AFTERCARE INSTRUCTIONS
Do not use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide on your new piercing. These products will kill the new cells that are forming to heal your piercing. Do not use any ointments, creams, or products with harsh chemicals such as Bactine, Neosporin, and Vaseline in direct contact with your new piercing. Ointments and creams prevent oxygen from getting to your piercing, which need oxygen to heal. Products with harsh chemicals including but not limited to makeup, body wash, anti-bacterial soap, etc. can cause irritation and swelling.
Always thoroughly wash your hands with antibacterial soap and water before handling any new piercing until it has completely healed. You should avoid contact with bodily fluids, rough handling, and dirty clothing/hands with your new piercing. You should also avoid soaking in any bodies of water including pools, lakes, oceans, and bathtubs while your new piercing is healing, showering is permitted. Crusting and clear discharge is expected and normal with a new piercing. Usually once crusting and clear discharge has stopped that is an indication your piercing is healed and ready to be changed.
You should wait until your piercing is completely healed before attempting any jewelry changes. Keep pressure off all new piercings and avoid snagging as this can effect the healing process. Ice new piercings for 5-10 mins to help reduce swelling. It is not uncommon for new piercings to be sore the first few days and/or bleed slightly or bruise. Yellow or green discharge would be an indication of an infection, if you think your piercing is infected please visit your piercer immediately.
FACIAL AND BODY PIERCINGS
Piercings located in the navel, eyebrow, septum, ears, nipple, or any surface or cartilage piercing should be cleaned with warm water and saltwater or sterile saline, 2-3 times a day, being sure to remove any build-up crust or discharge from the jewelry and piercing first. Saltwater OR sterile saline should be the only solution used on a new piercing for healing purposes. This should be followed throughout the entire healing time. Tea tree oil can also be applied on piercings to prevent keloids. Patch test tea tree oil, if tea tree oil dries out your skin try diluting tea tree oil with bottled or distilled water. Cartilage piercings (nose and ear) are prone to developing keloids (small piercing bumps) due to snagging or as the piercing starts to heal it is scar tissue developing at the piercing site. Please treat keloids with tea tree oil or try an aspirin paste. Please Google cartilage piercing bump for more information and how to make an aspirin paste. Certain piercings such as surface or navel piercings are prone to rejection with constant snagging. During rejection the skin will start to thin and migrate from the original position first. If you are experiencing rejection we recommend coming in for a follow up appointment.
ORAL PIERCINGS
To properly clean your new oral piercing you must rinse with antiseptic mouthwash first then rinse with saltwater. Jewelry in oral piercings tend to rotate as you talk so additional rotation is not required. You should check your jewelry daily to make sure it is secure and tight because jewelry in oral piercings are more likely to become loose. Jewelry for oral piercings can be changed to shorter length after 1-2 weeks. All piercings are pierced with longer jewelry to accommodate initial swelling. Avoid any oral sexual activity for a minimum of 1-2 weeks. Avoid smoking for 1-2 days. Avoid spicy foods during healing process.
DERMALS: It is important to keep your new piercing clean and dry. Avoid soaking it in any bodies of water for at least two weeks. Wash the piercing and the surrounding area, gently and thoroughly, 2-3 times a day with warm water and saltwater or sterile saline. Avoid lotions, ointments, and creams. Do not use Bactine, hydrogen peroxide, or rubbing alcohol. Jewelry can be changed once healing is complete. Avoid snagging or bumping as that can cause the piercing to reject.
GENITAL PIERCINGS: It is important to keep your new piercing clean and dry. Avoid soaking it for at least two weeks. Wash the piercing and the surrounding area, gently and thoroughly, 2-3 times a day with warm water and saltwater or sterile saline solution. Urinating after washing will eliminate any soap residue and reduce irritation and burning. Do not use Bactine or any other solutions. The ammonia in your urine will help keep your VCH piercing clean. You need to check your jewelry daily to make sure it is secure and tight. Avoid sexual activity including oral for a minimum of 2 weeks.
HEALING TIMES:
Tongue/Lip/Eyebrow/
Earlobes
6-8 weeks
Navel/Nipples/
Cartilage
6-12 months
Labia/VCH
6-8 weeks
Nostril/Christina
Dermals/Surface piercings
3-6 months
If you are experiencing any issues with or having any concerns about your new piercing please walk in or
book a follow up appointment on our website. The best way to determine the cause of any issues
is to see the piercing in person and any adjustments that need to be made can be done at that time.
First 7 days after initial piercing any adjustments are done free of charge.