Let The Healing Begin

The cleaning routine discussed between you and your piercer should be continued throughout the entire healing period.

Please do not over-clean your piercing. Cleaning too often can irritate or even damage your piercing and prolong the healing process.

During the healing process of your piercing, you can expect your piercing to discharge lymph (an odorless, whitish-yellow fluid that turns crusty), blood, blood plasma, and dead cells. This is completely normal. It is incredibly important to clean your piercing to rid of these, any dirt, and/or any bacteria that may have accumulated on the piercing site/jewelry.

The products that you will use to clean your piercing do not heal the piercing; they only help the process. These products will not heal the piercing but will flush the wound out so that your body will handle the rest. The only thing that will truly heal your piercing is your body; therefore, it is important that you take care of yourself. This includes, but is not limited to, drinking plenty of water, personal hygiene, a good diet, and plenty of sleep. It also helps to minimize your stress levels, which promotes healing.

Before you wash your piercing, please make sure that you wash your hands first. Never touch your piercing with dirty hands, as this is the easiest way for you to get an infection.

COMMON APPROVED METHODS TO HEAL YOUR PIERCING

SEA SALT SPRAYS/SOAKS
This is the most accepted method among piercers. We highly recommend that you keep this as a regular part of your routine as it flushes out the piercing site and helps to draw out any discharge. These sea salt soaks/sprays help circulate the blood within the site, as well as calm any irritation.

We recommend using H2Ocean’s spray. You can either spray this directly onto the piercing site or by spraying onto a piece of sterilized gauze. Make sure that you spray liberally. Do not rotate the jewelry or rinse the solution off the piercing.

You may also make your own sea salt soaks. Use non-iodized sea salt (not regular table salt). Use warm water (please be careful not to burn yourself). Use a clean glass to mix ¼ Teaspoon of the salt with 1 cup (8 oz) of water. Use the glass to create an airtight seal around the piercing site and soak until the water returns to about room temperature. For piercings that can be submerged, submerge them in the glass to ensure proper coverage.

You may also make a non-iodized sea salt bath by mixing ¼ cup of the salt into a typically sized bathtub that has been cleaned with a bleach-based cleaner. This bath is effective for genital piercings, especially for women, a warm bath is also an effective soak.

MILD LIQUID SOAP
Although the sea salt soak or bath is the most preferred aftercare method, soap also effectively removes dirt, bacteria, cosmetics, and natural discharge that were not removed with saline.

Please refrain from using soaps that contain triclosan (Dial is a good example) as they can irritate and dry the piercing out. You will want to use a fragrance-free and dye-free soap.

Do not use bar soaps as they are known for collecting bacteria.

DO NOT USE THE FOLLOWING:

• Rubbing Alcohol
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Anti-biotic Ointments
• Bactine
• Pierced Ear Care Solutions
• Benzalkonium Chloride
• Benzethonium Chloride
• Betadine (iodine)
• Cotton balls
• Q-tips

Rubbing Alcohol and Hydrogen Peroxide are much too harsh on your skin to promote healthy healing. Rubbing Alcohol will dry your skin out as well as irritate the piercing. Hydrogen Peroxide will damage your healthy skin cells. Both of these items will actually prolong the healing process.

Antibiotic ointments, such as Neosporin, Bacitracin, A&D, or any other triple anti-biotic ointments, must be avoided, as they are not meant for long-term use. These products will not only suffocate the piercing from oxygen, but they also can create a warm, moist area in which bacteria will grow. These products are meant for minor cuts and scrapes, not piercings.

GENITAL PIERCINGS
Genital piercings are among the quickest and easiest to heal. As well as following the basic aftercare above, you should also:

Abstain from sexual activity for a while. Although sexual activity is not prohibited, a short break can hasten the healing process.

Avoid fluid exchange, of any kind, by using a prophylactic.

For women, don’t be surprised by any bruising that may occur. You may also experience some spotting for the first several days. This does not happen to every woman, but if it happens to you, please do not be alarmed. Sticking to the sea salt soaks/sprays rather than soaps may help, as soaps may be too harsh and may upset the natural chemical balance of the vagina.

For men, be prepared for bleeding. With piercings such as an Ampallang, Prince Albert, Reverse Prince Albert, Apadravyas, etc., do not be surprised to see a good amount of bleeding for the first few days. Ensuring that these piercings are wrapped securely in gauze will help keep the bleeding at bay. We recommend that once you have properly wrapped the piercing with sterile gauze, you further secure the wrapping with items such as a rubber glove, condom, or female condom, at least for the first evening. For any piercings that are in contact with your urethra, you are encouraged to urinate after each cleansing.

Surface Anchors and Surface Piercings
Surface anchors and surface piercings require the most care and the most time to heal. This includes after they have already healed. Once you and your piercer have decided on an aftercare routine that is suitable for you, make sure that you can maintain it. Please keep in mind that these piercings are easily irritated due to reasons such as, but not limited to, getting caught on clothing and/or hair, snagging, rough sleeping, or even irritated for no reason at all that you can recall.

Surface anchors can take 6 months to 1 year to fully heal while surface piercings take longer and can take up to 1 year, possibly longer.

You will want to begin your aftercare regimen the very first night and you should follow the basic aftercare instructions provided to you in this pamphlet.

Both surface anchors and surface piercings are known for being fickle. However, if they become irritated, they can be calmed down in a few days with the saline soaks/sprays discussed above. If you still have any irritation, or if there is anything questionable to you, please come in to see us.

IRRITATION VERSUS INFECTION
Irritation and Infections can occur if you neglect your piercing by not following proper aftercare. By following your aftercare instructions and exercising common sense, you likely will not have to worry about either irritation or infections. You will know when you have a true infection if the tissue in or around the piercing site turns red, is swollen, warm to the touch, has a dark yellow/greenish discharge, and/or a bad odor. You may occasionally see a small “pimple” that is filled with fluid; however, these are not always due to an infection. If you suspect that you have an infection, do not remove your jewelry. Removing your jewelry can trap any infection that you may have and infections are easier to treat if there is still an opening for the discharge to exit. Proceeding with warm sea salt-water soaks help keep minor infections under control, as they not only soothe, but also help draw out any unwanted discharge and promote your body’s natural healing process. Naturally, in the case of a serious infection, you should always see your doctor to put you on the appropriate medical treatment plan. Please keep in mind that not all doctors are familiar with body piercings. We are more than happy to speak to your doctor.

What people think are infections are usually just irritation. If you see that the piercing is red, has dry peeling skin around the piercing site, bleeding slightly, excreting white/yellow discharge, or seems to have a fluid filled bump, it is usually not an infection, but irritation instead. These can be signs that they have been exposed to unnecessary trauma. If you suspect that your piercing is irritated, once you have figured out why and have ensured that it can no longer happen, you will notice the irritation go away on its own. If you are unable to calm the irritation, please come see us and we will give some recommendations.

Common reasons for irritation are, but not limited to, the following:

• Touching your piercing other than cleaning it
• Applying too much pressure while sleeping or speaking on your phone
• Not cleaning your pillow cases
• Not cleaning your phone
• Cleaning the piercing too much
• Not cleaning the piercing enough
• Wearing clothing that is too tight and restricts the piercing site
• Engaging in sexual activity too soon
• Any activities that may have caused the piercing to be bumped, twisted, snagged, or yanked