Cleaning Solutions

• Packaged sterile saline (with no additives, read the label) is a gentle choice for piercing aftercare. Most grocery stores carry this in their pharmacy sections next to first aid supplies. It is usually called “wound wash” and should only have two ingredients - sodium chloride and sterile water.

Cleaning Instructions for Body Piercings

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

• SALINE rinse as needed while healing. For certain piercings it may be easier to apply using clean gauze

  saturated with saline solution.

• RINSE site as needed to remove cleaning solution residue. Moving or rotating jewelry is not necessary during

  cleaning or rinsing.

• DRY by gently patting with clean, disposable paper products. Cloth towels can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry causing injury.
  
  What is Normal?

• Initially: some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness, and/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 in the piercing; do not force it. If you fail to include your piercing

  as part of your daily hygiene routine, normal but smelly bodily secretions may accumulate.

• A piercing might 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 initial healing period.

• Even healed piercing that you have had for years can shrink or close in minutes! This varies from person to

  person; if you like your piercing, keep jewelry in—do not leave the hole empty.
  

  What to Do

• 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.

• 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.
  

  What to Avoid

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

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

• Avoid cleaning with homemade sea salt solution.

• 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.

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

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

To Stay Healthy

• The healthier your lifestyle, the easier it will be for your piercing to heal.

• Get enough sleep and drink plenty of water.

• To help healing and bolster your ability to fight infection eat a nutritious diet. If you don’t, consider taking

  nutritional supplements daily.

  Hints & Tips

  Jewelry

• Unless there is a problem with the size, style, or material of the initial jewelry, leave it in place for the entire healing period. See a qualified piercer to perform any jewelry change that becomes necessary during healing.

• Contact your piercer for a non-metallic jewelry alternative if your metal jewelry must be temporarily removed (such as for a medical procedure).

• Leave jewelry in at all times. Even healed piercings that you have had for years can shrink or close in minutes! If removed, reinsertion can be difficult or impossible.

• With clean hands or paper product, be sure to regularly check threaded ends on your jewelry for tightness (“righty-tighty, lefty-loosey")

• Should you decide you no longer want the piercing, simply remove the jewelry (or have your piercer remove it for you) and continue cleaning the piercing until the hole closes. In most cases only a small mark should remain.

• In the event an infection is suspected, quality jewelry should be left in place to allow for drainage of the infection. If the jewelry is removed, the surface cells can close up, which can close the infection inside the piercing channel and result in an abscess. Until an infection is cleared up, leave in quality jewelry.

  Specific Areas

  Navel

• A hard, vented eye patch (sold at pharmacies) can be applied under tight clothing (such as nylon stockings) or secured using a length of elastic bandage around the body (to avoid irritation from adhesive). This can protect the are from restrictive clothing, excess irritation, and impact during physical activities such as contact sports.

• Be conscious of snagging on laundry baskets and shower loofahs.

  Ear/Ear Cartilage & Facial

• Use the t-shirt trick: dress your pillow in a large, clean t-shirt and turn it nightly; one clean t-shirt provides four clean surfaces for sleeping.

• Maintain cleanliness of phones, headphones, eyeglasses, helmets, hats, and anything else that comes into contact with your new piercing.

• Use caution when styling your hair and advise your stylist of a new or healing piercing.

• Excess moisture on fresh piercings can sometimes lead to irritation bumps and prolong healing. Be sure to dry your new piercing thoroughly after washing your hair, using a blow dryer on the cool setting is great for this. If you prefer to air dry your hair, put it in braids or a bun to keep any excess moisture from sitting on new piercings.

  Oral

• Do not use any whitening products as these can be extremely irritating to fresh piercings. You may continue to use mouthwash if it is already part of your routine, an alcohol free option like Crest Pro Health will be more comfortable than mouthwash with a higher alcohol content like Listerine. If you do use mouthwash, don’t overdo it! Twice daily (morning and night) is more than enough.

• Avoid spicy, salty or citrus foods for the first few days. Choose softer foods that are easier to chew such as soup, mashed potatoes, applesauce, etc

• Be sure to take your time getting used to eating with your new piercing! Chew slowly and take small bites to avoid accidentally biting down on the jewelry. Rinse with plain distilled water after each meal.

• All oral piercings go through swelling and tenderness during the first week or two. Popsicles or ice chips can provide relief during this time.

• Avoid drinking alcohol and excessive vaping or smoking for the first two weeks.

• In most cases you can engage in kissing or sexual activity as soon as you feel ready. Use barriers such as

  condoms, dental dams, and waterproof bandages, etc. to avoid contact with your partners’ bodily fluids, even in

  long-term monogamous relationships.

• Follow up with your piercer to downsize your jewelry as needed! Leaving the longer jewelry in can cause

  chipped teeth or gum erosion.

  Nipple

• The support of a tight cotton shirt or sports bra may provide protection and feel comfortable, especially while sleeping.

• Avoid all oral contact during sexual activities throughout the healing period. There is no set length of time you should wait before touching or letting someone else touch your new piercings. Listen to your body, if something hurts don’t do it!

• Be conscious of snagging on seatbelts, long hair, shower loofahs etc

  Genital

• Prince Alberts can bleed freely for the first few days. Be prepared! Additional cleaning after urination is not necessary.

• Wash your hands before touching on (or near) a healing piercing.

• In most cases you can engage in sexual activity as soon as you feel ready, but maintaining hygiene and avoiding

  trauma are vital; all sexual activities should be gentle during the healing period.

• Use barriers such as condoms, dental dams, and waterproof bandages, etc. to avoid contact with your partners’

  bodily fluids, even in long-term monogamous relationships.

• Use clean, disposable barriers on sex toys.

• Use a new container of water-based lubricant; do not use saliva.

• After sex, an additional saline or clean water rinse is suggested.

  Surface Anchors

• These piercings require maintenance during their entire lifetime because matter can build up underneath the threaded top causing the piercing to become irritated. Warm water rinses may be helpful with removing matter from underneath the threaded top.

• Avoid putting makeup on these piercings even after healing.

• Even with proper care, surface anchors may be less permanent than other body piercings.

  For any additional information, please contact your piercer!