PIERCING AFTER CARE

Keep it Clean

Piercing After Care: Site Rules

Piercing After Care:

WASH your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning or touching your piercing for any reason
SOAP no more than once or twice a day. While showering lather up a pearl size drop of the soap to clean the jewelry and piercing. Then rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of the soap from the piercing. It is not necessary to rotate the jewelry through the piercing.
DRY by gently patting with clean, disposable paper products. Cloth towels harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry, causing injury.

Initially: some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness 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 a part of your daily hygiene routine, normal, but smelly bodily secretions may accumulate.
A piercing may seem healed before the healing process is complete. This is because they heal from the outside in, and although it feels fine, the tissue remains fragile on the inside. Be patient and keep cleaning throughout the entire healing period.
Even healed piercings can shrink or close in minutes after having been there for years! This varies from person-to-person; if you like your piercing, keep jewelry in- do not leave it empty.

Stay healthier; the healthier your lifestyle, the easier it will be for you piercing to heal. Get enough sleep and eat a nutritious diet. Exercise during healing is fine; listen to your body.
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 bath in a tub, clean it well before each use and rinse off your piercing when you get out.
ORAL PIERCINGS: No bread, yeast or dairy. Rinse the inside of your mouth with regular yellow Listerine anytime you put anything other than water or ice in your mouth, clean the outer parts of your mouth in compliance with the instructions above.

Avoid cleaning with Betadine, Hibiciens, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, harsh soaps, as these can damage cells. Also avoid ointments as they prevent unnecessary air circulation.
Avoid Bactine, pierced ear care solutions and other products that contain Benzalkonium Chloride (BZK) and Benzethonium Chloride (BZT). 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 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.