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Body & Facial Piercing Aftercare Guidelines
CLEANING
SOLUTIONS:
-A mild liquid anti-microbial/germicidal medicated
soap and water. Alternatives include products that are mild, fragrance- , color-free
liquid and antibacterial. These should possibly be diluted with distilled or
bottled water, depending on product strength. Also, mild non-iodized (no
iodine) sea salt soaks as described below.
-Mild sea salt water soaks are strongly suggested at
least once a day to accelerate healing and increase your comfort. This may also
help to reduce irritation in the area. Dissolve a pinch (1/4 teaspoon) of sea
salt into one cup (8 oz.) of warm or hot water in a clean cup. Distilled water
is optimal. A stronger solution is not better as you can burn your piercing
with too much salt. Invert it over the area to form a vacuum and soak directly
for a few minutes. For certain placements it is easier to use a clean cotton
ball or gauze pad soaked in the salt water and applied to the pierced area.
Follow with a clear water rinse or splash then pat dry with paper products.
Salt water soaks help to stimulate air and blood
circulation which facilitates healing. You can do a brief salt water soak
before your daily cleaning(s) as well as several additional times a day. It is
particularly advisable to soak before you do anything active, as it will
prevent crust from being pulled inside the piercing as you move around. Salt
water is the only additional product (other than the cleanser and water) we
suggest you use to care for your piercing.
One soak per day should be
for at least a few minutes. Additional soaks can be brief (1 minute or so) and
still be effective for soothing the area and removing matter.
CLEANING
INSTRUCTIONS
-Body piercings need to be cleaned once or
twice daily, every day, for the entire initial healing time. Most people clean
morning and/or night, in the shower. Do not clean more often as this can
irritate your piercing, and possibly delay your healing. For once-a-day
cleanings, do it at the end of your day. Optimal frequency will depend on your
skin sensitivity, activity level, and environmental factors.
-Before cleanings wash hands thoroughly with liquid
antibacterial soap and hot water. If you wish, you may wear disposable latex or
vinyl gloves and/or also use a hand sanitizing gel. Never,
never touch healing piercings with dirty hands.
This is vital for avoiding infections.
-Prepare the area for the cleansing by rinsing or
soaking with warm water and be sure to remove any stubborn crust using a cotton
swab and warm water. Never pick with fingernails! This step is important for
your comfort.
Apply a small handful of cleaning solution to the
area with your clean hands. Cleanse the area and the jewelry, and gently rotate
the jewelry back and forth a few times to work the solution to the inside. (You
do not need to rotate your jewelry during the first several cleanings).
-Allow the solution to cleanse there for a minute.
You may bathe normally, just don't purposely work anything other than the
cleanser onto the inside of the piercing.
-Rinse the area thoroughly under running water,
while rotating the jewelry back and forth to completely remove the cleanser
from the inside and outside of the piercing.
-Gently pat dry with disposable paper products such
as gauze or tissues, as cloth towels can harbor bacteria.
Please try to be patient. Each body is unique, and healing times can vary
considerably. If your piercing is tender or secreting you should continue the
care regimen, even if it is past the stated average healing time range.
WHAT IS
-Bleeding, bruising, discoloration and/or swelling is not uncommon. Any break in the skin, including a new
piercing can bleed or bruise. These are not indications of any complication.
Reduce intake of aspirin, alcohol, and caffeine. For above-the-neck piercings try sleeping with your head elevated above your
heart (prop up on some pillows) to limit overnight swelling. Studies show
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory products such as Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin,
etc.) can help minimize swelling.
-Some tenderness or discomfort in the area of a new
piercing is not unusual. You may feel stinging, burning, aching or other
unpleasant sensations off and on for several days or longer. During healing
there may be some itching.
-Secretion of a fluid which contains blood plasma,
lymph and dead cells is perfectly normal. It is fairly liquid, whitish-yellow
in color and forms a crust on the jewelry at the openings of the piercing. This
is not pus, but indicates a healing piercing.
-Once healed your piercing may secrete a semi-solid
white malodorous substance from the oil glands called sebum. This is not pus,
but indicates a healed piercing.
-Piercings may have a
tendency to have a series of "ups and downs" during healing by
seeming healed and then regressing. Try to be patient, and do keep cleaning
during the entire initial healing time, even if the piercing seems healed
sooner.
-Tightness is normal. Do not expect jewelry to swing
freely in most body piercings, even after they are
thoroughly healed.
WHAT TO DO
-Wash your hands prior to contact on or near the
area of your healing piercing!
-Leave the piercing alone except for when you are
cleaning it. It is not necessary or advisable to rotate the ring while healing
except during cleanings.
-Leave the starter jewelry in during the entire
minimum initial healing time! (Assuming your initial jewelry is appropriate in
terms of metal content, style, and size. Inappropriate jewelry should be
changed out by a professional.) Those with captive-style rings or barbells
(straight, bent, or circular) can change the bead/ball portion of the jewelry
at any time.
-Check twice daily with clean hands to make sure the
balls are screwed on tight on threaded jewelry such as barbells. Both balls
tighten to the right.
-If you like your piercing
leave jewelry in at all times. Even old, well-healed piercings
can shrink or close in minutes after having been there for years! This varies from person to person, and even if your ear lobe piercings stay open without jewelry your body
piercing may not! Contact your piercer if your
jewelry must be temporarily removed (such as for a medical procedure).
-Make sure your bedding is clean and changed
frequently while you are healing, especially if pets get into your bed.
-Wear clean, comfortable, breathable fabric clothing
in the area of a body piercing.
-A multi-vitamin mineral supplement containing zinc
and vitamin C may help boost your body's healing abilities. Take it with your morning
meal according to package instructions.
-Get enough sleep, eat a nutritious diet, avoid undue stress, recreational drugs, and alcohol
consumption. The healthier your lifestyle, the easier it will be for your
piercing to heal.
-Showering is safer than taking a bath, as bath tubs
tend to harbor bacteria. To bathe safely, clean your tub with a bleach product
before each bath, and rinse the tub before you fill it. Also, be sure to do a
running water rinse on your piercing when you are done in the tub.
-In the event that the piercing drains a thick pus
discharge instead of the normal liquid secretion, see a physician for
evaluation and possible antibiotic treatment. If you do have an infection, the
jewelry should be left in the piercing to allow for drainage of pus. If the
jewelry is removed, the holes can close up, resulting in an abscess. LEAVE YOUR
JEWELRY IN !
WHAT TO AVOID
-Don't use alcohol, peroxide, Betadine
or Hibiclens as they are overly strong and drying
which can hinder healing.
-Don't apply any ointment such as Bacitracin, Neosporin or any triple antibiotic ointment on
your piercing. These prevent oxygen from reaching the wound and form a sticky
residue which can cause complications. They are not designed for use on healing
piercings.
-Don't over clean. Cleaning more
often than once or twice a day is NOT better. This can delay your
healing and irritate your piercing.
-Don't use too many different products; select and
use only one cleaning solution.
-Avoid oral contact, rough play, and contact with
others' bodily fluids on or near your piercing during
healing.
-Don't use bandaids on a
healing piercing. They limit air circulation and the adhesive can irritate the
surrounding area.
-Avoiding sleeping on a piercing during healing is
advisable.
-Don't hang charms or any object from your jewelry
until the piercing is fully healed.
-Avoid submerging your piercings
in water such as pools, lakes, jacuzzis,
etc. unless you feel confident that the water is clean enough for you and an
open wound (which is what your piercing is while it is healing).
-Most bodies of water harbor large amounts of
bacteria. If there is sea life, motor oil or children in the water it is not
clean enough! If you are going to be in water of questionable cleanliness, use
a breathable, non water-permeable wound sealant such as Tegaderm
or Clean Seals (available at drugstores and pharmacies) before you go in, to
protect yourself and prevent dirty water from getting inside your open wound.
Cleaning afterwards is not likely to be effective in preventing infection.
-Exercise during healing is fine, just
"listen" to your body. Try to avoid activities that put undue stress
on the area. Your own sweat and bodily fluids are not harmful to your piercing,
provided you clean daily as directed.
HINTS FOR
PARTICULAR AREAS
NAVEL
-Avoid tight, cinching belts and waistbands and
inflexible clothing on the area during healing.
-A hard, vented eye patch (sold at pharmacies) can
be applied under tight clothing (such as nylon stockings) or secured using a length
of ace bandage around the body (to avoid irritation from adhesive). This can
protect the area from restrictive clothing, excess irritation, and impact
during physical activities such as contact sports.
EAR/EAR
CARTILAGE AND FACIAL
-Shield piercings from
hair spray and avoid getting lotion, make up and other foreign substances in piercings.
-Make sure pillow cases are clean and changed
frequently.
-Clean your telephone receiver with a disinfectant
and avoid contact with public telephones.
NIPPLE
-It is advisable to sleep in a cotton tank top or
tee shirt especially if you have any pets that get on or in your bed. Many
women find sleeping in a bra or sports bra to be comfortable with a healing
nipple piercing.
GENITAL
Sexual activity isn't prohibited, it must be
hygienic.
Listen to your body! If something feels sore, it
means you need to ease up or stop for the time being. Use
condoms (without Nonoxynol 9) and dental dams and for
all sexual contact to prevent sharing of bodily fluids. This is required
even if you are in a monogamous relationship. It is mandatory for your health
and safety during the entire minimum initial healing time.
Pleasure Plus condoms have extra room for jewelry.
Use water-based lubricants such as KY Jelly.
DISCLAIMER
These guidelines are based on a combination of vast professional experience, common sense, research, and extensive clinical practice. This is not to be considered a substitute for medical advice from a doctor. Be aware, however, that many doctors have no specific training or experience regarding piercing and may not be educated on how to best assist you.
Copyright © 2000, by the Association of Professional Piercers, any changes or deletions are strictly prohibited and must be approved in writing by the APP.