Healing a piercing is a commitment and can sometimes require small lifestle changes for success. There's no magic product or regimen that will make your piercing heal - healing comes with time and patience. The best thing you can do to support the healing process is taking good care of your overall health- the healthier you are, the easier it will be for your body to heal the piercing. Try to get plenty of sleep, stay hydrated, eat a nutritious diet, and avoid stress. Exercise during healing is fine as long as you are avoiding any direct trauma to the piercing and following all other recommendations.
Over the next few days you may experience soreness, redness, bruising, swelling, and/or bleeding. These are all perfectly normal for a new piercing. During this time, an over the counter anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen can help reduce discomfort. For ear, facial, and oral piercings, keeping the head elevated while sleeping can help reduce swelling.
- The amount of swelling can vary greatly depending on the person. We try to size initial jewelry to accommodate typical amounts of swelling, but if you suspect that your jewelry is becoming too tight during this period please contact your piercer.
- After the swelling period has passed, the initial jewelry will be too long. Most piercings will require at least one downsize (switching the initial bar for a shorter one) for proper healing. Recommended time frames for checkup and downsizing of new piercings are listed below. Service fees for your first downsize are waived when scheduled within appropriate timeframes.
As your piercing heals you will notice a clear, white, or yellowish discharge that will form a crusty buildup around the jewelry. This discharge is lymph- in short, it is your body's way of clearing waste from the piercing as it heals. These "crusties" are a sign of normal healing and can be expected to come and go the entire time the piercing is healing.
Aftercare should be focused on keeping the piercing clean and dry and avoiding possible irritants.
*Avoid touching the piercing and surrounding area except when cleaning. Always wash your hands before touching your piercing.
- 1-2x per day, visually inspect your piercing. Carefully spray the area with Sterile Saline Wound Wash to clean the piercing. As necessary, use clean gauze or Qtips soaked with saline to gently remove buildup. Don't scrub, pick, or pull at the piercing. A warm shower is a good way to loosen any stubborn buildup before cleaning.
Keep your piercing safe from bacteria and potential irritants -
- Do not expose the piercing to bodies of water including pools, bath tubs, hot tubs, oceans, lakes, and rivers
- Do not clean the piercing with alcohol, Peroxide, Bactine, Neosporin, soaps, etc. Do not use an ointments or oils on the piercing.
- Be aware of cosmetics like makeup, hairspray, lotions, harsh or heavily scented face or body washes, etc that you may use near the piercing. Try to avoid direct contact with these and similar products and clean your piercing immediately after potential contact.
- When showering, try to avoid rubbing any body wash or other products directly into the piercing, and be sure to thoroughly rinse away anything that runs over the area. Try to avoid using products that are harsh or strongly scented near the piercing.
- Do not use loofahs or washcloths near the piercing.
- Don't let moisture collect around the piercing. Always dry the area gently with clean, disposable paper products; avoid cloth towels.
- Do not force the jewelry to twist, turn, or move back and forth at any time, even during cleaning.
- Avoid any clothing or accessories that may catch, rub, or put excessive pressure on the jewelry.
- Avoid laying directly on the piercing.
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Do not remove the jewelry at any point during the healing period.
Schedule any necessary jewelry changes during this time to be done safely in the studio.
Skin is our body's largest organ and first line of defense against the outside world. When we get a body piercing, we are creating a break in that defense and inserting jewelry which prevents it from closing. To heal, our bodies must create a fistula around the jewelry - this process takes much longer than healing a typical cut or scrape, and care should be taken to monitor healing and keep the piercing clean, dry, and safe from potential sources of bacteria and irritation during this process. From the outside, a piercing may seem to be healed before it actually is. The majority of healing occurs beneath the surface of the skin and the signs of it aren't always obvious. It is still important to keep up with good aftercare practices for the full healing period to avoid complications.
The most serious potential complication with a healing piercing is infection. While infections are not common and those that do occur are typically mild and easily treatable, infections can become severe if left untreated. Infections can occur at any point during healing, but the risk may be highest within the first 8-12 weeks. Signs of infection include pain, excessive swelling, bright red skin, the area feeling warm to the touch, and thick grey, green, or yellow discharge that will often have a foul smell. If you suspect that you may have an infection, do not remove the jewelry unless instructed to do so under the care of a medical professional. See your doctor or visit a walk-in clinic for treatment of infections. It may be necessary to come into the studio for a jewelry change if swelling causes the jewelry to become too tight.
This aftercare sheet should be your main resource throughout the healing process. Should you have any additional questions or run into an issue that is not addressed here, please contact me at victoriouspiercing@gmail.com or schedule a checkup!
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