Stay healthy. 

• The healthier your lifestyle, the easier it will be for your piercing to heal!

• Get enough sleep, and avoid emotional stress. Stress can increase healing times by up to 40%.*

Jewelry. 

• Once the swelling has gone down, replacing the original, longer jewelry with a shorter post is essential. Consult your piercer for their downsizing policy.

• Remember, even healed piercings that you have had for years can shrink or close within minutes! If the jewelry is removed, reinserting it can be difficult or impossible. Should you decide that you no longer want the piercing, remove the jewelry (or have a professional piercer do it) and continue to clean the piercing until the hole closes. In most cases, only a tiny mark will remain. 

• If an infection is suspected, quality jewelry or an inert alternative should remain in place to facilitate drainage. If the jewelry is removed, the surface cells may close, sealing the infection inside the piercing channel and potentially leading to an abscess. Until the infection is resolved, keep in quality jewelry or an appropriate substitute. 

What to avoid. 

• Avoid using alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial soap, or soaps containing triclosan, iodine, or harsh chemicals, as these can harm cells. Additionally, steer clear of ointments, as they restrict essential air circulation. 

• Avoid Bactine®, pierced ear care solutions, and benzalkonium chloride (BZK) products, as they are not suitable for long-term wound care. 

• Refrain from over-cleaning, as it can hinder your healing process and irritate your piercing.

• Avoid unnecessary trauma caused by friction from clothing, face masks, excessive movement in the area, fiddling with the jewelry, and vigorous cleaning. These activities can lead to the development of unsightly and uncomfortable scar tissue, migration, prolonged healing, and other complications.

• Refrain from oral contact, rough play, and exposure to other bodily fluids on or near your piercing while it heals. 

• Steer clear of recreational drug use, including too much caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. 

• Avoid immersing the piercing in unsanitary bodies of water, such as lakes, pools, or hot tubs.

• Refrain from using any beauty and personal care products on or near the piercing, including cosmetics, lotions, sprays, and similar items. 

What to do.

• Please wash your hands before touching the piercing and avoid touching it except during cleaning. During the healing process, rotating your jewelry is not necessary. 

• Exercising during healing is acceptable; pay attention to your body. If it starts to feel uncomfortable, stop!

• Ensure your bedding is washed and changed regularly. Wear clean, comfortable, and breathable clothing that protects your piercing while sleeping. 

• Showers are generally safer than baths, as bathtubs can harbor bacteria.

Cleaning instructions.

• Wash your hands thoroughly before cleaning or touching your piercing for any reason. 

• Use saline rinse as needed during healing. For certain piercings, it may be easier to apply with clean gauze soaked in saline solution. 

• Rinse the site as needed to remove buildup and debris. It is not necessary to move or rotate jewelry during cleaning or rinsing. 

• Gently dry by patting with clean, disposable paper products. Cloth towels can harbor bacteria and may snag on jewelry, leading to injury or irritation. 

• For oral piercings, please maintain good oral hygiene habits! You can use water and an alcohol-free mouth rinse after meals. 

What is normal?

• Initially, some bleeding, localized or significant swelling, tenderness, and bruising may occur. Try to refrain from speaking or moving your jewelry more than necessary for oral piercings, and ensure you stay hydrated! Oral piercings tend to swell more than typical body piercings. Anything cold, such as iced water, smoothies, or popsicles, will help minimize inflammation. 

• During the healing process, you may experience discoloration, itching, and the secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid (not pus), which may form some crust on the jewelry. The tissue may also tighten around the jewelry as it heals. 

• Once healed, the jewelry may not move freely in the piercing; do not force it. If you neglect to include cleaning your piercing as part of your daily hygiene routine, normal but smelly bodily secretions may accumulate. 

• A piercing may appear healed before the healing process is fully complete. This occurs because tissue heals from the outside in, leaving the interior still fragile. Be patient and continue cleaning throughout the entire initial healing period. 

• Even healed piercings that you've had for years can shrink or close in just a few minutes! This varies from person to person; if you value your piercing, keep jewelry in place—do not leave the hole empty. 

Need help or advice? 

Avoid asking friends, family, acquaintances, or searching the Internet for advice on how to care for your piercing! Just because someone has a piercing doesn’t mean they are an expert on body piercings. Please trust your professional body piercer! 

Disclaimers

*Although Irritation is more common, and infections are always a possibility as a result of obtaining a piercing. These signs and symptoms may indicate the need to seek medical care: excessive redness, swelling, and tenderness around the piercing; red streaks extending from the piercing site toward the heart; elevated body temperature; and purulent drainage piercing. 

*These guidelines are provided by the Association of Professional Piercers and are grounded in extensive professional experience, common sense, research, and thorough clinical practice. They should not be seen as a substitute for medical advice from a doctor. If you suspect an infection, please seek medical attention. Be aware that many doctors may not have received specific training related to piercing.

*The Impact of Psychological Stress on Wound Healing: Methods and Mechanisms” Gouin, J.P. 2011 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3052954/ 

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