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PIERCING AFTERCARE

 

 

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  • EAR PIERCING AFTERCARE:

  • Clean your piercing 1x a day with mild and unscented antimicrobial soap and water.

  • Rinse thoroughly to insure soap has been fully removed from jewelry and skin. (Otherwise it will irritate the skin.)

  • The only time you should be touching your piercing is after thoroughly washing your hands to begin the cleansing process. 

  • Do not change jewelry out for at least 8 weeks.

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  • TONGUE PIERCING AFTERCARE:

  •  Rinse with alcohol-free, antiseptic mouthwash anytime you use your lips, mouth or tongue to drink, eat, smoke, kiss or anything besides drink plain water. 

  • Do this for the first 6 weeks of healing   

  • Do not play with or pull on the jewelry. It's still a fresh piercing you can tear it. 

  • Do not change jewelry for at least 6 weeks. 

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  • NOSTRIL PIERCING AFTERCARE:

  • Clean your piercing 1x a day with mild and unscented antimicrobial soap and water.

  • Rinse thoroughly to insure soap has been fully removed from jewelry and skin. (Otherwise it will irritate the skin.)

  • The only time you should be touching your piercing is after thoroughly washing your hands to begin the cleansing process. 

  • Do not change jewelry out for at least 8 weeks.  

 

WHAT IS NORMAL:

 

• Initially: some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness, and/or bruising.

• During healing: some discoloration, itching, secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid (not puss) that will form some crust on the jewelry.

• Once the swelling is gone, you will need to downsize your jewelry to avoid complications.

• If you fail to include cleaning your piercing as part of your daily hygiene routine, (even if fully healed) normal but smelly bodily       secretions may accumulate.

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IMPORTANT TIPS!!

 

Importance of Patience: A piercing might seem healed before the healing process is complete. This is because tissue heals from the outside in, but although it feels fine, the interior remains fragile. Be patient, and keep cleaning throughout the entire initial healing period, and do not change the jewelry prematurely. Even basic cartilage piercings can take over a year to fully heal.

Jewelry Knowledge and Maintenance: The jewelry used by professional piercers is designed for security and safety. In most cases, either internally threaded or “push-pin” style jewelry is used, and it’s important to know the difference:

Internally Threaded: The threading is part of the top (gemstone, opal, etc.) and threads into the post “righty-tighty”-“lefty-loosy.” Internally threaded pieces can come loose over time, and so it’s a good idea to tighten the top on occasion. First, wash your hands thoroughly. Then while keeping the back of the jewelry in place, tighten the top by twisting in a clockwise direction. If you have difficulty, please see a professional piercer for assistance.

Push Pin: The threading pin is part of the top (gemstone, opal, etc.) and is pushed into a hollow post and held in by tension. To remove an end like this, you just need to pull the top out of the post while holding the back (sometimes twisting can held if secured tightly). Push-pin pieces can come loose over time, and so it’s a good idea to make sure the top is pushed down all the way on occasion. If you have difficulty, please see a professional piercer for assistance.

Importance of Keeping Jewelry IN: Even healed piercings that you have had for years can shrink or close in minutes! This varies from person to person; so if you like your piercing, keep jewelry in them.

DO NOT SELF-DIAGNOSE: If you experience healing complications, we recommend that you do not self-diagnose (the reason being that many different conditions are symptomatically similar in various respects). First, see your piercer for advice, or if it is an emergency, please contact a doctor.

DO NOT OVERCLEAN: If you experience a healing complication, it is a natural reaction to clean it more often and more vigorously. This is a BAD IDEA. In most cases, over-cleaning impedes healing by drying out the skin too much and causing irritation.

 

WHAT TO AVOID:

 

• Avoid sleeping on a piercing, especially a fresh/healing one.

 

• Avoid cleaning with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or any harsh products, as these can damage cells. Also avoid ointments like Neosporin as they prevent necessary air circulation and can trap harmful bacteria around the wound.

 

• Avoid Bactine®, pierced ear care solutions, and other products containing Benzalkonium Chloride (BZK). These can be irritating and are not intended for long-term wound care.

 

• Avoid undue trauma such as friction from clothing, excessive motion of the area, playing with the jewelry, and vigorous cleaning. These activities can cause the formation of unsightly and uncomfortable scar tissue, migration, prolonged healing, and other complications.

 

• Avoid all oral contact, rough play, and contact with others’ bodily fluids on or near your piercing during healing.

 

• Avoid submerging the healing piercing in unhygienic bodies of water such as lakes, pools, hot tubs, etc. Or, protect your piercing using a waterproof wound-sealant bandage (such as 3MTM NexcareTM Clean Seals or Tegaderm). These are available at most drugstores.

 

• Avoid all beauty and personal care products on or around the piercing including cosmetics, lotions, and sprays, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

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