking your piercing during healing is not advised, and then rinse off your piercing when you get out with clean cool water and dry thoroughly by patting with paper towel or using a hair dryer on a cool setting.

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*Disclaimer: These guidelines are based on a combination of vast professional experience, common sense, research, and extensive clinical practice. This is not to be considered a substitute for medical advice from a doctor. If you suspect an infection, seek medical attention. Be aware that many doctors have not received specific training regarding body piercings.