Piercing Aftercare

Body Piercing Aftercare: What to Expect:

The first few days after being pierced you may notice bleeding, swelling, and bruising which are all normal signs of a healing piercing. Your body is trying to flood the wounded area with blood and plasma to achieve homeostasis (when your blood clots to prevent further bleeding). In the next few weeks/months your body will produce a base layer of cells made up of collagen and protein that will grow through the piercing and around the jewelry. The skin will also start to contract and tighten around the jewelry. New skin cells will start to form at both edges of the piercing and grow inwards to connect and form a fistula (flesh tunnel). This process causes a clear/yellow liquid discharge made up of dead cells and other fluids (these fluids dry into what are commonly referred to as “crusties”). It is fine if “crusties” come off during cleaning; otherwise, do not pick at them. At this stage the initial healing is complete, but it will take several months for the skin to mature and strengthen. Care must still be taken with your piercing, as any trauma might cause it to regress back to an earlier stage in the healing process.

DO NOT TOUCH YOUR PIERCING!

• This is a major cause of infection as your hands come into contact with many dirty surfaces. If you must touch your piercing make sure to thoroughly wash your hands first.

• Change bedding and towels weekly and wear clean clothes around the piercing.

• Disinfect all objects that come into contact with your piercing (e.g. phones, ear-buds, etc.).

• Try not to sleep on the piercing, bump it, or cause any trauma to it.

• Eat a healthy diet, get sufficient sleep, drink plenty of water, and take daily vitamins, which will help with the healing process.

• Avoid stress, alcohol, caffeine, and smoking.

• Avoid tanning as it may cause permanent discoloration in the new skin formed around the piercing.

• You can exercise as long as you are not bumping, causing trauma, or exposing your piercing to dirty surfaces or environments. Your sweat is sterile to you, so shower like you normally do and clean the piercing afterwards with saline or sterile wound wash.

• Do not swim in rivers, lakes, hot tubs, pools, or oceans until your piercing is healed.

Body Piercing Aftercare in areas other than oral:

Showering: Shower like you normally do; the last thing you will do while in the shower is clean your piercing. Lather up some mild, fragrance free, non-antibacterial soap in your hands and gently wash your piercing. You want enough friction to clean the piercing, but not so much that you cause trauma to it. Do not rotate or move the jewelry, but if it moves slightly that’s ok. The hot water from the shower will open your capillaries/pores, flush the area, and increase oxygen, which helps healing.

Sea Salt Soaks: These should be done 1-2 times a day with a 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt to 1 cup of distilled water, or for a larger batch, 4 teaspoons of sea salt to 1 gallon of distilled water (do not use iodized salt which has an additive to prevent clumping). Heat the water so it is comfortably warm, do not burn yourself! Use a clean shot glass, cup, or bowl to soak the piercing for 5 minutes and then rinse with distilled water or shower to get rid of any salt crystals that might form when dry. You can invert the piercing itself and hold the container of sea salt solution tight against the skin to create a seal, then flip back over to soak. You can also soak sterile gauze in the sea salt solution to make a compress which can be applied to hard to reach piercings. Just like showering, the warm sea salt solution will open up capillaries/pores, flush the area, and increase oxygen.

Saline Cleanings: These should be done 2-3 times a day with saline solution or sterile wound wash that does not contain hydrogen peroxide or alcohol. Apply the solution to a few Q-tips and clean each side of the piercing. The first cleaning should be done after hair and makeup or the last thing you do before leaving the bathroom. This will clean out any hair/body products and makeup that might have migrated into your piercing. Clean your piercing one more time during the day and before going to bed. If you do any exceptionally dirty activities do an extra cleaning afterwards. Do not rotate the jewelry again.

Oral Piercing Aftercare:

Mouthwash Cleanings: These should be done 4-5 times a day with a non-alcohol based mouthwash after eating, drinking anything other than water, and after brushing your teeth; rinse for at least 30 seconds. In a pinch, you may also dilute an alcohol based mouthwash with water (50/50). Eat, drink, and talk like you normally do, but do not play with the jewelry until the piercing is healed. You may chew on some ice chips to help alleviate any swelling. Avoid drinking alcohol. If you are a heavy smoker add an extra mouthwash rinse during the day.

If you have any questions or concerns contact the shop: 402-474-5151

or just stop in we are always happy to help.

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