Aftercare

You did it! Now to take care of it.

It’s not always an easy decision to get a piercing, and it’s certainly not always easy to maintain a healthy one. We care for your health and wellbeing, which is why we invite you to peruse our helpful info below.

The Basics

Healing a piercing can sometimes take a good amount of time. It is important for you to practice good personal hygiene, eat a nutritious diet, and stay hydrated to aid your body in healing faster. The combination of showering daily along with proper saline irrigation will reduce chances of infection and minimize irritation.

What's Normal?

Minimal bleeding
Swelling
Tenderness
White or yellow secretion
"Crusties"

If you are worried your piercing may have become infected, please visit your doctor. As piercers, we are not medical professionals and cannot diagnose or treat infections.

Cleaning Instructions

The first step in your cleaning routine is to always wash your hands.
We recommend using only sterile saline to clean your piercing. Spray both the entrance and exit of your piercing for 2 seconds, let it sit for a few moments to break down any build up, then wipe away any buildup or debris from the site with a clean piece of gauze.
Dry your piercing after cleaning using a fresh piece of gauze or a blow dryer on a low setting. It is important not to let your saline air dry around the site as the salts can be irritating on your healing piercing.
Repeat these cleaning instructions 2-3 times a day throughout your heal time. Piercings heal from the outside in, so even though it may seem healed, the tissue inside the piercing channel is still fragile and can be easily irritated if not cleaned regularily.

Oral Piercings

Get a new toothbrush and toss your old one!
For piercings such as a lip, tongue or cheek, we encourage clients to rinse with clean bottled water after eating, drinking or smoking. This will reduce the chance of foreign bacteria lingering behind and irritating your new piercing.
If you normally use mouthwash in your daily routine, switch to using alcohol-free mouthwash no more than 1-2 times per day. Biotene is a good option available at any drugstore.
If you don't normally use mouthwash, just continue rinsing with water. Introduction of mouthwash at this point can be a harsh change for your mouth.
It is strongly encouraged to avoid drinking alcohol or smoking for the duration of your heal time as these activities can agitate your piercing and slow down your healing.
Avoid sharing food, drinks and kisses during healing as to avoid the spread of bacteria to your new piercing.

How to Keep Your Piercing Happy

First and foremost, DO NOT TOUCH YOUR PIERCING. Hands are covered in bacteria that can irritate your piercing or worse, cause an infection.
Follow the suggested aftercare as per instructions from your piercer.
Be sure to come in for proper downsizing of your jewelry once this swelling as gone down (this time frame can be found on your aftercare sheet). If you think you are ready for shorter jewelry before suggested downsize, please come in to have a piercer assist you!
Avoid applying any products around the piercing such as makeup, moisturizer, primers, sunscreens and other daily items.
Do not use harsh products such as alcohol, peroxide, Neosporin, tea tree oil, anti-bacterial soaps or pre-packaged "ear-care" solutions.
Do not sleep on your piercing. This can lead to painful and unsightly bumps.
Be sure your hair is completely dry before going to bed when healing ear piercings. Trapped moisture around a piercing can cause a buildup of fluid in the piercing channel as well as other complications with healing.
Do not sleep with pets in the bed. Pet dander in your sheets can transfer into your piercing channel.
Change your bedding regularly, especially your pillowcase when healing any piercings on your head.
Daily showers are encouraged, but avoid submerging your piercing in bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, oceans, swimming pools, hot tubs, and even your own bath tub!
Do not pick at any "crusties!" If you notice any buildup on your piercing then it is time to clean it.
Do not twist, turn or move your jewelry, even during cleaning.
Do not remove your jewelry. Removing jewelry on even fully healed piercings can allow the piercing site to close up.

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