Aftercare guidelines for Body Piercings
Cleaning Solutions
- Sterile saline is a gentle choice for piercing aftercare, you can find it at Vitality Piercing or at your local pharmacy.
- Although we don’t suggest rotating soap through the piercing, a mild castile soap can help keep the surrounding area clean.
Cleaning Instructions
Wash your hands thoroughly prior to touching your piercing.
Saline rinse as needed to remove debris during healing.
Maintain good hygiene and replace strong body washes with a mild, liquid soap.
Do your best to keep your piercing clean and dry throughout the day.
What to expect?
Initially: some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness, or bruising.
During healing: some discoloration, itching, secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid that will form some crust on the jewelry.
A piercing may seem healed before the healing process is complete. This is because tissue heals from the outside in, and although it feels fine, the interior remains fragile. Be patient, and keep cleaning throughout the entire healing period.
Even healed piercings can shrink or close in minutes. This varies from person to person; if you like your piercing, keep jewelry in—do not leave it empty.
What should you do?
Leave your piercing alone except when cleaning. Do not turn or rotate your jewelry.
Stay healthy; the healthier your lifestyle, the easier it will be for your piercing to heal.
Make sure your bedding is washed and changed regularly. Avoid sleeping with pets during initial healing.
Showers tend to be safer than taking baths, as bathtubs can harbor bacteria. If you bathe in a tub, clean it well before each use and rinse off your piercing when you get out.
Come in for your checkup! Most piercings will need to be adjusted before they’re done healing. Failure to have posts or bars downsized can promote the growth of scar tissue and delay the healing of the piercing.
Troubleshooting
Piercings can develop complications for a variety of different reasons. If your piercing developed a lump or bump, or has become swollen beyond the length of the jewelry, you may need to have an adjustment made or a consultation. We are glad to help you, even if you haven’t received the piercing from us.
Don’t panic, don’t “Google” it.
Stay away from products that aren’t meant for puncture wounds. Do not use rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Bactine, witch hazel, iodine, tea tree oil, “ear care solution,” creams, or ointments (unless prescribed by a doctor.)
If you are experiencing symptoms of infection, including, but 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, please seek medical care as soon as possible.
FAQ
What could stop me from receiving a body piercing?
Being under the influence of recreational drugs or alcohol
Being on antibiotics or healing post-surgery
Pregnancy
Certain medical conditions, including heart conditions
Prescription blood thinners or retinoids
Feel free to email us for more info
When can I change the jewelry?
Jewelry should not be changed or temporarily removed without professional assistance until the piercing is healed. Removal of jewelry, even for a short time, can result in the loss of your piercing. In general, piercings that are under a year old can be more vulnerable to irritation. We suggest keeping jewelry in at all times and encourage you to be gentle during jewelry changes.
Are there activities I need to avoid while healing the piercing?
Due to the potential of infection, injury, or scarring during the healing process, we suggest avoiding:
Swimming or submerging the piercing underwater.
Gardening or directly exposing the piercing to dirt & soil.
Contact sports where the piercing is subject to injury.
Body Piercing Healing Times
This is a listing of average heal times. Actual healing times are evaluated based on a persons health, medical conditions, age, anatomy, jewelry, lifestyle, and piercing type. Individual healing times can be reevaluated at the time of your checkup.
Earlobes 3+ months
Cartilage 6+ months
Industrial 9+ months
Eyebrow 3+ months
Septum 2+ months
Nostril 6+ months
Lip 3-4 months
Tongue 3+ months
Nipple 4-6 months
Navel 6 months
Surface 9+ months
Genital 2-6 months