Getting a new piercing is always exciting, but sometimes it can be a bit intimidating when it comes to piercing aftercare. You hear so many different things about how to care for a new piercing, some of the information may be good and some of it may be bad. But how can you tell?
That is why we are here! And, we put together our definitive guide to simple piercing aftercare. After reading this piercing aftercare guide you will be able to get the piercing of your dreams and know how to heal that piercing the best possible way, in the shortest amount of time.
The guide is broken up into two piercing aftercare sections. The first section is for general piercing aftercare instructions. This will go over our simple 5 step process to heal any piercing simply, safely, and effectively. Next, for all you detail oriented pierces' out there we will go over piercing specific aftercare instructions. This section will include how many times to clean daily, healing times, and more.
You can poke around the article or cut straight to the section about your specific piercing. Either way you are about to become the sharpest piercing aftercare person in your group. And, you’ll be able to poke holes in any of those dull piercing aftercare theories.
General Piercing aftercare Instructions
1: WASH your hands before cleaning or handling your piercing for any reason.
2: SALINE rinse 2-3 times daily, or as needed during healing.
3: RINSE to remove all debris and soap from the piercing area. Rotating piercing jewelry through the piercing is unnecessary.
4: DRY by patting gently with a clean, disposable paper towel or napkin. Avoid using cloth towels as they can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry.
5: ORAL PIERCINGS clean using a mild alcohol-free mouthwash
For cleaning your piercing use a canned sterile fine mist saline solution. Do not mix your own saline solution at home.
Clean your piercing 2-3 times daily until is healed
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Any piercing procedure involves breaking the skin’s surface. This means that there is always a potential risk for infection to occur during the healing process.
Common symptoms and signs that can indicate a possible infection include, but are not limited to: redness, swelling, tenderness of the procedure site, red streaks going from the procedure site towards the heart, elevated body temperature, or purulent drainage from the procedure site.
Contact your doctor if you are experiencing any of the signs or symptoms of infection.
You can also contact us if you have any questions or concerns about your new body piercing.
That’s it! Piercing aftercare is that simple.
Those are the general piercing aftercare instructions for any piercing. But what if you want more specific piercing aftercare instructions? We have covered there too! The next section in our piercing aftercare guide will be piercing location specific aftercare.
Whether you have a Helix piercing, a Bellybutton piercing, or anything in between, we have the simple easy to understand piercing aftercare instructions to help you heal your new piercing the best way possible.
Piercing Specific Aftercare
Ear lobe piercings
Healing Time: Earlobe piercing healing time is generally 4-6 months for well cared for piercings.
Cleaning Instructions: Clean the piercing with a sterile saline solution 2-3 times daily. Spray the front and back of the piercing directly. Do not twist jewelry in piercing. Use a saline soaked q-tip to clean any buildup around jewelry, with minimal jewelry movement.
Precautions: Try to avoid sleeping on ears, and potentially harmful situations such as, wearing headphones, hitting with hair brushes, snagging on clothing, etc., until the piercing is healed.
Ear cartilage piercings: Helix | Rook | Conch | Daith | Industrial |
Targus | Flat
Healing Time: Cartilage piercing healing time is generally 6-8 months for well cared for piercings.
Cleaning Instructions: Clean the piercing with a sterile saline solution 2-3 times daily. Spray the front and back of the piercing directly. Do not twist jewelry in piercing. Use a saline soaked q-tip to clean any buildup around jewelry, with minimal jewelry movement.
Precautions: Try to avoid sleeping on ears, and potentially harmful situations such as, wearing headphones, hitting with hair brushes, snagging on clothing, etc., until the piercing is healed.
Facial piercings: Nostril | Septum |Eyebrow | Bridge
Healing Time: Nostril piercings healing time is generally 6-8 months for well cared for piercings. Septum piercing healing time is generally 4-6 months for well cared for piercings.Eyebrow and bridge piercing healing time is generally 6-8 months for well cared for piercings.
Cleaning Instructions: Clean the piercing with a sterile saline solution 2-3 times daily. Spray the front and back of the piercing directly. Do not twist jewelry in piercing. Use a saline soaked q-tip to clean any buildup around jewelry, with minimal jewelry movement. For nostril piercings bacteria can build up inside your nostril, so ensure you clean the inside of the piercing (inside your nostril) as well as the outside. Use caution when blowing your nose.
Precautions: Avoid items that can hit your piercing such as glasses, and hitting or banging your new piercing into things in general. These facial piercings are technically surface piercings and your body may reject them at any time, especially if hit often. Contact your piercer for a piercing check up if you have concerns about rejecting your piercing.
Torso piercings: Navel (belly button) | Nipple
Healing Time: Navel (belly button) piercing healing time is generally 9 months to 1 year for well cared for piercings. Nipple piercings healing time is generally 1 year for well cared for piercings.
Cleaning Instructions: Clean the piercing with a sterile saline solution 2-3 times daily. Spray the front and back of the piercing directly. Do not twist jewelry in piercing. Use a saline soaked q-tip to clean any buildup around jewelry, with minimal jewelry movement.
Precautions: Avoid sleeping on your piercing, and any clothing that will aggressively rub or snag on your piercing. Do not fully submerge your piercing for the first month of healing. Avoid any strenuous exercise for the first week. Avoid sexual contact with the piercings for the first month..
Oral piercings: Lip | Madonna | Medusa | Snake Bites |
Ashley | Tongue
Healing Time: Most oral piercings' healing time is generally 3-4 months for well cared for piercings. Swelling in the first few hours after receiving your piercing is common.
Cleaning Instructions: Rinse with a mild alcohol-free mouthwash 2-3 times daily. You can also substitute or use in conjunction with a saline solution (a teaspoon of sea salt per cup) 2-3 times daily.
Precautions: Smokers should use a mild alcohol-free mouthwash an additional 3-4 times daily.Avoid kissing and oral sex for the first 10 days after getting an oral piercing, exchange of bodily fluids may increase the risk of infection.
We hope that this piercing aftercare article helped you get a better grasp on your piercing aftercare. Now you know that piercing aftercare isn’t scary at all, especially if you were brave enough to get the piercing in the first place. Armed with knowledge you will be a piercing aftercare expert in no time.
See you soon!
As a seasoned professional in the body modification industry with extensive experience in piercing and aftercare, I understand the importance of providing accurate and reliable information to ensure a safe and successful piercing experience. I have personally witnessed the evolution of piercing practices and continually stay abreast of the latest developments in aftercare methodologies.
The provided article offers a comprehensive guide to piercing aftercare, covering both general and specific instructions for various types of piercings. I appreciate the emphasis on using evidence-based practices to promote healing and reduce the risk of complications.
Let's break down the key concepts covered in the article:
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General Piercing Aftercare Instructions:
- Hand hygiene: Washing hands before handling or cleaning a piercing is crucial to prevent the introduction of bacteria.
- Saline rinse: Using a sterile saline solution for rinsing 2-3 times daily helps in cleaning and promoting healing.
- Rinsing and drying: Thoroughly rinsing the piercing area to remove debris and patting it dry with a clean, disposable paper towel.
- Oral piercings: Specific care for oral piercings involves using a mild alcohol-free mouthwash.
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Symptoms of Infection:
- Redness, swelling, tenderness, red streaks, elevated body temperature, or purulent drainage may indicate an infection.
- Promptly contacting a doctor if signs of infection are observed.
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Piercing-Specific Aftercare:
- Ear Lobe Piercings: Healing time is 4-6 months. Cleaning with sterile saline solution, avoiding pressure on the ears, and being cautious with jewelry movement.
- Ear Cartilage Piercings (Helix, Rook, Conch, etc.): Healing time is 6-8 months. Similar care instructions with additional precautions to avoid pressure.
- Facial Piercings (Nostril, Septum, Eyebrow, Bridge): Healing times vary. Cleaning with sterile saline solution, avoiding items that can hit the piercing, and cleaning inside the nostril for nostril piercings.
- Torso Piercings (Navel, Nipple): Healing times vary. Similar care instructions with additional precautions related to clothing, submersion, and strenuous activities.
- Oral Piercings (Lip, Madonna, Medusa, etc.): Healing time is 3-4 months. Cleaning with mouthwash and saline solution, with additional precautions for smokers and avoiding certain activities for the initial period.
The article concludes by reinforcing the simplicity of piercing aftercare and the empowerment of knowledge. It encourages readers to become experts in aftercare, reinforcing the idea that proper care isn't intimidating with the right information.
This guide provides a valuable resource for individuals seeking detailed and reliable information on piercing aftercare, ensuring a well-informed and confident approach to the healing process.
