Piercing After care

CLEANING SOLUTIONS

  • Use only a sterile saline solution specifically intended for piercings. Avoid contact lens saline, eye drops, or other saline products. The solution should contain only 0.9% sodium chloride. Do not make your own sea salt solution, as it is often too concentrated and can dry out the piercing and slow the healing process.

CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS FOR BODY PIERCINGS

  • Wash your hands before touching or cleaning the piercing. Clean it with a sterile saline solution twice daily (morning and night), using clean gauze or q-tip if needed. Rinse away any saline residue, but do not rotate or move the jewelry. Gently dry the area with clean disposable paper products, as cloth towels can carry bacteria and catch on the jewelry.

WHAT IS NORMAL?

  • After getting a piercing, mild bleeding, swelling, or bruising is normal. During healing, you may notice some discoloration, itching, and a whitish-yellow discharge that forms crusts around the jewelry. Even if the piercing looks healed, the inner tissue may still be recovering, so continue proper aftercare throughout the full healing period. Once healed, keep the piercing clean and dry to prevent irritation. Also, healed piercings can shrink or close quickly if jewelry is removed, so keep jewelry in place if you want to maintain the piercing.

WHAT TO DO

  • Wash your hands before touching your piercing and avoid handling it except for cleaning. Do not rotate the jewelry while it is healing. Exercise is fine, but wear clean, breathable clothing and clean the piercing after workouts. Showers are generally safer than baths because bathtubs can contain bacteria; if you take a bath, clean the tub beforehand and rinse the piercing afterward.


WHAT TO AVOID

  • Avoid harsh cleaning products such as alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, antibacterial soaps, ointments, Bactine®, and products containing benzalkonium chloride (BZK), as they can irritate the piercing and slow healing. Do not over-clean or subject the piercing to friction, excessive movement, rough handling, or pressure while sleeping. Avoid contact with bodily fluids, beauty products, and unhygienic water (such as pools, lakes, or hot tubs). Limit factors that may impair healing, including stress, excessive caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and recreational drugs. Also, do not hang charms or other objects from the jewelry until the piercing is fully healed.

HINTS AND TIPS

JEWELRY

  • Keep the original jewelry in place throughout the healing process unless a qualified piercer advises a change. Do not remove jewelry unnecessarily, as even healed piercings can close quickly. Regularly check that jewelry ends are secure with clean hands. If you no longer want the piercing, remove the jewelry and continue cleaning the area until it closes. If an infection is suspected, consult a doctor before removing the jewelry, as keeping appropriate jewelry in place may help drainage and prevent complications such as an abscess.

FOR PARTICULAR AREAS

NAVEL:

  • A hard, vented eye patch can be used to protect a piercing from tight clothing, irritation, and accidental impact. It can be secured with clothing or an elastic bandage and is especially useful during physical activities or contact sports.

EAR/EAR CARTILAGE AND FACIAL:

  • Keep anything that touches the piercing clean, including pillows, phones, headphones, glasses, hats, and helmets. Change to a clean pillow surface regularly (such as using the T-shirt trick), and be careful when styling your hair to avoid irritating the piercing. Inform your hairstylist if you have a new or healing piercing.

NIPPLES:

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

SURFACE ANCHORS:

  •  These piercings require lifelong maintenance because debris can accumulate under the threaded top and cause irritation. Cleaning with saline solution and/or rinsing in the shower can help remove buildup. Avoid applying makeup to the piercing, even after it has healed. Even with proper care, surface anchors may not be as permanent as other types of body piercings.

ALTERNATIVE AFTERCARE

  •  Piercing aftercare can vary depending on the region, climate, and individual needs, so it’s important to follow your piercer’s advice. If using soap, choose a gentle, fragrance-free product and avoid antibacterial soaps, as they can dry out and irritate the piercing. Rinse thoroughly after use.
  • If sterile saline is unavailable, you can make a sea salt solution by dissolving 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon (0.75–1.42 g) of non-iodized fine sea salt in 1 cup (250 ml) of warm distilled or bottled water. Avoid making the solution stronger, as excessive salt can irritate the piercing.

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 it well before each use and rinse off your piercing when you get out