You’re excited you just got your new piercing, but now the adulting comes in and you need to make sure you take care of it properly so it lasts and doesn’t get infected. Some of these things are simple, but you may not think about them and we want to make sure that you do. By following these simple things, you are on your way to a long relationship with your new body piercing.
Don’t Sleep on Your New Piercing – Sleeping on your new piercing can cause irritation and prolong the healing process if it gets irritated.
Avoid Swimming – Avoid going into a pool, hot tub, lake, ocean etc. for 6-8 weeks, or longer if possible. These types of water can be very dirty and often lead to infections. You can use a “Cover It!” kit to keep your piercing clean and dry if you do decide to go into the water.
Don’t Over-Clean Your Piercings – Wait, what? You can overclean a piercing? You absolutely can! Cleaning it more than twice a day (unless absolutely necessary or you are instructed otherwise from your piercer or doctor) can irritate your piercing, prolonging the healing process. If you notice that your piercing appears to be clean but is noticeably tender, you can try to reduce your cleaning regimen to only once a day. As your piercing moves through the healing process, you will develop a successful and permanent cleaning routine that works for your body.
Disinfect – Disinfect cell phones and ear buds regularly if you have a healing cartilage piercing. If there are other areas of your body where you have a piercing, ensure that whatever comes in contact with that piercing is clean and disinfected – when it makes sense.
Don’t Engage in Rough Activity – Engaging in rough activity may threaten your piercing. Intense friction or pulling on a fresh piercing is a common way to trigger migration, a process in which your body “pushes” the jewelry out of the body. If it can get snagged or pulled on, stay away from that activity until your piercing heals.
Don’t Expose Your Piercings to Cosmetics – Exposing your piercings to cosmetics such as makeup, hair styling products, lotion, etc. can cause irritation. Cosmetics contain many ingredients that can cause irritation to your skin, especially if you have a wound that is trying to heal. If you need to use moisturizer, choose one that does not contain petroleum products or animal products. Look for the term “vegan” on the label. Also, a drop of Jojoba oil applied to the area around the piercing (but not in the wound) can be an effective moisturizer for some people.
Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle – Take care of yourself throughout the entire healing process, get plenty of rest, drink lots of water, and do your aftercare!
We know that doing your aftercare can sometimes feel like a chore, being especially difficult if you work long hours or attend school. We get that, but if you do forget to do your aftercare for a day or two, or your piercing becomes uncomfortable, simply go back to your aftercare routine as soon as you can. Most piercings will feel better in a day or two. If not, seek advice from your piercer or a doctor.
Disclaimer: The information found in this blog is based on a combination of professional experience, common sense, research, and body piercing practice. The information found in these posts is not to be considered a substitute for professional medical care by a doctor.
