by Keeley Nally-Taylor

Created on: January 07, 2011

Piercing aftercare.

Now that you have a new piercing, treat it as you would any other open wound. Strict hygiene is very important. It must be cleaned 2-3 times per day. Try to avoid touching it with dirty hands, especially smokers. Looking after your piercing will help you get the most enjoyment from it, an infection does not look good on anyone!

As soon as you can, clean your new piercing(s) with a saline solution. You can make this by adding ¼ of a teaspoon of sea salt to a cup filled with boiling water, and stir until dissolved. Once the solution has cooled down swab your new piercing using a cotton bud or perfume-free tissue paper.

The jewellery must also be swabbed and carefully rotated. Gently easing the jewellery through the hole means the inside will be cleaned as well as the outside.

You will find that you may have congealed blood and plasma around the fresh piercing after a while. It is called Lymph and is entirely normal. It just needs to be gently eased off during the cleaning process. For a naval or nipple piercing you can fill a shot glass with saline solution and hold it over the piercing should you wish to soak it.

After cleaning your piercing you must gently dry the area, always remember that piercings heal quicker when clean and dry.

Try and get as much fresh air to your piercing as possible, especially belly buttons as the area tends to get quite hot and sweaty beneath clothing.

Avoid getting sand near your new piercing and remember that the germs and chlorine in swimming pools can irritate it, as can perfumes, lotions and other beauty products.

An anti-inflammatory painkiller such as Ibuprofen taken afterwards will help reduce swelling and for lip and tongue piercings drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol as dehydration can cause the areas to swell.

Use an alcohol-free mouth wash such 2- 3 times per day or after smoking for oral piercings.

Should you find that your piercing is still very sore after a couple of weeks, then you may have a minor infection.

Signs are;

Swelling

Weeping and discharge

Odour

A throbbing sensation

Redness

These are usually caused by improper aftercare, touching a fresh piercing with dirty hands (especially smokers) or exposure to hair products and make up etc.

Take an anti-inflammatory such as Ibuprofen, and use an antiseptic instead of saline solution during the cleaning process for a several days. Should the problem still persist after that time you may need visit your doctor for a course of antibiotics.

Do not use an antiseptic for more than seven days as prolonged use of antiseptics will actually slow down the healing process. This is because they get rid of all bacteria, even the good bacteria that will help your piercing to heal.

Follow these tips for a happy, healthy piercing.

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