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Now available at the shop everyday, stop in and buy a bottle.
AFTERCARE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PIERCINGS First
I recommend "Love my Piercing" on all piercings or best is
"H2Ocean".
I carry and
sell the cream and spray versions at the shop. It simplifies care.
It is
available at the shop.
But if
you like to make a ritual out of care here is the most comprehensive
recommendations I could find to handle most piercings.
The following aftercare guidelines for body piercings are courtesy
of the
Association of
Professional Piercers.
Cleaning Solutions
Use a mild liquid antimicrobial/germicidal
medicated soap such as Provon or Satin, and water. Inferior alternatives include
products such as Almay Clearly Natural, Hypocare, NutriBiotic or other mild,
fragrance-and color-free liquid antibacterial soap. 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.
Salt
Water Soaks
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 normal?
Bleeding, bruising, discoloration and/or
swelling are 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 that 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).
Monofilament nylon or another inert non-metallic substance may be able to be
inserted to maintain the piercing until jewelry can be reinserted.
- 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, and 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 bathtubs 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, you may wish to 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 (such as Provon or Satin) plus sea salt.
- Avoid oral contact, rough play, and contact with others’ bodily fluids on or
near your piercing during healing.
- Don’t use band-aids on a healing piercing. They limit air circulation and
the adhesive can irritate the surrounding area.
- Avoid sleeping on a piercing during healing.
- 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.
Copyright © 2000, by the Association of Professional Piercers,
any changes or deletions are strictly prohibited and must be approved in writing
by the APP.
Shop phone : 425 895-8519
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