Body Piercing Aftercare

All my clients receive both oral and written aftercare guidelines when getting pierced.

I have found that by creating a saline solution and soaking and or compressing the piercing twice a day, is the most effective way to heal a piercing. By mixing 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt to each 1 cup (8oz.) of clean water, a saline solution is created. This solution works with your body’s chemistry, helping your body to do its job in healing the wound. DO NOT use Epsom or bath salt. Sea salt is available inexpensively from my studio and from most health food stores.

The saline solution work best when applied as follows:

Mix 1/4″ teaspoon of sea salt to one cup (8oz.) of water in a bowl. Heat 45-60 seconds in the microwave, stir, and soak up with a clean face cloth or gauze. Hold cloth/gauze firmly against the piercing for 10 minutes, twice daily prior to soaking.

Most piercings heal fastest when they receive a 10 minute saline soak, twice daily. The best way to do this is to mix your saline solution: 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt to 1 cup (8oz.) of clean water. Either lower the piercing into the solution or use a cup to flip the solution against your skin, do this for 10 minutes twice a day until two weeks after you see the dried lymph has stopped crusting around your piercing. Cleaning your piercing while in the shower with Satin Soap is beneficial. DO NOT use soap more than once a day; make sure you rinse ALL the soap off the piercing and surrounding area.

TIPS:

• After soaking your piercing for 10 minutes, use a clean cotton swab to remove the crustiness (this is dried lymph and is normal).
• Do not wear any tight or restrictive clothing against your piercing, especially with navel piercings.
• Wear clean clothes and bathe daily.
• Clean your piercing as soon as possible after working out.
• Avoid contact between hair or make up and your piercing.
• Avoid swimming in pools, hot tubs, and lakes while healing.
• Wash your hands before touching your piercing and only touch when cleaning.
• NO contact between your piercing and other peoples body fluids during healing.
• Poor diet, lack of sleep and stress can all have a negative effect on healing time.
• Avoid petroleum/oil based products such as peroxide and alcohol.
• Remember, over cleaning your piercing is just as bad, if not worse, than under cleaning your piercing.

Normal Healing:

Clear to slightly yellow crusting around the piercing.

Occasional, mild bleeding during the first few days is normal after a piercing.

Redness, tenderness, itchiness and moderate swelling may all be apparent through the initial stages of healing.

The above is not to be construed as medical advice: I am not a doctor. All aftercare guidelines mentioned here are based on my experience as a piercing professional.