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Congrats on your new piercing!

Here's how to help it heal quickly

This is not a time to cheap out

Mixing your own sea salt solution is no longer a recommended practice among the piercing community. Mixing your own often results in a solution that is too salty, which will dry out the piercing, hindering the healing process. 

Sterile saline products labeled for washing wounds are strongly recommended. Look for .09% sodium chloride and purified water as the only ingredients. 

Additives like dyes, moisturizers, or antibacterials are not necessary and we recommend you avoid them, along with eye drops, contact lens saline, & nasal sprays. 

This might be awkward, but...

Keeping other people from touching your new piercing is important. You have a tiny open wound, so keeping the bodily fluids of others out while it heals is crucial to avoid infections & diseases.


Condoms, dental damns, waterproof bandages, or completely avoiding nekid fun times during healing should be considered, depending on where your piercings are located.


Tips

Keeping your piercing clean is crucial to speed healing and avoid infection. Clean clothes and bedding are the easiest ways to limit contamination risk, along with preventing children and pets from touching it. 


Unless absolutely necessary, do not remove your jewelry until full healed. If the piercing becomes infected, removing the jewelry removes the drainage route. Since piercings heal from the outside in, you would be trapping the infection inside. If you have concerns, contact Amber or your doctor for advice.


Once fully healed, keep jewelry in so the hole doesn't shrink & close up, which can happen in minutes. Amber can recommend non-metal options to keep your piercing open for MRIs and other medical procedures. 

How to clean ​healing body piercings

Always begin with a clean work area and freshly washed hands. Don't touch your healing piercing with unwashed hands ever.

Spray the piercing with sterile saline solution/wound wash and let it soften any dried bits. Do not move the piercing around as this might damage the healing wound.

Use cotton swabs or gauze to gently remove the crusty bits and anything remaining. Wash cloths are not recommended as they can harbor bacteria & might snag your jewelry.

What to expect

Initially, your new piercing will be tender and you might have bleeding, swelling, or even bruising.


Your piercing may ooze, itch, or crust up 


Piercings heal from the outside to the inside. It may appear fully healed before it actually is. Listen to your professional piercer, Amber, and continue with the cleaning ritual for the complete recommended healing period.


Once healed, the skin may seem tight around your jewelry. It's important you don't try to force movement if the jewelry cannot move freely.

    Things to avoid

    Products such as makeup, lotion, ointments, antibacterial soap, rubbing alcohol, peroxide, iodine, Bactine, and anything with artificial ingredients/fragrances can cause irritation.


    Don't clean too often or you may cause irritation


    Don't let anything jostle, rub, pull, or otherwise disturb your new piercing, as this may lead to uncomfortable issues, such as scar tissue, migration, & slowed healing.


    Alcohol, drugs, smoking, being dehydrated, nicotine, and a poor diet all slow the healing process


    Don't soak, swim, or enter any water other than a shower without properly covering your still-healing piercing with a waterproof dressing


    Avoid hanging anything from your piercing until it is fully healed


    Special Considerations for Specific Body Parts

    Navel (belly button)- This piercing is often irritated by the waistband of clothing. Consider visiting a pharmacy to pick up a ventilated hardshell eyepatch if you experience discomfort. You can use medical tape, ace bandages, or even a tight tube top to hold it in place.


    Nipple- These piercings usually feel less discomfort when the breasts can't swing around, rubbing against fabric. Consider a soft cotton sports bra or snug cotton t-shirt during the healing phase. Alternatively, the eyepatch method mentioned above could also benefit nipple piercings. A well-fitting bra should hold them in place.


    Face & Ear- It's especially important to keep your pillow clean. If you don't have clean pillowcases, use a clean, soft t-shirt to cover your pillow. Change it daily. 


    Side sleeper? Use a travel pillow to protect your ear piercings from direct pressure by positioning your ear in the center gap. Cartilage piercings may permanently shift if you sleep on them, in addition to the discomfort of sleeping on a fresh piercing.


    Be aware of everything that comes into contact with your new piercing. Hats, scarves, glasses, headbands, & headphones all present the potential for contamination. Ensure you keep those objects clean if you cannot avoid contact. If you have long hair, keep it clean and don't let it get tangled on your jewelry. Consider putting your hair in a ponytail or bun if you'll be in windy conditions.