All the details you need for cleaning and caring for your piercings

NON-ORAL PIERCINGS

(Ear, Navel, Eyebrow, Nose, Nipple, Surface, Etc.)

Your new piercing should be cleaned 2x per day with a sterile saline spray.

You can buy sterile saline (Steri-Wash) from us during your visit or at most stores in the first aid aisle. Look for ‘wound wash’ if you go this route. Ingredients should only include sodium chloride 0.9% and water

Do not use:

  • Saline Contact Solution

  • Saline Nasal Spray

  • Isopropyl Alcohol

  • Hydrogen Peroxide

  • Hibiclens

  • Neosporin

  • Body/Hand Soap

  • Your own mixture of salt and water

Be sure to:

  • Wash your hands thoroughly before cleaning/touching your piercings

  • Dry your piercing using a hair dryer on the cool setting or pat it gently with a clean single-use paper towel. Do not use a cloth towel as these can harbor bacteria.

  • Complete aftercare after bathing/skincare. Residue from hair and skin products left on or around your piercing can cause irritation.

  • Return for a downsize. Try not to put this off as jewelry that is too long can cause your piercing to shift if you are sleeping on it or putting pressure on it otherwise. Longer jewelry is also more likely to get caught and cause your piercing to become irritated.

Do Not:

  • Touch your piercing unless you are cleaning it with freshly washed hands

  • Twist, rotate or pick at your piercing/jewelry

  • Remove your jewelry while healing. This can result in closure or shrinkage of the piercing channel making jewelry reinsertion difficult or impossible.

  • Swim for a few weeks following your piercing.

  • Put makeup directly on your healing piercing.

To Be Expected:

  • Bleeding, swelling, tenderness, throbbing, and/or bruising are normal immediately following your piercing

  • During healing, soreness, slight swelling, itching, crusties, and/or secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid are normal (this is not pus and is not cause for concern)

Let Us Know:

  • If your jewelry is sinking into your skin or is causing you discomfort. You may need a change-out for longer jewelry. We try to accommodate swelling with initial jewelry length but some people swell more than others.

  • If you are concerned about your piercing in general - we are here to help!

Be patient and continue cleaning your piercing for the entire healing process

Even if your piercing is no longer sore, swollen or having secretions - you need to clean it as directed. Piercings heal from the outside in, so although you may not be able to see it, healing is still taking place.

If your piercing should get snagged or hit, this can lengthen the healing process.

Helpful tips:

  • If you are healing a new ear piercing, you may benefit from purchasing a travel pillow - especially if you are a side or stomach sleeper. Lay your ear within the cut out section to avoid sleeping on your new piercing and causing irritation/pain.

  • Tight shirts and sports bras may be more comfortable while healing nipple piercings.

Info For Genital Piercings:

  • Additional cleaning after urination is not necessary.

  • Prince Alberts, Ampallangs and Apadravyas may bleed for the first few days. This is not cause for concern.

  • Be sure to clean your piercing with sterile saline solution after sexual activity.

  • Avoid contact with your partners’ bodily fluids.

  • No oral contact during healing.

SCROLL PAST PICTURES FOR ORAL PIERCING CARE

jewelry length for new piercing
new piercing swelling
downsize jewelry after healing
crooked piercing from not downsizing

ORAL PIERCINGS

(Labret, Medusa, Tongue, Smiley, Tongue Web, etc)

*vertical lip piercings should follow instructions above

Your new piercing should be cleaned 2-3x a day using alcohol-free mouthwash.

Aside from this, you should swish with water after eating and drinking.

If you received a lip piercing, clean the outside of your lip with sterile saline 2x per day.

You can buy sterile saline (Steri-Wash) from us during your visit or at most stores in the first-aid aisle listed as ‘wound wash’. Ingredients should only include sodium chloride 0.9% and water.

You Should Not Use:

  • Saline Contact Solution

  • Saline Nasal Spray

  • Isopropyl Alcohol

  • Hydrogen Peroxide

  • Hibiclens

  • Neosporin

  • Body/Hand Soap

Be sure to:

  • Wash your hands thoroughly before cleaning/touching your piercings

  • Complete aftercare after bathing/skincare. Residue from hair and skin products left on or around your piercing can cause irritation. (Lip piercings)

  • Return for a downsize. Try not to put this off as jewelry that is too long is more likely to cause damage to your teeth and/or gums

To Be Expected:

  • During the first week, you can expect significant swelling, light bleeding, bruising, and/or tenderness

  • Afterwards: Some minor swelling, crusties, and secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid are normal (this is not pus and is not cause for concern)

  • Tongue piercings take some getting used to and your jewelry may irritate the top and/or bottom of your mouth causing soreness. This will go away with time and downsizing.

Do Not:

  • Use mouthwash containing alcohol.

  • Touch your piercing unless you are cleaning it with freshly washed hands

  • Twist, rotate or pick at your piercing/jewelry

  • Bite on your jewelry or play with it

  • Share plates, cups, or utensils with others

  • Participate in oral contact including french kissing

  • Put makeup directly on your healing piercing

For Tongue Piercings:

  • Ideally, tobacco should be avoided during healing, but if you smoke, you should swish with alcohol free mouthwash afterwards.

  • If you drink alcohol: NO dark liquors/beer during healing

  • Avoid foods with small seeds such as strawberries, pickles, etc. that can get caught in the piercing canal.

To Reduce Swelling:

  • Let small chunks of ice melt in your mouth

  • Take an over the counter NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication) such as Ibuprofen

  • Sleep with your head elevated

  • Try not to talk or move your jewelry more than necessary

Let Us Know:

  • If your jewelry is sinking into your lip or is causing you discomfort. You may need a change-out for longer jewelry. We try to accommodate swelling with initial jewelry length but some people swell more than others.

  • If you are concerned about your piercing in general - we are here to help!

Helpful Tip:

  • If you are healing a tongue piercing, eating may be difficult for the first few days. We recommend foods such as yogurt, mashed potatoes, soft noodles (broken into small pieces for minimal chewing), ice cream, and meal replacement beverages. Avoid spicy, acidic, salty and hot food/beverages for the first few days.