Piercing Aftercare

Cleaning Instructions for Body Piercings

WASH your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning or touching your piercing for any reason. Leave the piercing alone except when cleaning.
SPRAY with sterile saline wound wash while healing. Moving or rotating jewelry is not necessary during cleaning/rinsing and may actually irritate the piercing.
DRY with clean, disposable products like gauze or cotton swabs, gently removing any crusty debris or build up. Cloth towels should be avoided as they can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry.

More instructions!

During healing, do not twist, spin, or rotate your jewelry.
Exercise and sweating during healing is fine. Avoid activities that could jostle or aggravate the piercing. Keep the piercing protected from bacteria present on gym equipment or exercise mats.
Make sure your bedding is washed and changed regularly. Wear clean, comfortable, breathable clothing that protects your piercing while you are sleeping.
Showers tend to be safer than taking baths, as bathtubs can harbor bacteria. If you bathe in a tub, clean it well before each use and rinse off your piercing when you get out.
REACH OUT If something feels weird or off, we are here for you!
NO SALINE? Don't Panic. Just clean with clean fresh bottled or distilled water. The main goal is to wash away any bacteria gathering around the wound.

What is Normal

Initially: some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness, or bruising.
During healing: some discoloration, itching, secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid that will form some crust on the jewelry. The tissue may tighten around the jewelry as it heals.
A piercing may seem healed before the healing process is actually complete. This is because this type of wound will heal from the outside to the inside. Although it may feel fine on the outside, the interior could still be fragile. Be patient, and keep the piercing clean throughout the entire healing period.
Once healed: the jewelry may not move freely in the piercing; do not force it. Cleaning your piercings as part of your normal hygiene routine can help them stay clean and avoid having normal, possibly smelly, secretions accumulate.
TIP: Piercings, even healed ones, can shrink or close in minutes, even after having been there for years! This varies from person to person; if you like your piercing, keep jewelry in—do not leave it empty.

What to Avoid

Avoid cleaning with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial soaps, iodine, or any harsh products, as these can damage cells. Also avoid ointments (Polysporin) as they prevent necessary air circulation, and trap bacteria.
Avoid Bactine®, pierced ear care solutions, and other products containing Benzalkonium Chloride (BZK). These can be irritating and are not intended for long-term wound care.
Avoid over-cleaning. This can delay your healing and irritate your piercing.
Avoid undue trauma such as friction and pressure from clothing, excessive motion of the area, playing with the jewelry, and vigorous cleaning. These activities can cause the formation of unsightly and uncomfortable scar tissue, migration, prolonged healing, and other complications.
Avoid all oral contact, rough play, and contact with others’ bodily fluids on or near your piercing during healing.
Avoiding things like excessive stress, drug use, excessive caffeine, nicotine and alcohol are suggested as they can prolong the healing process.
Avoid submerging the piercing in bodies of water such as lakes, pools, oceans, hot tubs, etc. Or, protect your piercing using a waterproof transparent film dressing. These are available at most pharmacies and are ideal for nipple, navel, and surface piercing placements.
Avoid all beauty and personal care products on or around the piercing including cosmetics, lotions, and sprays, etc.
Don’t hang charms or any object from your jewelry until the piercing is fully healed.

Summer Piercing Aftercare

Cleaning Instructions for Body Piercings

Recommended Wait Times Before Swimming:

Earlobe Piercing: Wait at least 4–6 weeks
Cartilage, Nostril, Septum, Navel, and Other Body Piercings: Wait at least 2–3 month
Nipple or Genital Piercings: Wait 3–6 months or longer

Important: These are minimum guidelines. Healing times vary from person to person, and swimming too soon increases your risk of infection.

Why You Should Wait:

Pools, lakes, oceans, and hot tubs all contain bacteria and chemicals (like chlorine) that can irritate or infect your healing piercing.
Even “clean” water can carry risks if the piercing isn't sealed or healed enough.

Tips If You Must Swim:

Wait as long as possible—never during the initial healing stage
Use a waterproof wound-sealant bandage (like Tegaderm), though not foolproof
Clean the piercing thoroughly with sterile saline after swimming

Phases of Healing a Piercing!

The Pases of Healing

Phase 1: Haemostasis (The Appointment)
This is your brand-new piercing. Expect some redness, swelling, and a "spicy" or stinging sensation. Behind the scenes, your body is instantly springing into action. It seals damaged blood vessels and forms a micro-clot to stop bleeding, laying the essential groundwork for your healing process.

Phase 2: Inflammation (The "Is It Infected?" Stage)
Client: "It’s infected!"
Piercer: "No, it’s not—it's just stage two. Expect your piercing to feel tender, look swollen, get a little crusty, and act slightly offended by everything. You will likely be aware of its existence every waking moment. While this looks alarming, it is entirely normal. Inflammation actually brings vital immune cells, nutrients, and repair signals to the area, creating an essential step in your healing process.

Phase 3: Proliferation (The "False Confidence" Era)
The swelling settles, the crusties calm down, and life is good. You think it's completely healed.
Narrator: It’s not healed.

What's actually going on: New tissue begins forming around the jewelry as collagen production increases. The piercing is becoming more stable, but significant healing is still taking place deep beneath the surface. Don't give up on your aftercare routine just yet!

Phase 4: Maturation & Remodelling (The Long Haul)
The piercing looks totally healed from the outside, but the internal construction workers are still busy building.

What's actually going on: Collagen fibers continue to remodel and strengthen beneath the skin. This slow process creates a much more resilient fistula (the piercing tunnel) and can continue for many months after the surface appears fully healed.

The Most Misunderstood Part of Healing

Healing isn't a straight line. Stress, illness, pressure, sleeping on it, jewelry changes, and general life chaos can all cause temporary setbacks without meaning something is seriously wrong. Your body is running an entire consturcion site, its a complex biological repair process. Give it time. Leave it alone. Stop poking it. And make sure to downside and get it checked up!