You’ve just received a body piercing by a skilled and knowledgeable professional who cleaned and disinfected the area pierced, used sterile instruments, sterile jewelry, and a single use needle. Now it is up to you to take care of it properly. What we suggest is:
• 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.
• Packaged sterile saline (with no additives, read the label) is a gentle choice for piercing aftercare.
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 cleaning 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 piercings 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.
Avoid
• Avoid cleaning with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Dial® or other soaps containing triclosan, iodine, or any harsh products, as these can damage cells. Also avoid ointments as they prevent necessary air circulation.
• Avoid Bactine®, pierced ear care solutions, and other products containing Benzalkonium Chloride (BZK). 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 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. Or, protect your piercing using a waterproof wound-sealant bandage (such as 3M™ Nexcare™ Clean Seals or Tegaderm). These are available at most drugstores and at Piercing Vegas.
• Avoid all beauty and personal care products on or around the piercing including cosmetics, lotions, and sprays, etc.
• Don’t hang charms or any object from your jewelry until the piercing is fully healed.
For Oral Piercings
•It is a good idea to rinse with an alcohol free mouthwash a few times a day.
•Drinking alcohol during the first few weeks will prolong your healing process and will greatly increase the chances of damaging it.
•Check beads tightness with clean hands to ensure tightness.
•Try to keep swelling down as much as possible for the first week. Cold soaks really help.
•Use common sense when eating, if it hurts, you’re doing damage. Slow down or find something easier to eat.
•Call or stop in with any questions or problems,we are here to help.