Warning: Chemicals will not help you heal faster!
Chemicals upset the delicate balance of your healing piercing, therefore it is strongly suggested that you DO NOT USE any product containing active ingredients or any chemical you would be afraid to put in your eyes or mouth, including (but not limited to): antimicrobial soaps (Provon), antibacterial soaps (Dial, Softsoap), Rubbing Alcohol, Hydrogen peroxide, ointments (Bacitracin, Neosporin), Bactine, Ear Care Solution, Piercing Care Solution, Betadine or Hibiclens.
Products You Can Use:
1) Sterile Saline Solution. Saline balances the saltwater levels in your healing cells, helping you heal faster! There are a few different saline solutions you can buy that will work: Blairex Wound Wash Saline, Sterile Saline for Contact Lenses (in a can), or Sterile Saline Wipes. Avoid saline in plastic containers as it becomes contaminated after it is opened.
2) Cotton Swabs or Gauze.
How to Clean Your Piercing
1) Wash your hands with any hand soap and water.
2) Rinse the piercing with saline (either directly from the can or applied with a cotton swab or gauze).
3) If necessary, gently massage crusty material off jewelry with saline soaked cotton swab or gauze.
Rinse again with fresh saline.
Saline Soaks to Quicken Healing
Heat a small amount of saline in a clean container in the microwave. Place this solution in a position that it will soak the piercing. For instance, hold a small glass over your navel or nipple piercing and lay back, or use gauze soaked with warm saline for hard to reach piercings. Leave the warm saline on the piercing until it is cold, and then rinse the piercing with fresh saline.
Sea Salt Soaks
Mix 1/4 Teaspoon (1 big pinch) of non-iodized sea salt with 1 cup (8 oz, 250 ml) distilled water. This solution is slightly acidic and hypertonic, so it will dry out piercings that seem to discharge excessive lymph protein or fluid. This is not for infected piercings. Always rinse with Sterile Saline Solution after performing a sea salt soak.
Special Care for Oral Piercings
Tongue, Lip, Labret, Cheek and other oral piercings require special care.
You Will Need:
1) Sea Salt and Distilled Water and/or Alcohol Free Mouthwash
2) Ice for tongue and cheek piercings (it may help a little for lip and labret piercings, too).
What to Do:
Rinse your mouth out with saltwater (mixed 1/4 Teaspoon of sea salt to 1 cup of distilled water) or alcohol free mouthwash (Biotene, Crest Pro Health, Tom’s of Maine) after you eat, drink, smoke, or put anything in your mouth for the first 4 weeks. Do NOT rub oral jewelry up against teeth or gums. If you find this unavoidable, have your jewelry resized or remove your piercing entirely.
Tongues
Holding ice in your mouth, and even gently sucking on ice, can help with swelling. Avoid hot and spicy foods or hot drinks that will scald the tongue and increase swelling. No Kissing or Sexual Contact until the piercing has completely healed. Gently brush your tongue when you brush your teeth, it will help remove dead skin. Shorten your barbell after 2 or 3 weeks to avoid unnecessary damage to teeth and gums.
Lips/Labrets/Cheeks
Rinse you’re piercing on the facial side with saline solution to keep it balanced and help it heal faster.
Genital Piercings
All piercings are an open channel to the blood stream. Especially in the case of genital piercings, sexual contact during the healing phase can be dangerous to you and your partner. Utilize a barrier if engaging in sexual activity before your piercing is completely healed. Go easy on your new piercings – they will heal faster if you do not irritate them by playing rough.
Infected Piercings
More often than not, people who believe they have an infection actually have an irritation, and adjusting the care will fix the problem. You can recognize a true infection by its relatively sudden inflammation and accompanying discharge of pus and/or blood. If you suspect you have an infection, consult a doctor immediately! Do not wait for it to get worse, and do not attempt a home remedy.
Jewelry Matters
You have been pierced with the best jewelry available, in a scrupulously hygienic environment by professionally trained body piercers. Please respect your investment! Do not buy or wear jewelry bought from anywhere besides a good body piercing establishment. Please ask for internally threaded, implant grade body jewelry to keep your piercing happy.
Do:
1) Clean you’re piercing 2 to 3 times daily until piercing has healed.
2) Expect a little bleeding and redness for the first week of healing.
3) Contact your piercer if you have questions or concerns.
4) Contact a doctor at the first sign of infection (pain, excessive swelling, darkly colored discharge or excessive bleeding).
Do Not:
Touch or play with your piercing ever.
1) Swim in pools, ponds, lakes, marinas, hot tubs, rivers, or any unclean body of water.
2) Wear tight or constrictive clothing directly over your healing piercing.
3) Introduce makeup, lotions, lip balm or other health and beauty aids into your healing piercing.
4) Sleep directly on your piercing.
5) Bandage (i.e. suffocate) your piercing.