CLEANING
WASH hands vigorously with soap for 20 seconds before touching piercing or jewelry.
SALINE rinse/solution (prepackaged) may be used as needed throughout the healing process.
RINSE piercing site as needed. Gently remove any discharge or crust that may have built up on your jewelry. Moving or rotating jewelry is not needed during cleaning or rinsing.
DRY by gently patting with clean paper towels or gauze.
WHAT TO DO
Leave the initial jewelry in place throughout the entire healing period. If you notice problems with the size, style, or material of the jewelry, see your piercer to change jewelry as necessary. Be sure to regularly check threaded/threadless ends for tightness.
If you suspect infection, do not remove the jewelry yourself. Doing so could result in an abscess. Contact your piercer if you need a non-metallic jewelry alternative.
It is not necessary to rotate or otherwise move your jewelry while cleaning until it is fully healed. Unnecessarily frequent or vigorous cleaning may delay healing and irritate your piercing.
Make sure your bedding is clean and change it regularly. Wear clean, comfortable, and breathable clothing that protects your piercing while sleeping. Exercising while healing is fine; listen to your body.
Showers tend to be safer than bathtubs, which harbor bacteria. If you use a tub, clean it thoroughly beforehand, and clean your piercing after.
WHAT IS NORMAL?
INITIALLY you may notice some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness, and possibly bruising, all of which may occur intermittently or consistently throughout the first few days or weeks of healing.
DURING HEALING you may notice discoloration, itching, secretion of whitish-yellow fluids (not pus) that form a “crust” around the jewelry, and tightening of tissue around the jewelry.
ONCE HEALED, the jewelry may not move freely in the piercing - do not force it! If you do not clean your piercing regularly as a part of your daily hygiene routine, you may notice a normal but strong-smelling accumulation of bodily secretions on and around the jewelry.
THE HEALING PROCESS takes time to complete. Although your piercing may seem to be healed within a few weeks, the inner tissue is still fragile, as piercings heal from the outside in. Removing or changing your jewelry before the date your piercer suggests can result in irritation or injury. Be patient, and keep cleaning your piercing throughout the entire healing period even if you choose or need to remove your jewelry for any reason.
ALL TYPES OF JEWELRY CAN LOOSEN for a multitude of reasons. Regularly check the ends of your jewelry for tightness to prevent it from falling out and becoming lost. Using clean hands or paper products, gently check threaded ends to see if you are able to tighten the jewelry immediately after cleaning. For threadless ends: if you see a gap between the post (inside) and top (outside), gently place your index finger and thumb on both sides of the jewelry and carefully press them together.
NAVEL PIERCINGS:
A hard, vented eye patch (sold at pharmacies) can be applied under tight clothing. Tape can cause irritation, so use an Ace or Co-Flex self-adhesive bandage to secure the patch to your body. This can protect the area from excessive irritation and impact during physical activities, such as sports.
EAR, CARTILAGE, AND FACIAL PIERCINGS:
Use a clean t-shirt to cover your pillow each night (turn or change it nightly) to provide a clean surface for sleeping.
Maintain cleanliness of phones, headphones, eyeglasses, helmets, hats, or anything else that contacts the pierced area.
Use caution when styling your hair, and advise hairdressers/barbers of your new/healing piercing prior to appointments.
NIPPLE PIERCINGS:
The support of a tight cotton shirt or sports bra may provide protection and comfort, especially while sleeping.
GENITAL PIERCINGS:
Genital piercings may bleed freely for the first few days. Prepare for this by using unscented liners in underwear. Additional cleaning after urination is not necessary.
SURFACE ANCHORS:
These piercings require maintenance throughout their lifetime, because matter may build up beneath the threaded top and cause irritation, migration, or even rejection. Even with proper care, surface anchors may be less permanent than other body piercings. Avoid putting makeup on these piercings, even after healing.
ORAL PIERCINGS:
Once swelling has subsided, your piercer MUST replace the initial jewelry with a shorter post or barbell to avoid damage to the teeth and gums. If you think skin is growing over the jewelry, visit your piercer immediately to obtain a longer post or barbell. (It is normal for lip piercing jewelry to “nest” slightly into the inside of your lip once fully healed.) Do not play with your jewelry; long term effects include permanent damage to teeth and gums. For labret (cheek and lip) piercings, be cautious not to open your mouth too wide, as this may cause the jewelry to catch on your teeth.
To reduce swelling and discomfort, rinse with cold water, eat/drink cool foods/beverages, and sleep with your head elevated. Avoid aspirin, alcohol, and large amounts of caffeine if you are experiencing bleeding and/or swelling. Don’t use straws.
Avoid spicy, salty, acidic, or hot-temperature foods/beverages for the first two weeks. Minimize smoking/vaping of all substances as it increases risks and prolongs healing. Always rinse your mouth and piercing with clean (bottled or filtered) water after every time you eat, drink, or smoke.
Maintain good oral hygiene by flossing and brushing your teeth twice a day. Avoid mouth rinses that contain alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Once healed, brush the jewelry with a clean toothbrush regularly to avoid plaque buildup.
Avoid kissing, oral sex, sharing cups, dishes, and eating utensils with others. Chewing on tobacco, gum, fingernails, and any other foreign objects may introduce bacteria into your piercing, so avoid them throughout the healing period.
WHAT TO AVOID
Avoid cleaning with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial soaps, iodine, or any harsh products including ointments, Bactine, pierced ear care solutions, contact solution, eye drops, nasal rinse products, and any products containing Benzalkonium Chloride (BKZ). These can irritate or even damage your piercing.
Avoid trauma such as friction, excessive motion of the area, over-cleaning, and playing with the jewelry: these actions may result in unsightly scarring, migration of the piercing, prolonged healing, and other complications.
Avoid all oral, genital, and body fluid contact near or on your piercing throughout the healing period.
Avoid stress and recreational drug use (including caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol).
Avoid submerging the piercing in unhygienic bodies of water (lakes, pools, hot tubs, etc.) as they often harbor bacteria. A waterproof wound-sealant bandage (available at pharmacies and drugstores) may work well for protecting nipple, navel, and surface piercings.
Avoid all beauty and personal care products on or around the piercing including makeup, lotions, cosmetics, sprays, etc.
Avoid placing pressure/weight (such as hanging charms) on the jewelry throughout the healing process.
Avoid removing or changing your jewelry until the earliest date suggested by your piercer. Even fully healed piercings may shrink or close within a few hours. If you like your piercing, keep jewelry in it!