Piercing Aftercare

Cleaning Your Piercing

  • Wash: Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching or cleaning your piercing.

  • Spray: Use a sterile saline wound wash to clean the area. Avoid twisting or rotating jewelry, which can cause irritation.

  • Dry: Gently pat the area dry with disposable products like gauze or cotton swabs. Avoid cloth towels as they can snag and harbor bacteria.

Avoid DIY Solutions:

  • Do not mix your own sea salt solution—it’s often too strong and can harm the healing process. Use only sterile saline labeled for wound care (.09% sodium chloride). Avoid products with additives like moisturizers or antibacterial agents.

What’s Normal?

  • Initial Healing: Bleeding, swelling, tenderness, and bruising.

  • Healing Process: Some itching, crust formation, or whitish-yellow fluid. Tissue tightens around jewelry as it heals.

  • Once Healed: Jewelry may feel tight; don’t force movement. Clean your piercing as part of your regular hygiene routine to prevent buildup.

  • Closure Risks: Even healed piercings can close quickly. Always keep jewelry in if you wish to maintain the piercing.

Care Tips

  • Hands Off: Avoid unnecessary handling or twisting of the jewelry.

  • Exercise & Sweat: Safe, but avoid direct contact with gym equipment.

  • Bedding & Clothing: Change bedding regularly and wear clean, breathable clothing.

  • Showering: Showers are better than baths; if bathing, rinse the piercing thoroughly afterward.

Avoid These

  • Harsh Cleaners: Alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial soaps, and ointments can harm the healing process.

  • Products: Avoid beauty items like makeup, lotions, or sprays near the area.

  • Water Submersion: Protect piercings in pools, lakes, and hot tubs with waterproof dressings.

  • Trauma: Be mindful of pressure, friction, and rough handling to prevent complications.

Jewelry Care

  • Keep the initial jewelry in place until the piercing is fully healed. Visit a professional piercer for downsizing or adjustments.

  • Regularly check jewelry for tightness.

  • If removing jewelry, consult a piercer to minimize scarring.

Additional Tips for Specific Piercings

  • Navel: Protect with a hard, vented eye patch secured by fabric.

  • Ears/Face: Use a clean t-shirt over your pillowcase, disinfect glasses and phones, and avoid sleeping directly on cartilage piercings.

  • Nipples: Wear supportive clothing, like sports bras, during healing.

  • Genital: Maintain hygiene and use protection during sexual activity; avoid saliva and use new water-based lubricant.