Piercing Aftercare Instructions

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Initially, some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness and bruising.

During healing: Some discoloration, itching, secretion of a whiteish-yellow fluid (not pus) that will form 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 healing is complete. This is because piercings heal from the outside in, and although it feels healed the tissue remains fragile on the inside. BE PATIENT, and  keep cleaning throughout the entire healing period. 

Wash your hands prior to touching the piercing: leave it alone except when cleaning. It is not necassary to rotate the jewelry while healing except possibly during cleaning. 

Make sure that your jewelry and skin is free from any discharge before you attempt to move the jewelry. Irritation can occur when crusty matter is accidentally forced into the piercing. 

Stay healthy! Eat a nutritious diet. The healthier your lifestyle, the easier it will be for your piercing to heal. Exercise during healing is fine, just "listen" to your body. 

Make sure your bedding is kept clean and changed regularly. Wear clean, comfortable, breathable clothing that protects your piercing while sleeping. 

Showering is safer than taking a bath, because bathbombs tend to harbor bacteria. If you would like to take a bath, clean the tub well before each use

Use either one or more of the following solutions for cleaning body piercing: 

1. Packaged sterile saline solution with no additives (read label). 

2.Non-iodized sea salt mixture: 

                     1/8-1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt into one cup (8oz) of warm distilled or bottled water. A stronger mixture is not better! Saline solution that is too          strong can  irritate the piercing. 

3. Liquid anti-microdial or germicidal soap. 

Wash your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning, or touching on or near your piercing.  

Saline soak at least two or three times daily. Simply invert a cup of warm saline solution over the area to form a vacuum for a few minutes. The longer you soak, the better. For certain  placements, it may be easier to apply using fresh gauze or a cottonball saturated in saline solution. A brief rinse will remove any residue. 

Soap no more than once or twice a day. While showering, lather up a pearl size drop of the soap to clean the jewelry and piercing. Leave the cleanser on the piercing no more than thirty  seconds, then rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of the soap from the piercing.  

Dry with disposable paper products such a gauze or tissues, because cloth towels can harbor bacteria and catch on new piercing causing injury. Pat gently to avoid trauma. 

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 the use of alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, betadine, hiniclens, or ointment. 

Avoid over cleaning. This can delay your healing and irritate your piercing. 

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

Avoid stress and recreational drug use including excessive caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. 

Avoid submerging the piercing in bodies of water such as lakes, pools, jacuzzis, ect. Or protect your piercing using a special water proof bandage such as Tegaderm, which is available at drug  stores. 

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

Don't hang charms or any other objects from your jewelry until piercing 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 period. A qualified piercer should perform any necessary jewelry change  that occurs during healing. 

Contact your piercer if your jewelry must be temporarily removed (such as for a medical procedure). There is non-metal jewelry alternatives. 

Leave jewelry in at all times. Even old, well healed piercings can shrink and close in minutes after having been there for years! If removed re-insertion can be difficult or impossible. With clean hands or paper product, be sure to regularly check the threaded ends on your jewelry for tightness. ("Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey"). 

Carry a clean spare ball in case of loss or breakage.

 Should you decide you no longer want the piercing, seek professional help in removal of the jewelry and continue cleaning the piercings until the hole closes. In most cases only a small  indention will remain.