Basic After Care for Piercings

Steps

1. Wash your hands with soap prior to        cleaning or touching your piercing

2. Rinse the area, remove any dried blood or crust build up

3. Saline Solution (commonly known as wound wash) (NaCl 0.9% sodium chloride) – Rinse your piercing with saline solution and a new cotton bud

4. Gently pat dry the piercing with a clean paper towel. Avoid using cloths or towels as they may harbor bacteria and may pull on the jewelry, causing injury to the piercing.

5. Always remember to keep you piercing CLEAN and DRY.

 

Note:

- Best time to clean your piercing is after your shower

- Sodium Chloride solution can be purchased from any local pharmacy

 

Do's	Don'ts
Get enough rest / sleep and stay well hydrated.	Avoid beauty products such as make up, lotion, sprays or perfume on your piercing.
Wash your hands before touching your piercing. Touch your piercing only when cleaning.	Avoid submerging your piercing in bodies of water such as swimming pools, hot tubs, lakes, rivers etc until the piercing is healed.
Keep hair away from your piercing. Tying or clipping your hair is advisable as it may help your piercing heal faster.	Avoid removing the jewelry for an extended period of time. Healed piercings that you have had for years can shrink or close within minutes.
Make sure to keep your beddings / pillow casing washed and cleaned regularly.	Avoid cleaning with alcohol, iodine, ointments or any other harsh products which may prevent air circulation of the piercing.
Wear clean, comfortable and breathable clothing that protects your piercing while you sleep.	Avoid changing your jewelry until the piercing is fully healed (Some piercings may seem healed on the outside but the interior may not have fully healed yet).
When showering, allow water to gently flow around your piercing. Do not apply any soap to wash your piercing.	Avoid pressure on piercing – sleeping on piercing, friction from clothing, excessive motion, playing with the jewelry and vigorous cleaning. This can cause prolonged healing, scar, bumps and other complications

 

What is Normal?

After piercing - Some bleeding, swelling, tenderness or bruising my occur.

During healing - Itching, Whitish – yellow (not pus) crust on the jewelry.

Healed - Jewelry may not move freely, tight feeling. Possibly due to bodily secretion that may accumulate over time.

*Some piercings may seem healed before the healing process is actually completed – be patient and follow your piercer's instructions on when it is appropriate to change / down size your jewelry

 

 

Site Specific After Care

Ear/ Cartilage Face	Maintain cleanliness of phones, headphone, glasses, helmets, hats, face mask and anything that may come in contact with the pierced area Avoid hair coming into contact with the piercing. It may cause bacteria build up or get caught on the piercing
Oral	Rinse your mouth gently after eating or smoking Avoid eating spicy or hot temperature food Acidic food may irritate your piercing Avoid chewing gum
Navel	Avoid wearing restrictive & tight clothing Avoid vigorous exercise / physical activities that targets the belly area.
Genital	Genital piercings may bleed for a few days. Avoid touching your piercing You may engage in sexual activity as soon as you feel ready, but maintain hygiene and avoid direct trauma to your piercing such as pulling or touching your piercing Always wash your hands before touching your piercing Use condoms to avoid contact with your partners body fluid Clean your piercing with saline solution after any sexual activities
Micro Dermals	Use saline solution and shower to maintain your piercing during its entire lifetime Avoid putting make up on these piercing even when healed Avoid excessive pressure and getting the piercing snagged on clothing even after healing to avoid injuring your piercing

 

Click below to download a printable PDF of Suggested Aftercare Brochure provided by The Association of Professional Piercers:

- Oral After Care

- Ear, Face, Body and Genital After Care