Piercing Aftercare
WASH your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning or touching your piercing for any reason.
CLEANING SOLUTION
I recommend a warm sea salt soak or sea salt spray
Mix non-iodized sea salt + warm water. The warm water promotes healing. The easiest rule of thumb is to make it as salty as tears. A stronger mixture is not better; a saline solution that is too strong can irritate the piercing. If soaking-put the saline mixture in a bowl (or shot glass for certain piercings) submerge the piercing site in the mixture for 10 minutes one time a day.
If spraying-make the mixture into a clean spray bottle and spray the piercing site 2 times a day.
Make a fresh mixture for either method.
In between cleaning you can remove any crusties with warm water on a q-tip, and gently swab around the jewelry.
Do not twist, turn, or remove the jewelry.
ORAL PIERCINGS
Make of mixture of 1/2 mouthwash 1/2 water. Use this mixture throughout the day after eating, drinking, or smoking of any kind.
WHAT IS NORMAL?
• Initially: some bleeding, blood crusties, localized swelling, tenderness, or bruising.
• During healing: some discoloration, itching, yellow crusties (not pus) that will form some crust on the jewelry.
• 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. Do not remove your jewelry until it is fully healed.
• 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.
• Use caution with loofas, clothing, blankets, hair, pets etc. Snagging your fresh (or healed) piercing does not feel nice.