General Body Piercing Aftercare Instructions
Cleaning Instructions for Body Piercings
WASH your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning or touching your piercing for any reason.
SALINE may be used as an optional step to help remove dirt and debris where needed. We use Recovery Saline Wash, a vegan-friendly salt water solution. There is no burn or sting, making it an ideal step in piercing aftercare. Simply point and spray the piercing for 1-2 seconds.
RINSE thoroughly to remove all traces of the saline from the piercing. It is not necessary
to rotate the jewelry through the piercing. Using Saline before/during shower is ideal to allow for rinsing.
DRY by gently patting with clean, disposable paper products or fine point beauty Q-tip. Cloth towels can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry, causing injury.
What is Normal?
Initially: some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness, or bruising.
During healing: some discoloration, itching, secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid (not pus) that will form some crust on the jewelry. The tissue may tighten around the jewelry as it heals.
Once healed: the jewelry may not move freely in the piercing; do not force it. If you fail to include cleaning your piercing as part of your daily hygiene routine, normal but smelly bodily secretions may accumulate.
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 after having been there for years! This varies from person to person; if you like your piercing, keep jewelry in—do not leave it empty.
What to Do
Wash your hands prior to touching the piercing; leave it alone except when cleaning. During healing, it is not necessary to rotate your jewelry.
Make sure your bedding is washed and changed regularly. Wear clean, comfortable, breathable clothing that protects your piercing while you are sleeping.
Showers tend to be safer than taking baths, as bathtubs can harbor bacteria.
Oral Piercings should be rinsed with cold bottled water after eating, drinking or smoking.
What to Avoid
Avoid moving jewelry in an unhealed piercing or picking away dried discharge with your fingers.
Avoid cleaning alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or soaps containing triclosan, as these can damage cells. Also avoid ointments as they prevent necessary air circulation.
Avoid over-cleaning. This can delay your healing and irritate your piercing.
Avoid undue trauma such as friction from clothing/hair, 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 piercing in bodies of water such as lakes, pools, hot tubs, etc.
Avoid all beauty and personal care products on or around the piercing including cosmetics, lotions, and sprays, etc.
