NORMAL PIERCINGS:
- May be tender, itchy, or bruised for a few weeks.
- May bleed a little for the first few days.
- May be slightly red. Redness may persist on and off for the entire healing period.
- May secrete a whitish-yellowish fluid, which may crust on the jewelry. This is lymph discharge and will stop when the piercing is healed.
- May be swollen. An ice pack wrapped in a clean disposable paper towel and applied to the swollen area will alleviate the swelling. An over the counter anti-inflammatory such as Advil, Aleve, or Motrin may also help reduce swelling.
- May need to be checked periodically to insure threaded jewelry is still tight. Threaded jewelry is like anything else, "righty tighty, lefty loosey." Make sure you wash your hands before touching your jewelry.
DONT'S:
- May be tender, itchy, or bruised for a few weeks.
- May bleed a little for the first few days.
- May be slightly red. Redness may persist on and off for the entire healing period.
- May secrete a whitish-yellowish fluid, which may crust on the jewelry. This is lymph discharge and will stop when the piercing is healed.
- May be swollen. An ice pack wrapped in a clean disposable paper towel and applied to the swollen area will alleviate the swelling. An over the counter anti-inflammatory such as Advil, Aleve, or Motrin may also help reduce swelling.
- May need to be checked periodically to insure threaded jewelry is still tight. Threaded jewelry is like anything else, "righty tighty, lefty loosey." Make sure you wash your hands before touching your jewelry.
INFECTION:
- Redness accompanied by swelling.
- A sensation of heat around the piercing area.
- A elevated body temperature.
- A continual pain especially throbbing or a spreading pain.
- Unusual discharge that maybe yellowish, greenish, or grayish in color.
- Red streaks going from the piercing site towards the heart.
- If you think you have an infection, please contact your piercer and let them know of any circumstances that could have led to the infection.
HEALING TIMES:
The following are some general heal times for common piercings.
- BRIDGE
- CHEEKS
- CUPID
- DERMAL ANCHORS
- LABRET
- LIP
- LOBES
- MONROE
- NOSE
- TONGUE
- WEBBING
- CORSET
- CARTILAGE
- CLAVICALS
- INDUSTRIAL
- NAPE
- NAVEL
- NIPPLES
- ROOK
- SEPTUM
- SURFACE PIERCINGS
- STERNUM
- TRAGUS
- AMPALLANG
- APADRAVYA
- DYDOE
- FRENUM
- GUICHE
- HAFADA
- IMPLANTS
- PRINCE ALBERTS
- CHRISTINE
- CLITORAL HOOD
- FOURCHETTE
- LABIA
- TRIANGLE
GENERAL AFTERCARE FOR YOUR PIERCINGS
Basic supplies needed:
Dial Gold
Cotton Swabs
Paper Towels
IN THE SHOWER:
Avoid getting shampoo, conditioner, body wash or other products near the piercing as much as possible. At the end of your shower, wash the skin around the piercing with a mild liquid antimicrobial soap. Avoid turning, twisting or rotating the jewelry as you do this, the soap should not get into the piercing. Rinse the area thoroughly, as soap residue can irritate your piercing. Soaps containing any perfumes, dyes, or moisturizers tend to irritate the healing process of piercings, and should be avoided.
CARING FOR YOUR ORAL PIERCINGS
Oral Supplies Needed:
Biotene
Crest Pro Health
- Rinse with mouth wash after eating, smoking or putting anything in your mouth. Alcohol based mouthwashes need to be diluted with a 50 percent ratio of distilled water because they may be too harsh and will irritate your piercing.
- 3 - 5 times a day, rinse with a warm sea salt water solution (using your pre-made gallon) Sea salt water rinses will speed and ease the healing process.
- Brush your teeth 3 times daily using a a new toothbrush.
- Avoid drinking alcohol for the first few weeks of your healing process. Alcoholic beverages will increase your swelling and make your piercing bleed.
- Cut down or stop smoking. Smokers may experience considerably longer healing times.
- EAT!!!!!! It is important to keep your body healthy while you are healing your piercing. Soft and bite size foods will be easiest for the first week or two. Try and avoid hot, spicy, or crunchy foods until your piercing is healed.
- Most oral piercings will need to be downsized 2 - 4 weeks into your healing period. Wearing the initial "starter" jewelry once your swelling has subsided may lead to dental damage. Come back and see your piercer when you're ready for a down size to insure you get properly sized jewelry. To help you avoid complications, I am more than happy to put your new jewelry in for you as well. Except for downsizing, jewelry should not be changed until your piercing is completely healed.
Specialty supplies needed:
Saline Wound Wash
Non Iodized Sea Salt
Distilled Water
STERILE SEA SALT SPRAY:
Mist the entire piercing area and allow the solution to dry and soak into the skin, then rinse the area with clean water. Do this every 3-4 hours. When using a sea salt spray, it is advisable to sea salt soak you piercing every couple days, but multiple daily soaks are unnecessary and may lead to irritation.
SEA SALT SOAKS:
Mix 4 teaspoons of non-iodized sea salt into one gallon of distilled water (the ratio is important, so measure carefully!) Pour some of this solution into a clean, disposable cup, warm it up in the microwave (no to hot!! Warm bath water temperature is perfect), and completely submerge your piercing into the water for 5 - 10 minutes. When you're finished with your soak, rinse your piercing thoroughly and gently pat it dry with a clean disposable paper towel. Hot compresses made from disposable paper towels may be used for difficult soaking sites (like bridges or napes) but are not as effective, so submerging the piercing is always advisable if possible. Sea salt soaks should be done 2 - 4 times daily if it is the only aftercare method you are using.