Essentials for aftercare and healing of body piercings
Website design By BotEap.comThe most important thing to keep in mind after your body piercing has been done is that you have essentially just suffered an open wound, and you need to care for it exactly as you would a surgical wound or injury. That is, with the same kind of care, cleaning, and attention you would give a serious injury to make sure it doesn’t scar or get an infection. There are two different types of body piercings to consider: non-oral and oral.
Website design By BotEap.comAftercare for Non-Oral Body Piercings Keeping your piercing clean cannot be overemphasized! It just can’t. Twice a day, every day, without fail. No apologies. Use a mild, fragrance-free antibacterial soap, such as Provon® Antimicrobial Lotion Soap or Satin® Therapeutic Skin Cleanser, both of which are approved by the Association of Professional Piercers (APP). The best place to clean your piercing is usually in the shower, where the warm water will help loosen and remove those crusts around the base of your jewelry. Use a cotton swab or Kleenex to remove them, and then throw the swab or Kleenex away. Never use a wipe, these things are breeding grounds for germs and bacteria! Same for bath towels after showering! Then, with clean hands, gently cleanse the area with the soap and rotate the jewelry so the soap gets into the piercing and let it sit for a minute or two. After spinning it again, rinse well with warm, clean water. Make sure you get all the soap out to avoid irritation. Rinsing is very important, so try to be thorough without irritating the area. It often helps to cup your hands and spray water over the area, as the shower stream can be a bit difficult to aim directly at the area. Don’t Forget Your Sea Salt Baths After cleansing, a sea salt bath helps remove any infection and piercing impurities while soothing the area and soothing any inflammation that may be present. Mix about ¼ teaspoon of sea salt with 8 ounces of warm water. Using a disposable cup, soak the piercing in it for ten minutes the first time and five minutes each time after that. If your piercing is in a difficult spot, apply the solution with cotton swabs, tissues, or some other soft, clean disposable product. Never use a tissue, washcloth, or any other item that is going to be reused. Always dry your piercings with cotton balls, cotton swabs, or tissue paper; don’t rub them, pat them. This reduces irritation and possible tearing of the skin and helps promote healing. Although it seems like a minor step, keeping your piercings dry is actually an essential part of piercing aftercare because it reduces the chances for bacteria to breed (they love a warm, humid place to play). If you’re unsure about mixing your sea salt baths correctly or it’s too inconvenient, there’s a new alternative on the market that’s less messy and portable. H2Ocean® Piercing Aftercare Spray is a premixed sea salt solution that contains lysozyme, a natural antibacterial that is gentle on the skin. Just spray it on the area and let it dry; It is easy to use due to its patent pending compressed air supply system that produces a fine mist. This product is guaranteed to heal navel piercings in just a month and a half if used regularly and is highly recommended by numerous piercing communities such as BME and Prick magazine. H2Ocean® also comes in a portable size for your pocket or purse, making aftercare for your piercing on the go easy. X-pressions Piercing Aftercare Spray is also available for oral and non-oral body piercings and is a mild antibacterial solution with purified water in a non-aerosol spray with a pleasant mint flavor. Once a day (not more often, because you’ll unnecessarily irritate the area), check that the ends of your piercings are screwed in properly. But first wash your hands with antibacterial soap. And now, some “no’s”
Genitals: 4 weeks – 4 months
Labret/Lip: 6 – 8 weeks
Child: 6 – 18 months
Nipples: 3 – 6 months
Nostril: 3 months – 1 year
Septum: 6 – 8 weeks
Tongue: 4 – 6 weeks
Cartilage: 3 months – 1 year Disclaimer: All piercing aftercare information provided in this document is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a guide to body piercing aftercare, but rather a starting point for making an informed decision regarding body piercings. If you have any questions or go ahead with a body piercing, be sure to discuss the procedure with a doctor or piercing professional and get full and clear instructions on piercing aftercare at that time. Evaluseek Publishing is not responsible for the accuracy of this content, which is based on the general consensus of the piercer community, which is constantly evolving and changing. This article on “Aftercare and Healing Essentials for Body Piercings” is reprinted with permission.
Copyright © 2004 Evaluateek Publishing.
- Never put hydrogen peroxide or alcohol on a piercing; they dry out too much and will delay healing.
- Never use Neosporin in a piercing, as it can trap bacteria. Read the label; it actually says, “Not for puncture wounds.” Guess what? A piercing is a puncture wound.
- Never remove your piercing jewelry before the piercing is fully healed, which can take months or even a year. If you suspect you have a piercing infection, consult your piercing professional or doctor first.
- Do not sleep on your piercing until the initial healing phase is over.
- Do not wear tight clothing over your piercing during the initial healing phase.
- Do not smoke, chew gum, or use snuff or rub during the healing period; these increase the risk of piercing infections astronomically.
- Do not play with the piercing jewelry or click against your teeth; this can cause cracking of tooth enamel.
- Do not engage in any activities, including kissing, that exchange body fluids during the initial healing period of several weeks.
- Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Eight glasses a day minimum.
- At least eight hours of sleep per night.
- Try to limit the amount of stress in your life
- Vitamin C and zinc supplements to help speed up the healing process
- Lots of fruits and vegetables, and a multivitamin if needed.
- If the pain bothers you, take ibuprofen. If you’re comfortable, you’re less likely to worry about the piercing.
- Discharge that becomes noticeably thicker and yellow or green in color. This is a sign of infection and should be checked out by a doctor.
- Swelling that lasts more than a few days, with redness and irritation. Consult your piercing professional or doctor.
- Red streaks from the piercing site and a fever, along with body aches. Consult your doctor.
- Hives, redness, itching, and irritation around the piercing, which may indicate an allergic reaction to piercing jewelry. Your piercing professional may try to replace it with an alternative metal.
- Difficulty breathing or wheezing after the piercing, or a feeling that the mouth or throat are swollen and closed. Seek emergency care immediately!
Genitals: 4 weeks – 4 months
Labret/Lip: 6 – 8 weeks
Child: 6 – 18 months
Nipples: 3 – 6 months
Nostril: 3 months – 1 year
Septum: 6 – 8 weeks
Tongue: 4 – 6 weeks
Cartilage: 3 months – 1 year Disclaimer: All piercing aftercare information provided in this document is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a guide to body piercing aftercare, but rather a starting point for making an informed decision regarding body piercings. If you have any questions or go ahead with a body piercing, be sure to discuss the procedure with a doctor or piercing professional and get full and clear instructions on piercing aftercare at that time. Evaluseek Publishing is not responsible for the accuracy of this content, which is based on the general consensus of the piercer community, which is constantly evolving and changing. This article on “Aftercare and Healing Essentials for Body Piercings” is reprinted with permission.
Copyright © 2004 Evaluateek Publishing.