Body & Facial Piercing Aftercare
Guidelines
CLEANING SOLUTIONS
A
mild liquid antimicrobial/germicidal medicated soap such as Provon
or Satin, and water. Inferior alternatives include products such
as Almay Clearly Natural, Hypocare, NutriBiotic; or other mild,
fragrance and color-free liquid antibacterial soap. These should
possibly be diluted with distilled or bottled water, depending on
product strength. Also, mild non-iodized (no iodine) sea salt
soaks as described below.
SALT WATER
SOAKS
Mild sea salt water soaks are strongly suggested
at least once a day to accelerate healing and increase your
comfort. This may also help to reduce irritation in the area.
Dissolve a pinch (1/4 teaspoon) of sea salt into one cup (8 oz.)
of warm or hot water in a clean cup. Distilled water is optimal. A
stronger solution is not better as you can burn your piercing with
too much salt. Invert it over the area to form a vacuum and soak
directly for a few minutes. For certain placements it is easier to
use a clean cotton ball or gauze pad soaked in the salt water and
applied to the pierced area. Follow with a clear water rinse or
splash then pat dry with paper products.
Salt water soaks help
to stimulate air and blood circulation which facilitates healing.
You can do a brief salt water soak before your daily cleaning(s)
as well as several additional times a day. It is particularly
advisable to soak before you do anything active, as it will
prevent crust from being pulled inside the piercing as you move
around. Salt water is the only additional product (other than the
cleanser and water) we suggest you use to care for your
piercing.
One soak per day should be for at least a few
minutes. Additional soaks can be brief (1 minute or so) and still
be effective for soothing the area and removing matter.
CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS
Body piercings need to be cleaned once or twice
daily, every day, for the entire initial healing time. Most people
clean morning and/or night, in the shower. Do not clean more often
as this can irritate your piercing, and possibly delay your
healing. For once-a-day cleanings, do it at the end of your day.
Optimal frequency will depend on your skin sensitivity, activity
level, and environmental factors.
Before cleanings wash hands
thoroughly with liquid antibacterial soap and hot water. If you
wish, you may wear disposable latex or vinyl gloves and/or also
use a hand sanitizing gel. Never, never touch healing piercings
with dirty hands. This is vital for avoiding
infections.
Prepare the area for the cleansing by rinsing or
soaking with warm water and be sure to remove any stubborn crust
using a cotton swab and warm water. Never pick with fingernails!
This step is important for your comfort.
Apply a small handful
of cleaning solution to the area with your clean hands. Cleanse
the area and the jewelry, and gently rotate the jewelry back and
forth a few times to work the solution to the inside. (You do not
need to rotate your jewelry during the first several
cleanings).
Allow the solution to cleanse there for a minute.
You may bathe normally, just don't purposely work anything other
than the cleanser onto the inside of the piercing.
Rinse the
area thoroughly under running water, while rotating the jewelry
back and forth to completely remove the cleanser from the inside
and outside of the piercing.
Gently pat dry with disposable
paper products such as gauze or tissues, as cloth towels can
harbor bacteria.
Please try to be patient. Each body is unique,
and healing times can vary considerably. If your piercing is
tender or secreting you should continue the care regimen, even if
it is past the stated average healing time range.
WHAT IS NORMAL FOR ORAL PIERCING'S
Swelling of the area is
perfectly normal during the first part of healing an oral
piercing. It can be greatly reduced by gently sucking (rather than
chewing) on clean ice. Chipped or shaved ice, or small cubes are
best. The majority of the swelling usually lasts for only 3-5
days. Any new piercing can bleed off and on for a few days. There
can also be some bleeding under the surface resulting in temporary
bruising or discoloration. This is perfectly normal and not
indicative of any complication.
Some tenderness or
discomfort in the area of a new piercing is not unusual. You may
feel aching, pinching, tightness or other unpleasant sensations
off and on for several days or longer.
Don't be alarmed if you
see a fairly liquid, yellowish secretion coming from the piercing.
This is blood plasma, lymph and dead cells which is perfectly
normal. All healing piercings secrete, it just looks different
inside the mouth as it doesn't have a chance to dry and form a
crust as it does on ear or body piercings. This is not pus, but
indicates a healing piercing.
Plaque may form on
tongue jewelry, commonly on the bottom ball and/or post. Scrub
your barbell with a soft bristled toothbrush (gently during
healing). If you are diligent with oral hygiene the jewelry will
not need to be removed for cleaning, and it can usually be left in
even for routine visits to the dentist.
Piercings may have a
tendency to have a series of ups and downs during healing by
seeming healed and then regressing. Try to be patient, and do keep
cleaning during the entire initial healing time, even if the
piercing seems healed sooner.
Each body is unique, and
healing times can vary considerably. If you have any questions,
please contact your piercer. Once initial swelling is down, having
your piercer replace the post portion of bar style jewelry with a
shorter post may be wise. Jewelry which fits more closely is less
likely to irritate your mouth or get between your teeth and be
bitten.
If you like your
piercing, leave jewelry in at all times. Even healed piercings can
shrink or close in minutes after having been there for years! This
varies from person to person, and even if your ear lobe piercings
stay open without jewelry your oral piercing may not! Keep
following the care procedures during the entire minimum initial
healing time, even if the piercing seems healed sooner.
WHAT TO DO
Try to sleep with
your head propped up on pillows during the first few nights of
healing; keeping your head above your heart will help to avoid
much initial overnight swelling.
An
over-the-counter, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory such as
ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.) taken according to package
instructions can reduce discomfort, and it can also help to
diminish swelling the first few days.
Check twice daily
with clean hands to be sure the threaded ends on your jewelry are
on tight. To clean hands, wash them carefully with liquid
antibacterial soap. If your hands aren't freshly washed, don't
touch yourself above the neck during the initial healing time.
Replace your
toothbrush and make sure to keep it clean so that everything that
goes into your mouth is hygienic while you are healing. A
sensitive type of toothpaste may be less irritating to your mouth
during healing than a usual, stronger variety.
Try to go slowly
when you eat and to take small bites when you are getting used to
your new jewelry. Cold foods and beverages feel great and can help
diminish swelling. Drink plenty of liquids, especially bottled
water.
Get enough sleep
and eat a nutritious diet. The healthier your lifestyle, the
easier it will be for your piercing to heal.
WHAT TO AVOID
No oral sexual
contact including French (wet) kissing or oral sex during the
entire initial healing period, even if you are in a monogamous
relationship. (If you had a large cut you would not allow anyone
to spit into it! This is essentially the same thing.)
Avoid chewing on
gum, tobacco, fingernails, pencils, sunglasses, etc., during
healing. Don't share plates, cups or eating utensils. Reducing
smoking or quitting is highly advisable when healing an oral
piercing. Smoking increases risks and can lengthen the healing
time. Avoid undue stress and recreational drug usage.
Stay away from
aspirin, large amounts of caffeine, and alcoholic beverages for
the first several days. Alcoholic beverages include all beer, wine
and hard liquor. These can cause additional swelling, bleeding and
discomfort.
Refrain from
eating spicy, salty, acidic, or hot temperature foods and
beverages for a few days.
Do not play with
the piercing for the initial healing time beyond necessary
movement for speaking and eating. The mouth withstands a lot of
trauma from normal speaking and eating. Try to avoid other
disturbances such as excessive talking, actively playing with the
jewelry, or clicking the jewelry against your teeth. Undue stress
on the piercing can cause the formation of unsightly and
uncomfortable scar tissue, migration and other complications.
Even after
healing, excessive play with oral jewelry can result in permanent
damage to teeth, gums, and oral structures. Metal is harder than
the human body; be gentle. Do not use Lysterine or other mouthwash
which contains alcohol. It can irritate the area and delay
healing. Don't use too many different products; select and use
only one cleaning solution (such as Tech 2000 or Biotene) plus sea
salt.
WHAT IS NORMAL FOR BODY & FACIAL
PIERCING'S
Bleeding,
bruising, discoloration and/or swelling is not uncommon. Any break
in the skin, including a new piercing can bleed or bruise. These
are not indications of any complication. Reduce intake of aspirin,
alcohol, and caffeine. For above-the-neck piercings, try sleeping
with your head elevated above your heart (prop up on some pillows)
to limit overnight swelling. Studies show non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory products such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.)
can help minimize swelling.
Some tenderness
or discomfort in the area of a new piercing is not unusual. You
may feel stinging, burning, aching or other unpleasant sensations
off and on for several days or longer. During healing there may be
some itching.
Secretion of a
fluid which contains blood plasma, lymph and dead cells is
perfectly normal. It is fairly liquid, whitish-yellow in color and
forms a crust on the jewelry at the openings of the piercing. This
is not pus, but indicates a healing piercing.
Once healed,your
piercing may secrete a semi-solid white malodorous substance from
the oil glands called sebum. This is not pus, but indicates a
healed piercing.
Piercings may
have a tendency to have a series of "ups and downs" during healing
by seeming healed and then regressing. Try to be patient, and do
keep cleaning during the entire initial healing time, even if the
piercing seems healed sooner.
Tightness is
normal. Do not expect jewelry to swing freely in most body
piercings, even after they are thoroughly healed.
WHAT TO DO
Wash your hands
prior to contact on or near the area of your healing
piercing!
Leave the
piercing alone, except for when you are cleaning it. It is not
necessary or advisable to rotate the ring while healing except
during cleanings.
Leave the starter
jewelry in during the entire minimum initial healing time!
(Assuming your initial jewelry is appropriate in terms of metal
content, style, and size. Inappropriate jewelry should be changed
out by a professional.) Those with captive-style rings or barbells
(straight, bent, or circular) can change the bead/ball portion of
the jewelry at any time.
Check twice daily
with clean hands to make sure the balls are screwed on tight on
threaded jewelry such as barbells. Both balls tighten to the
right.
If you like your
piercing, leave jewelry in at all times. Even old, well-healed
piercings can shrink or close in minutes after having been there
for years! This varies from person to person, and even if your ear
lobe piercings stay open without jewelry your body piercing may
not! Contact your piercer if your jewelry must be temporarily
removed (such as for a medical procedure). Monofilament nylon or
another inert non-metallic substance may be able to be inserted to
maintain the piercing until jewelry can be reinserted.
Make sure your
bedding is clean and changed frequently while you are healing,
especially if pets get into your bed.
Wear clean,
comfortable, breathable fabric clothing in the area of a body
piercing.
A multi-vitamin
mineral supplement containing zinc and vitamin C may help boost
your body's healing abilities. Take it with your morning meal
according to package instructions.
Get enough sleep,
eat a nutritious diet, avoid undue stress, recreational drugs, and
alcohol consumption. The healthier your lifestyle, the easier it
will be for your piercing to heal.
Showering is
safer than taking a bath, as bath tubs tend to harbor bacteria. To
bathe safely, clean your tub with a bleach product before each
bath, and rinse the tub before you fill it. Also, be sure to do a
running water rinse on your piercing when you are done in the
tub.
In the event that
the piercing drains a thick pus discharge instead of the normal
liquid secretion, you may wish to see a physician for evaluation
and possible antibiotic treatment. If you do have an infection,
quality jewelry should be left in the piercing to allow for
drainage of pus. If the jewelry is removed, the holes can close
up, resulting in an abscess. LEAVE YOUR JEWELRY IN !
WHAT TO AVOID
Don't use
alcohol, peroxide, Betadine or Hibiclens as they are overly strong
and drying which can hinder healing.
Don't apply any
ointment such as Bacitracin, Neosporin or any triple antibiotic
ointment on your piercing. These prevent oxygen from reaching the
wound and form a sticky residue which can cause complications.
They are not designed for use on healing piercings.
Don't over clean.
Cleaning more often than once or twice a day is NOT better. This
can delay your healing and irritate your piercing.
Don't use too
many different products; select and use only one cleaning solution
(such as Provon or Satin) plus sea salt.
Avoid oral
contact, rough play, and contact with others' bodily fluids on or
near your piercing during healing.
Don't use band
aids on a healing piercing. They limit air circulation and the
adhesive can irritate the surrounding area.
Avoiding sleeping
on a piercing during healing is advisable.
Don't hang charms
or any object from your jewelry until the piercing is fully
healed.
Avoid submerging
your piercings in water such as pools, lakes, jacuzzis, etc,
unless you feel confident that the water is clean enough for you
and an open wound (which is what your piercing is while it is
healing).
Most bodies of
water harbor large amounts of bacteria. If there is sea life,
motor oil, or children in the water it is not clean enough! If you
are going to be in water of questionable cleanliness, use a
breathable, non water-permeable wound sealant such as Tegaderm or
Clean Seals (available at drugstores and pharmacies) before you go
in, to protect yourself and prevent dirty water from getting
inside your open wound. Cleaning afterwards is not likely to be
effective in preventing infection.
Exercise during
healing is fine, just "listen" to your body. Try to avoid
activities that put undue stress on the area. Your own sweat and
bodily fluids are not harmful to your piercing, provided you clean
daily as directed.
EAR/EAR CARTILAGE AND
FACIAL
Shield piercings from hair spray and avoid getting lotion,
make up and other foreign substances in piercings.
Make sure pillow cases are clean and changed
frequently.
Clean your telephone receiver with a
disinfectant and avoid contact with public
telephones.
