HOW SHOULD I CLEAN MY PIERCING?
Prior to cleaning your new piercing, thoroughly wash your hands. Other than to clean your piercing, avoid touching it as much as possible—do NOT rotate, or twist.
Spray the front and back of your piercing with sterile saline solution, 2 to 3 times a day. For certain piercings, it may be easier to apply using a clean non-woven gauze saturated with saline solution. Avoid cleaning with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial soaps, iodine, or any harsh products, as these can damage cells. Also avoid ointments as they prevent necessary air circulation.
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.4.
Dry the area by gently patting with clean, disposable paper products. Cloth towels can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry causing injury!
Pro Tips:
Light exercise during healing is fine; listen to your body. We recommend avoiding contact sports that may potentially cause your piercing to get bumped around, Keep the piercing protected from bacteria present on gym equipment or exercise mats.
Avoid all beauty and personal care products on or around the piercing including cosmetics, lotions, and sprays, etc.
Make sure your bedding is washed and changed regularly. Wear clean, comfortable, breathable clothing that protects your piercing while you are sleeping.
Surfaces like phones, headphones, eyeglasses, etc can be cleaned with an appropriate disinfectant. Items like hats, scarves, headbands, etc should be washed regularly.
Try your best to avoid sleeping directly on your fresh piercing(s). Use a travel pillow and place your ear in the middle hole of the pillow when laying down on your side.
Stay dry(ish). Avoid submerging your new piercing in water such as pools, baths, and oceans! Showering is fine, just remember to keep your piercing clean, and rinse thoroughly of any residual soap.
After the initial healing time frame, it is important for the health of your piercing that you pop back into our studio to have one of our piercers check your healing status and down-size the length of your post if it’s ready.
WHAT IS NORMAL DURING A PIERCING'S HEALING PROCESS?
During the first few weeks, some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness, and/or bruising is expected. Throughout your healing process, you may also notice some discoloration, itching, and the secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid (not pus) that will form some crust on the jewelry—this is also normal! The tissue may tighten around the jewelry as it heals. Once your piercing is healed, the jewelry may not move freely in the piercing; do not force it!
If you don’t stick to a regular cleaning regimen for your piercing, some body secretions may accumulate with a faint smell. This is normal, and we recommend including cleaning as part of your daily hygiene routine.It’s important to know that a piercing might 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. The key is to be patient, and keep cleaning throughout the entire initial healing period.
If you remove your piercing jewelry, it’s possible that your piercing may shrink or close in minutes! This varies from person to person we recommend keeping your piercing jewelry in until it is fully healed.Unless there is a problem with the size, style, or material of the initial jewelry, leave it in place for the entire healing process. Many piercings require a downsize before the piercing is healed.
If you have any questions about your piercing, you’re always welcome to have our piercers check up on your healing process.
**If you experience any abnormal symptoms outside of those listed above, we recommend checking in with your doctor.