PIERCING AFTERCARE

 

WHAT TO DO

  • Wash your hands prior to touching your piercing, leave it alone except when cleaning. During healing, it is not necessary to rotate your jewellery.

  • Use Saline to saturate the area and remove any “crusties” very gently with a cotton tip. Do this daily.

  • Keep the area clean at all times. Showers tend to be safer than taking baths, as baths can harbour bacteria. If you are bathing or swimming (we advise avoiding this for the healing period) then rinse your piercing thoroughly afterwards.

  • Make sure hair is kept clean and back from healing ear piercings

  • Have a check up at around 4-6 weeks after your piercing to be sure healing is on track and to assess if a jewellery downsize is necessary at that point. Some piercings will require more than one downsize over the healing period.

WHAT IS NORMAL?

  • Initially: some bleeding, localised swelling, tenderness or bruising

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

  • Once healed: The jewellery may not move freely in the piercing, do not force it.

  • if you fail to include cleaning your piercing as part of you daily hygiene routine, normal but smelly bodily secretions may accumulate.

  • A 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 keep cleaning 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 jewellery in — do not leave it empty.

WHAT TO AVOID

  • Avoid moving jewellery in an unhealed piercing, or picking away dried discharge with your fingers.

  • Avoid sleeping on your new piercing for the duration of healing to avoid irritation and possible migration.

  • Avoid cleaning with Betadine®, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or other soaps containing triclosan, as these can damage cells. Also avoid ointments as they prevent necessary air circulation.

  • Avoid pierced ear care solutions and other products containing Benzalkonium Chloride (BZK) as well as tea tree oil, diluted or not, 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 jewellery, 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 unhygenic bodies of water such as lakes, pools, hot tubs, etc. 

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

REMEMEBER TO CHECK/TIGHTEN THE TOPS/BALLS OF YOUR JEWELLERY REGULARLY

Each body is unique and healing times vary considerably.

If you have any questions, see our troubleshooting information otherwise please contact us.