Piercing Aftercare
Every piercing has a chance of infection or complication.
To reduce your risks, please follow all Aftercare instructions carefully.
Contact one of our expert piercers if you have any questions or concerns.
The Basics
BE PATIENT. Leave the piercing alone; spinning, playing with, and changing jewelry may result in infection, keloids, and swelling. It is not necessary to rotate the jewelry. The needles used to pierce already create a hole; rotating may damage the delicate, healing skin which can lead to infection or scarring.
At first, some bleeding, localized swelling, and tenderness or bruising is completely normal. During healing, some discolouration or itching may occur. There may also be secretion of whitish-yellow fluid (not puss) that forms some crust on the jewelry. If you fail to include cleaning as part of your daily hygiene routine, normal but smelly bodily secretions may accumulate.
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. Your piercing may seem healed before the healing process is complete; the tissue heals from the outside in, and although it feels fine, the interior is still fragile.
Cleaning Instructions
Wash your hands before touching your piercing for ANY reason.
Saline soak for 5-10 minutes, 2 or more times daily. Invert a clean cup (small disposable cups work well) of warm saline solution over the area to form a vacuum. Some areas may be easier to clean with a saline soaked cotton swab, paper towel, makeup pad, or gauze. A quick rinse will remove any residue.
No more than once per day, while showering, lather up a pearl-sized drop of unscented antibacterial soap to clean the jewelry and piercing. DO NOT leave soap or cleaner on the piercing for more than 30 seconds. Rinse thoroughly.
Showers are usually safer than baths; bathtubs tend to harbour bacteria. If you do choose to bathe in the tub, clean the tub thoroughly before each use and rinse your piercing after you get out.
Dry the area by gently patting with a clean dry paper towel. Towels and cloths can harbour bacteria or snag on the jewelry causing injury.
Tips and Tricks
Pay attention to your health; the healthier your lifestyle, the easier your piercing will heal.
Make sure your bedding is washed and changed regularly. Wear clean, comfortable, breathable clothing that protects your piercing during sleep.
T-shirt trick: dress your pillow in a large, clean t-shirt and rotate it nightly. One clean t-shirt provides 4 clean surfaces for sleeping on.
Maintain cleanliness of phones, headphones, eyeglasses, helmets, facemasks, hats and anything else that may contact the piercing site.
Use caution when styling your hair and advise any stylist of a new or healing piercing.
Leave jewelry in at all times. Even old or well-healed piercings that have been there for years can shrink or close in minutes when jewelry is removed. Reinsertion may be difficult or impossible.
With clean hands, regularly check threaded ends on your jewelry for tightness. Carry clean spare jewelry or balls in case of loss or breakage.
Site-Specific Care
Navel Piercings: A hard eyepatch can be applied under tight clothing. This protects the area from restrictive clothing, excess irritation, and impact during physical activities.
Nipple Piercings: Support of tight cotton shirt or sports bra may provide protection and comfort, especially during sleep.
If you ever have any questions or concerns about your piercings healing process, do not hesitate to contact one of our expert piercers.
Your health and wellness are of the utmost importance to us and we want your piercing to look as amazing as you are.
Happy Healing2
Cleaning Solutions
USE:
Saline Solution - store-bought saline solution with no additives (read the label).
Non-Iodized Sea Salt Mixture - Dissolve 1/8 to 1/4 tsp of non-iodized (iodine-free) sea salt into one cup (8oz) of warm distilled or bottled water. a stronger solution is NOT better and can irritate your piercing.
DO NOT USE:
Hydrogen Peroxide - hydrogen peroxide kills bacteria but it also kills the white blood cells attempting to heal your piercing. It can cause irritation and lengthen healing time.
Rubbing Alcohol - alcohol may dry the skin and irritate the raw piercing.
Glyoxide - This is a product that contains hydrogen peroxide, it might hinder healing rather than aid it.