Body Piercing Aftercare and FAQs

Aftercare

Healing times for new piercings vary greatly. In most cases jewelry should be left in for at least 6 months. Even though the piercing may appear healed, it's best not to take out the jewelry. If it is absolutely necessary to remove the jewelry, extreme care should be taken in removal and insertion. A simple 50 mg Zinc supplement taken with meals can accelerate healing.

With proper aftercare, infections in piercings are rare. If any problems arise, we will be happy to assist you. Even though we have 6 years experience, we can only give you suggestions, we are not physicians. If you think your piercing is infected, contact your physician. If a nostril or septum piercing becomes infected, you should see a physician IMMEDIATELY. Of course, some soreness may be experienced with new piercings. If the soreness and/or redness or discharge continues for an extended period of time, do not remove the jewelry. This will only cause more problems.

Recommended Products for Body Piercing Aftercare

H2Ocean Piercing Spray:

Just spray 3 to 6 times per day or as needed to the desired skin area. For best results, spray on skin area and let the solution completely dry. Do not wipe it off. The 360 degree non-aerosol dry-mist sprayer is ozone friendly and the formula remains sterile from start to finish.

Arctic Ocean Rinse for Oral Piercings:

Squirt a small amount of Arctic Ocean Rinse in mouth, vigorously swish for at least 30 seconds. Repeat two times a day for a cleaner healthier mouth. Use as needed after eating, smoking or brushing.

FAQs

What should I do now?

DO NOT handle the piercing without first washing your hands. Don't play rough, love your piercing and it will love you. Absolutely NO oral contact on the piercing whatsoever. No bodily fluids should come in contact either. Don't overclean your piercing, follow the instructions as they are given. Do not swim in lakes or rivers, or soak in hot tubs for at least 3 months. These places are high in bacterial content and should be avoided.

What are the signs of infection?

Redness, swelling/hardness, pain or burning at the piercing area, thick discharge, usually dark yellow or green

Some redness and discharge is normal for the first few days, and the discharge may continue for several weeks. The normal discharge is white, and is simply your body ridding itself of dead cells. As was already stated, do not remove your jewelry in case of an infection. If need be, you can use some form of antibiotic ointment, at the direction of your physician.

Is my piercing rejecting?

All piercings can reject, however, some have a much higher rejection rate than others. Rejection is not painful. But it is something to watch out for. Some things to watch for are:

Redness along with enlargement of the opening around the piercing High rate of discharge of clear fluids Itching and rash-like symptoms. This could also be caused by overcleaning or a reaction to the cleaning agent. Try changing agents and look for a dramatic change, or call your piercer.

Not every piercing you may select will be accepted by your body. There are many things to do to try and avoid rejection, such as changing the type of jewelry or metal used. Unless you have had a rejection problem before, contact your piercer if one should arise.

Can I help it heal even more?

Your diet can have an impact on healing. We also suggest taking a daily multi-vitamin, as well as a zinc supplement (75 mg for women, 150 mg for men). The zinc should be taken for the first 7 days only. Should you wish to continue with the zinc, consult a physician. Follow the written and oral instructions given to you by the piercer. DO NOT USE isopropyl alcohol, peroxide, or betadine on your piercing. These products have a tendency to slow down the healing process.

What type of cleaning product should I use?

Our suggestion to you for any piercing below the neck is to clean it thoroughly twice a day with any antibacterial soap. There are several different soaps on the market. Feel free to choose one, but choose only one, and try to stick with it. For facial and ear piercings, and ear cleaning solution containing benzalkonium chloride is suggested. This does not include oral piercings. For oral care, follow the instructions in oral care section.