Body Piercing Aftercare

Suggested Aftercare For Body Piercings

Initially, some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness or bruising.
During healing: some discoloration, itching, secretion of a whitish yellow fluid (not pus) that will form 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 a daily hygiene, normal but smelly bodily secretions may accumulate.
A piercing may seem healed before healing is complete. This is because piercings heal from the outside in, and although it may seem healed, the tissue remains fragile on the inside. BE PATIENT and keep cleaning throughout the entire healing period.

Use either one or both of the following solutions for cleaning body piercings.

Packaged sterile saline solution with NO ADDITIVES. (Read the label! Use 0.9% sterile sodium chloride solution) OR non-iodized sea salt mixture: Dissolve 1/8-1/4 cup of non-iodized (iodine free) sea salt into one cup (8 oz.) of warm distilled or bottled water. A stronger mixture is NOT better! Saline solution that is too strong can irritate the piercing.
A mild, fragrance-free liquid soap preferably anti-microbial or germicidal. Ex. Provon lotion soap with .3% Chloroxilenol.

WASH your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning, or touching on or around your piercing.
SALINE soak at least two to three times daily. Simply invert a cup of warm saline solution over the area to form a vacuum for a few minutes. The longer you soak, the better. For certain placement, it maybe be easier to apply using fresh gauze or a cotton ball saturated in saline solution. A brief rinse will remove any residue.
SOAP no more than once or twice daily. While showering, lather up a pearl sized drop of the soap to clean the jewelry and the piercing. Leave the cleanser on the piercing no more than 30 seconds, then rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of the soap from the piercing.
DRY with disposable paper products such as gauze or tissues, because cloth towels can harbor bacteria and catch on new piercings, causing injury. Pat gently to avoid trauma

Wash your hands prior to touching the piercing; leave it alone except when cleaning.
WHEN at any time there is anything crusty on the jewelry, use a Q-tip and warm/hot water to melt it off.
Make sure that your jewelry and and skin is free from any discharge before you attempt to move the jewelry. Irritation can occur when crusty matter is accidentally forced into the piercing.
Stay healthy! Eat a nutritious diet. The healthier your lifestyle, the easier it will be for your piercing to heal. Exercise during healing is fine, 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 sleeping.
Showering is safer than taking a bath, because baths harbor bacteria.

Avoid 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 the use of alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Betadine, Hibiclens, Bactine, pierced ear care solutions, and other products containing Benzalkonium Chloride (BZK)
Avoid over cleaning. This can delay your healing and irritate your piercing.
Avoid all oral contact, rough play, and contact with others bodily fluids on or near your piercing during the healing period.
Avoid stress and recreational drug use, including excessive caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.
Avoid submerging the piercing in bodies of water such as lakes, pools, hot tubs, etc. OR protect your piercing using a special waterproof wound-sealant bandage, which is available at most drug stores.
Avoid ALL beauty and personal care products on or around the piercing including cosmetics, lotions, sprays, etc.
Don't hang charms or any other object from your jewelry until the piercing is fully healed.

Unless there is a problem with the size, style, or material of the initial jewelry, leave it in place for the ENTIRE healing period.
Contact your Piercer if your jewelry must be temporarily removed (such as for a medical procedure). There are non-metallic jewelry alternatives.
Leave jewelry in at all times. Even old, well healed piercings can shrink and close in minutes after having been there for years! If removed, re-insertion can be difficult or impossible.
With clean hands or paper product, be sure to regularly check the threaded ends on your jewelry for tightness. ("Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey")
Carry a clean spare ball in case of loss and breakage.
Should you decide you no longer want the piercing, seek professional help in the removal of the jewelry and continue cleaning the piercings until the holes close. In most cases only a small indentation may remain.
In the event that an infection is suspected, quality jewelry or an inert alternative should be left in place to allow for drainage of the infection. If the jewelry is removed, the surface cells close up, seal the infection inside the piercing channel, which may result in an abscess.

This is not to be considered a substitute for medical advice from a doctor.