Piercing Aftercare

GENERAL PIERCING AFTERCARE

• WASH your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning your piercing for any reason.
• SOAK with saline solution twice a day for the next 4-6 months during the initial stage for 5-10 minutes. For certain placements, it may be easier to apply using clean gauze or paper towel saturated with saline solution.
• DRY by gently patting with clean, disposable paper product. Cloth towels harbor bacteria and can snag on jewelry.
• INSPECT jewelry ends for tightness. For threaded ends: twist clockwise. For threadless jewelry: press together.

ORAL PIERCING AFTERCARE

• WASH your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning your piercing for any reason.
• RINSE piercing with DISTILLED water any time you eat drink or smoke.
• CLEAN with non-alcoholic mouthwash no more than twice a day for the initial healing period.
• INSPECT jewelry ends for tightness. For threaded ends: twist clockwise. For threadless jewelry: press together.
• AVOID spicy foods, acidic foods and drinks (things that have a lot of citrus in them), and messy foods like noodles.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• Initially some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness or bruising.
• During healing you may see some discoloration, itching, secretion of a whitish-yellow or light green fluid that will form "crusties" on the jewelry.
• Once healed the jewelry may not move freely in the piercing; do not force it.
• When you get pierced for the first time, we use a longer backing to allow space for any swelling that may occur in your skin. This prevents the jewelry from embedding into your skin due to excessive swelling. After about two months, when the swelling has mostly subsided, you can switch to a shorter backing. This will be more comfortable and reduce the likelihood of the jewelry getting caught or pulled.
• A piercing may 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 healing period.
• Even healed piercings can shrink and close in minutes after having been there for years! This varies from person to person. Keep jewelry in to keep your piercings from closing. Retainers can be used short term for situations that require jewelry removal such as sports, medical procedures, etc.

What to Avoid

• Moving jewelry around in an unhealed piercing and/or picking dried discharge with your fingers.
• Cleaning with other products that are not sterile saline, i.e  alcohol, peroxide, Bactine, Neosporin, and tea tree oil.
• Over cleaning. This can delay your healing cycle and irritate your piercing.
• Contact with other's bodily fluids and rough play with jewelry while healing.
• Submerging in unhygienic bodies of water such as lakes, pools, hot tubs. Piercings can be protected using waterproof bandages.
• Using personal care products on or around piercings including cosmetics, lotions, and sprays.