Piercing Aftercare Guide
Downsizing and Healing Times:
Piercing Downsizing Healing
Ear Lobe 2-4 Months 4-6 Months
Ear Cartilage 4-6 Months 9-12 Months
Nose/Septum 2-4 Months 4-6 Months
Tongue 2-3 Weeks 3-6 Months
Lip/Labret 2-3 Months 3-4 Months
Navel 4-6 Months 9-12 Months
Nipple 4-6 Months 9-12 Months
Eyebrow 2-4 Months 4-6 Months
Other Please Ask :)
For a piercing to be a seasoned piercing (where you may remove jewelry periods of time), use your healing time plus 1 year.
DO NOT remove jewelry at any point during the healing time. Remember, everyone is unique and heals differently, and these times are guidelines.
CLEANING YOUR PIERCING:
Before you do anything, WASH YOUR HANDS!!
Soap: No more than 2x daily after your initial healing period. Ensure there is no soap residue.
Soaks: Soaking piercings or submerging them in baths, pools, hot tubs etc. is NOT recommended as excess moisture can cause healing complications.
CLEANING SOLUTIONS:
Use any one, or a combination of the following:
Pre-packaged sterile saline solution, with no additives (check the label!)
Non-iodized (iodine-free) sea salt mixture; 1/8tsp - 1/4tsp salt into 1 cup (8oz) or warm distilled or bottled water. Do not add more salt than suggested. Water should be warm, not hot.
1oz warm water with 8-10 grains of sea salt.
Liquid anti-microbial or germicidal soap.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Initially: bleeding, swelling, tenderness, bruising
During healing: some discolouration, itching, lymphatic fluid secretion or a whitish-yellow fluid that will form a “sharp crust” on jewelry
Once healed: the jewelry may not appear to move freely in the piercing, give it time. DO NOT FORCE IT! If you are not cleaning your piercing regularly, you may notice a normal, but pungent, secretion.
Piercings can appear to be healed before they are. Follow the healing guidelines provided to you. Piercings heal from the outside in, and although it feels the tissue around the piercing is healed, the inside remains fragile. BE PATIENT, and continue cleaning for your entire healing period.
WHAT TO DO:
Wash your hands for a minimum 30 seconds with warm water and soap before handling your piercing. Leave it alone except when cleaning or tightening beads. It is NOT necessary to rotate the jewelry while healing or during cleaning.
Stay healthy. Get enough sleep and eat a nutritious diet. The healthier you are, the healthier your piercings will be. Exercise during the healing period is okay, just ‘listen’ to your body.
Make sure your bedding is kept clean and changed regularly. Wear clean, comfortable, breathable clothing that protects your piercing while at rest or while active.
Maintain proper bodily hygiene, shower often!
THINGS TO AVOID:
Avoid undue trauma such as friction from clothing, excessive movement in the area, playing with jewelry, and vigorous over-cleaning.
Avoid rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, betadine, polysporin, bactroban, or other ointments, and all petroleum based products.
Avoid over-cleaning. This can be more hazardous and dangerous than under-cleaning your piercing in some situations.
Avoid stress and recreational drug use, including excessive amounts of caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine.
Avoid all oral contact, rough play, and contact with others’ body fluids on or near your piercing during the healing period.
Avoid submerging the piercing in bodies of water such as: lakes, pools, hot tubs, baths, etc. If needed, you may use a waterproof bandage such as Tegaderm for short periods of time.
Avoid all beauty and personal care products on or around the piercing including cosmetics, lotions, perfumes, sprays, sun scren, bug sprays etc.
Do not hang any sort of charms or accessories from your piercing until it is fully healed.
HINTS AND TIPS:
Unless there is a problem with the size, style or material of the initial jewelry, leave it in place for the ENTIRE healing period. Only a qualified piercer should perform any necessary jewelry changes that occur during healing times.
Contact your piercer if your jewelry must be temporarily removed (such as in the case of a medical/dental procedure) as there are non-metallic jewelry alternatives available.
Leave jewelry in at all times. Even healed piercings can begin to tighten and close within minutes after having been there for years. If you like your piercings, leave them in place!
With clean hands, regularly check the tightness of your beads (righty-tighty, lefty-loosey), always tighten beads before bed and after strenuous activity.
Carry spare jewelry, including beads, in case of loss or breakage - it happens at the worst of times!
Should you want to remove your jewelry, continue to clean the piercing site until both ends of the opening have closed fully.
EAR/CARTILAGE and FACIAL:
Change your pillowcase regularly, or cover your pillow with a t-shirt and turn it once nightly, one t-shirt will last for 4 clean surfaces for sleeping.
Maintain cleanliness of telephones, headphones, eyeglasses, helmets, hats and anything that may come into contact with the piercing.
Use caution when styling your hair, and advise your stylist of new piercings.
NIPPLE:
The support of a tight cotton shirt or sports bra may provide protection and feel comfortable, especially while sleeping.
No oral contact for a minimum of 2 weeks.
ORAL:
Rinse you mouth for 20-30 seconds after smoking, vaping, eating, or drinking anything other than water.
Use a non-alcoholic mouth wash or sea salt rinse regularly.
Do NOT rinse more than 10x daily.
Chamomile tea, iced cubes, and sipping cool water can be a great aide in healing an oral piercing.
GENITAL:
In most cases, you can engage in sexual activity as soon as you feel ready; comfort and hygiene are vital.
During healing, all sexual contact including oral, MUST be gentle.
Use barriers such as condoms, dental dams, and tegaderm to avoid contact with your partner’s bodily fluids, even in long-term partnerships; use clean disposable barriers on sex toys.
Use a NEW container of water-based lubricant; never use saliva in lieu of lubricant.
After sexual contact, an additional rinse or soak with saline, water, or sea salt is suggested.
Some piercings may bleed for the first few days. You are at HIGH RISK during this time.
If using soap, urinate after cleaning any piercing near or through the urethra.