Products
Antimicrobial or germicidal soap
Wound wash
Antiseptic or antibacterial alcohol free mouthwash (for oral piercings, only)
Product Application
Once daily, lather piercing with a pea-size drop of soap, thoroughly rinse and dry.
Twice daily, soak piercing with wound wash spray then thoroughly dry. If you have stubborn build up (crust), soak cotton swab and gently remove by rotating soaked cotton swab, until you don’t see anymore build up, then pat dry.
For oral piercings, rinse with mouthwash for 30 seconds after meals and at bedtime.
What to Expect
Initially: some bleeding, swelling, tenderness, 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 cleaning your piercing as part of your 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.
What to Do and What Not to Do
Wash hands prior to cleaning your piercing.
When drying your piercing, use a disposable paper product. Do NOT use a cloth towel because they can harbor bacteria and/or snag your jewelry.
Avoid swimming pools, hot tubs, lakes, lagoons, rivers, etc. during healing.
Avoid/reduce your intake of aspirin, caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and drugs during healing.
Do NOT exceed three TOTAL cleanings per day (soap and wound wash). Overcleaning can irritate piercing and delay healing.
Do NOT use alcohol, peroxide, Neosporin, Bactine, pierced ear solution, contact solution, or anything other than what your piercer suggests.
Do NOT remove jewelry until piercing has fully healed.
Come in to downsize your initial jewelry, as your piercer suggests (usually 4-6 weeks).
Do NOT touch, lick, kiss (or let others) your healing piercing.
Keep bodily fluids away from healing piercing for duration of healing.
Avoid snagging, bumping, or sleeping on a healing piercing for the duration of healing.
Do NOT use makeup, tanning accelerators, lotions, body sprays, perfumes, or cologne on your healing piercing.
Oral piercings: Avoid spicy, acidic, or salty foods, straws, and milk products until healed.
Do NOT wear earbuds or headphones while healing cartilage piercings.
Make sure you change your pillowcase every four days to provide a clean place for sleeping. Flipping and rotating, nightly, to use a clean surface.
When using hair products, cover any healing cartilage piercings with a sandwich bag, and remove when hair product is completely dry.
Wipe down anything that may come in contact with your healing piercing: glasses, sunglasses, helmet, headbands, etc.
During your first month of healing your nipple piercings, sleep in a tank top one size too small or a comfy sports bra.
Remove all bedding that is lacy, crocheted, or torn because of the potential to snag your new piercing. Be careful while getting dressed; be wary of jewelry and clothing snagging.
If your jewelry is threaded, you MUST check on the beads! Your piercer tightened your jewelry, but anything that screws on, screws off. At minimum, once a week: Wash your hands, dry and turn “righty tighty” to tighten.
Avoid sharing plates, cups, and utensils while healing.
For swelling with oral piercings, allow small pieces of ice to dissolve in the mouth. Don't move or play with your jewelry more than necessary. Sleep with your head elevated above your heart during the first few nights.
For swelling with all piercings, you may take an over-the-counter, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium. Follow dosage instructions on package as it pertains to swelling.
All clients with new body piercings below the neck should shower instead of soaking in a bath. Baths are pools of bacteria and can cause complications for healing.
Avoid unnecessary “trauma” to the healing piercing. Unnecessary trauma includes friction from clothing, excessive motion of the area, playing with the jewelry, or vigorous cleaning. These can all cause unsightly scar tissue, migration, prolonged healing, etc.
Keep pets away from healing piercings. Pet dander and certain diseases carried by reptiles can cause complications which could end in a doctor’s visit.
If you have a surgical procedure that requires you to remove your jewelry, stop in to see your piercer. She has options to use that won’t react with medications, MRI, CT scans, etc.
Genital Piercings
These can bleed freely for the first few days. Sanitary pads, changed frequently, can help with protecting your undergarments and clothes.
Use antimicrobial soap twice daily.
Urinate after using soap to clean any piercing that is near the urethra.
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. Urinate after sexual activity.
Use barriers such as condoms, dental dams, etc. to avoid contact with your partners' body fluids, even in monogamous relationships.
Use clean, disposable barriers on sex toys.
Use a new container of water-based lubricant; do not use saliva.