Piercing
Aftercare
Healing time for all piercing varies from
person to person, and from piercing to piercing. People think that after
a few days or weeks they can remove the jewelry without any problem of
reinsertion. Wrong! There will be problems, even though your piercing
appears to be healed it does take time for it to "toughen up." We advise
leaving something in the piercing for at least the first 6 months, a year
is better. If your jewelry must come out for medical reasons, call your
piercer. This is a problem that can be easily solved.
Your piercing is done appropriately...
Now it is up to you! The rate of infection
is minimal if the aftercare is followed closely. Most problems/infections
occur when...
-Handling
the piercing without washing your hands.
-Being too
rough with the piercing too soon.
-Oral contact
with the piercing, your body fluids or someone else's.
-Over-cleaning,
using too many or inappropriate cleaning agents.
Swimming in rivers and lakes is not suggested
due to the bacterial content which could cause infection. Hot tubs are
a breeding ground for infection! Do not enter a hot tub for at least
3 months without the use of a waterproof barrier such as Tegaderm or
Duo-derm.
How will I know
if there's an infection?
Slight redness in the first few days is
normal. The secretion of small amounts of white/slightly yellow discharge
for up to 3 months is also normal; this is your body expelling dead
cells. Typical signs of an infection usually include:
-Redness
-Swelling
or hardness
-Pain or a
sensation of heat in the area of the piercing
-Thick, dark
yellow or green discharge
What should I
do if I think there is an infection?
It is usually best not to remove your jewelry
if you think you have an infection. This will shut off the only passageway
for the matter to escape. Call your piercer or physician immediately
if you think you have an infection.
How will I know
if my piercing is rejecting?
Remember, all piercings can reject, though
some have a higher incidence than others. There is usually little to
no pain associated with rejection. The signs to watch for are:
-Enlargement
of the opening of the piercing, along with some redness.
-Discharge
of a clear fluid.
-Itching and
a rash. This can be caused by the cleaning agents you are using, before
panicking, change the cleaning agent and see if there is an improvement.
What do I do if
my piercing is rejecting?
Not all bodies will accept the piercing
you have selected. Sometimes trying a different type of metal for the
piercing can help save the piercing. Should your piercing begin to reject,
call your piercer.
How can I help
my piercing heal?
-Eat a nutritious
diet, the body needs protein to heal itself. Multi-vitamins can be beneficial
to healing a piercing.
-A zinc supplement
(150mg for men, 75mg for women) taken once daily with food for the first
seven days after the piercing can help the healing process. Do not take
for more than seven days without consulting a physician.
-Never use
Betadine surgical scrub, isopropyl rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide
or products such as PHisoderm on your piercing; they slow down the healing
process.
Sea Salt is a
natural astringent.
Soaking a piercing in a sea salt solution
can speed healing. Dissolve 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt in eight ounces
of warm water in a clean glass, or make a compress with the solution
on clean gauze pads or a clean paper towel. Place the glass or compress
on the piercing and let the area soak for ten minutes once per day.
Used too frequently, sea salt can dry out the tissue surrounding a piercing.
If you have any
problems...
We are not physicians. If these suggestions
do not produce rapid improvement in your symptoms, please call your
physician!
If I am having
a problem with the cleaning solutions I am using, what are the alternatives?
-Provon medicated
lotion soap
-Almay antibacterial
soap
-Soft Soap
antibacterial soap
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NIPPLE
Healing Time
For men, 2-3 months; for women, 4-6 months, with the appropriate aftercare.
Cleaning
Thoroughly clean your new piercing once daily. Use an antibacterial soap
such as Provon. Do not use any products other than what is suggested.
Excessive cleaning can cause you problems.
- WASH YOUR HANDS! Remember never to touch your new piercing without
washing your hands.
- Using warm water and a cotton swab, remove any matter that may have
dried on the jewelry and around the openings of the piercing.
- Next, pour the cleaning agent on the jewelry and piercing, lather
it up, then work the jewelry back and forth at least 6 times. Leave
the cleaning agent in contact with the piercing approximately 3 minutes.
Finally, rinse the agent off very thoroughly under running water,
again working the jewelry back and forth at least 6 times. Any cleaning
agent left on the skin or in the piercing can cause you problems.
- Every night take 2 Q-Tips and remove any crusty matter (that matter
can trap bacteria). Use a sea salt solution and soak it for 10 minutes.
Usually a nipple piercing heals without difficulty
The problems arise from not following the aftercare. Remember to always
WASH YOUR HANDS before touching the new piercing. No oral contact with
your new piercing for at least 3 months. Oral contact will almost guarantee
an infection that will require a physician's care. This includes your
own saliva and other body fluids along with your partner's. The use of
gloves for touching, condoms for intercourse, and dental dams or other
appropriate barriers for oral sex is highly suggested. Remember, always
play safe. This even applies to monogamous couples.
NAVEL
Healing Time
Healing time is 6 months to 1 year, with the appropriate aftercare.
This is one of the most difficult piercings to heal. It easily becomes
irritated and infected if appropriate care is not given. If there is
a ring in your navel piercing, we do not suggest wearing tight-waisted
clothing or doing excessive abdominal exercises during the healing period.
These actions may cause the piercing to migrate to the surface, increasing
your chances of rejection or infection. If there is an L-bar in your
navel piercing, exercise is less irritating to the piercing and will
not impair healing.
Cleaning
Thoroughly clean your new piercing once daily. Use an antibacterial
soap such as Provon. Do not use any products other than what is suggested.
Excessive cleaning can cause you problems.
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frequently asked questions
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