- CLEANING
SOLUTIONS index
- A mild liquid anti-microbial/germicidal
medicated soap such as Provon or Satin, and water. Inferior alternatives
include products
such as Almay Clearly Natural, Hypocare, NutriBiotic; or other mild,
fragrance- and color-free liquid antibacterial soap. These should
possibly be diluted with distilled or bottled water, depending on
product strength. Also, mild non-iodized (no iodine) sea salt soaks
as described below.
- SALT
WATER SOAKS index
- Mild sea saltwater soaks
are strongly suggested at least once a day to accelerate healing and
increase your comfort. This may also help to reduce irritation in
the area. Dissolve a pinch (1/4 teaspoon) of sea salt into one cup
(8 oz.) of warm or hot water in a clean cup. Distilled water is optimal.
A stronger solution is not better as you can burn your piercing with
too much salt. Invert it over the area to form a vacuum and soak directly
for a few minutes. For certain placements it is easier to use a clean
cotton ball or gauze pad soaked in the salt water and applied to the
pierced area. Follow with a clear water rinse or splash then pat dry
with paper products. Salt water soaks help to stimulate air and blood
circulation which facilitates healing. You can do a brief salt water
soak before your daily cleaning(s) as well as several additional times
a day. It is particularly advisable to soak before you do anything
active, as it will prevent crust from being pulled inside the piercing
as you move around. Salt water is the only additional product (other
than the cleanser and water) we suggest you use to care for your piercing.
One soak per day should be for at least a few minutes. Additional
soaks can be brief (1 minute or so) and still be effective for soothing
the area and removing matter.
- CLEANING
INSTRUCTIONS index
- Body piercings need to
be cleaned once or twice daily, every day, for the entire initial
healing time. Most people clean morning and/or night, in the shower.
Do not clean more often as this can irritate your piercing, and possibly
delay your healing. For once-a-day cleanings, do it at the end of
your day. Optimal frequency will depend on your skin sensitivity,
activity level, and environmental factors. Before cleanings wash hands
thoroughly with liquid antibacterial soap and hot water. If you wish,
you may wear disposable latex or vinyl gloves and/or also use a hand
sanitizing gel. Never, never touch healing piercings with dirty hands.
This is vital for avoiding infections. Prepare the area for the cleansing
by rinsing or soaking with warm water and be sure to remove any stubborn
crust using a cotton swab and warm water. Never pick with fingernails!
This step is important for your comfort. Apply a small handful of
cleaning solution to the area with your clean hands. Cleanse the area
and the jewelry, and gently rotate the jewelry back and forth a few
times to work the solution to the inside. (You do not need to rotate
your jewelry during the first several cleanings). Allow the solution
to cleanse there for a minute. You may bathe normally, just don’t
purposely work anything other than the cleanser onto the inside of
the piercing. Rinse the area thoroughly under running water, while
rotating the jewelry back and forth to completely remove the cleanser
from the inside and outside of the piercing. Gently pat dry with disposable
paper products such as gauze or tissues, as cloth towels can harbor
bacteria. Please try to be patient. Each body is unique, and healing
times can vary considerably. If your piercing is tender or secreting
you should continue the care regimen, even if it is past the stated
average healing time range.
- WHAT
IS NORMAL index
- Bleeding, bruising, discoloration
and/or swelling is not uncommon. Any break in the skin, including
a new piercing can bleed or bruise. These are not indications of any
complication. Reduce intake of aspirin, alcohol, and caffeine. For
above-the-neck piercings try sleeping with your head elevated above
your heart (prop up on some pillows) to limit overnight swelling.
Studies show non- steroidal anti-inflammatory products such as Ibuprofen
(Advil, Motrin, etc.) can help minimize swelling. Some tenderness
or discomfort in the area of a new piercing is not unusual. You may
feel stinging, burning, aching or other unpleasant sensations off
and on for several days or longer. During healing there may be some
itching. Secretion of a fluid which contains blood plasma, lymph and
dead cells is perfectly normal. It is fairly liquid, whitish-yellow
in color and forms a crust on the jewelry at the openings of the piercing.
This is not pus, but indicates a healing piercing. Once healed your
piercing may secrete a semi-solid white malodorous substance from
the oil glands called sebum. This is not pus, but indicates a healed
piercing. Piercings may have a tendency to have a series of “ups
and downs“ during healing by seeming healed and then regressing.
Try to be patient, and do keep cleaning during the entire initial
healing time, even if the piercing seems healed sooner. Tightness
is normal. Do not expect jewelry to swing freely in most body piercings,
even after they are thoroughly healed.
- WHAT
TO DO index
- Wash your hands prior
to contact on or near the area of your healing piercing! Leave the
piercing alone except for when you are cleaning it. It is not necessary
or advisable to rotate the ring while healing except during cleanings.
Leave the starter jewelry in during the entire minimum initial healing
time! (Assuming your initial jewelry is appropriate in terms of metal
content, style, and size. Inappropriate jewelry should be changed
out by a professional.) Those with captive-style rings or barbells
(straight, bent, or circular) can change the bead/ball portion of
the jewelry at any time. Check twice daily with clean hands to make
sure the balls are screwed on tight on threaded jewelry such as barbells.
Both balls tighten to the right. If you like your piercing leave jewelry
in at all times. Even old, well-healed piercings can shrink or close
in minutes after having been there for years! This varies from person
to person, and even if your ear lobe piercings stay open without jewelry
your body piercing may not! Contact your piercer if your jewelry must
be temporarily removed (such as for a medical procedure). Monofilament
nylon or another inert non-metallic substance may be able to be inserted
to maintain the piercing until jewelry can be reinserted. Make sure
your bedding is clean and changed frequently while you are healing,
especially if pets get into your bed. Wear clean, comfortable, breathable
fabric clothing in the area of a body piercing. A multi-vitamin mineral
supplement help boost your body’s healing abilities. Take it
with your morning meal according to package instructions. Get enough
sleep, eat a nutritious diet, avoid undue stress, recreational drugs,
and alcohol consumption. The healthier your lifestyle, the easier
it will be for your piercing to heal. Showering is safer than taking
a bath, as bath tubs tend to harbor bacteria. To bathe safely, clean
your tub with a bleach product before each bath, and rinse the tub
before you fill it. Also, be sure to do a running water rinse on your
piercing when you are done in the tub. In the event that the piercing
drains a thick pus discharge instead of the normal liquid secretion,
you may wish to see a physician for evaluation and possible antibiotic
treatment. If you do have an infection, the jewelry should be left
in the piercing to allow for drainage of pus. If the jewelry is removed,
the holes can close up, resulting in an abscess.
LEAVE YOUR JEWELRY IN !
- WHAT
TO AVOID index
- Don’t use alcohol,
peroxide, Betadine or Hibiclens as they are overly strong and drying
which can hinder healing. Use Bacitracin, Neosporin or any triple
antibiotic ointment on your piercing. These prevent oxygen from reaching
the wound and form a sticky residue which can cause complications.
They are not designed for use on healing piercings. Don’t over
clean. Cleaning more often than once or twice a day is NOT better.
This can delay your healing and irritate your piercing. Don’t
use too many different products; select and use only one cleaning
solution (such as Provon or Satin) plus sea salt. Avoid oral contact,
rough play, and contact with others’ bodily fluids on or near
your piercing during healing. Don’t use bandaids on a healing
piercing. They limit air circulation and the adhesive can irritate
the surrounding area. Avoiding sleeping on a piercing during healing
is advisable. Don’t hang charms or any object from your jewelry
until the piercing is fully healed. Avoid submerging your piercings
in water such as pools, lakes, jacuzzis, etc. unless you feel confident
that the water is clean enough for you and an open wound (which is
what your piercing is while it is healing). Most bodies of water harbor
large amounts of bacteria. If there is sea life, motor oil or children
in the water it is not clean enough! If you are going to be in water
of questionable cleanliness, use a breathable, non water-permeable
wound sealant such as Tegaderm or Clean Seals (available at drugstores
and pharmacies) before you go in, to protect yourself and prevent
dirty water from getting inside your open wound. Cleaning afterwards
is not likely to be effective in preventing infection. Exercise during
healing is fine, just “listen“ to your body. Try to avoid
activities that put undue stress on the area. Your own sweat and bodily
fluids are not harmful to your piercing, provided you clean daily
as directed.
HINTS
FOR PARTICULAR AREAS: index
- NAVEL
- Avoid tight, cinching
belts and waistbands and inflexible clothing on the area during healing.
A hard, vented eye patch (sold at pharmacies) can be applied under
tight clothing (such as nylon
stockings) or secured using a length of ace bandage around the body
(to avoid irritation from adhesive). This can protect the area from
restrictive clothing, excess irritation, and impact during physical
activities such as contact sports.
- EAR / EAR CARTILAGE
AND FACIAL
- Shield piercings from
hair spray and avoid getting lotion, make up and other foreign substances
in piercings. Make sure pillow cases are clean and changed frequently.
Clean your telephone receiver with a disinfectant and avoid contact
with public telephones.
- NIPPLE
- It is advisable to sleep
in a cotton tank top or tee shirt especially if you have any pets
that get on or in your bed. Many women find sleeping in a bra or sports
bra to be comfortable with a healing nipple piercing.
- .
- DISCLAIMER
index
- These guidelines are
based on a combination of vast professional experience, common sense,
research, and extensive clinical practice. This is not to be considered
a substitute for medical advice from a doctor. Be aware, however,
that many doctors have no specific training or experience regarding
piercing and may not be educated on how to best assist you. Copyright
© 2000, by the Association of Professional Piercers, any changes
or deletions are strictly prohibited and must be approved in writing
by the APP.
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