General Care of Your New Piercing:
Your new piercing is a break in your skin and needs to be cared for carefully. You will want to use a Non-Scented Anti-Bacterial Soap, such as Provon®, or Dial®.
Wash your hands thoroughly before beginning. Then take a cotton swab and apply a small amount of soap to one end. Taking the soaped end of your swab, wipe around one side of your piercing thoroughly, cleaning the skin and the jewelry of any lymph or crusts that have formed. Using the clean end of your swab, gently wipe away any excess soap. Discard the used swab. With a new swab, apply soap on one end and repeat the previous procedure on the other side of your piercing. It is very important to use separate swabs on each end of your piercing to prevent spreading contaminants around.
Use of harsh cleaning agents (such as alcohol or peroxide) on your new piercing will cause drying and irritation, which can cause complications with the healing of your new piercing. Keep Them Away From Your Piercing.
This cleaning procedure needs to be done 3 Times A Day For The Full Healing Time Of Your New Piercing, Even If You Think It Looks Or Feels Healed. Too Much Cleaning Can Delay Healing.
It Is Extremely Important To Follow The Instructions Provided By A Piercing Professional, And Not the Suggestions Of Your Friends.
Specific PDF Piercing AfterCare Instructions
If you need another copy or you've lost the one you were given, you can download and print another copy by selecting from the list below.
Healing Times
This is a list of common healing times for your new piercing. Cleaning needs to be performed for the entire suggested time, even if it seems to be healed. It's not uncommon for a piercing to take longer than the normal time to heal because each person heals at different rates.
DO NOT change your jewelry until it is fully healed.
Piercing |
Healing Time |
|---|---|
| Daith | 2 Months |
| Navel | 2 Months |
| Tragus | 2 Months |
| Rook | 2 Months |
| Eyebrow | 2 Months |
| Cartilage | 2 Months |
| Nose | 2 Months |
| Septum | 2 Months |
| Lobes | 6 Weeks |
| Forward Helix | 2 Months |
| Conch | 2 Months |
| Tongue | 1 Months |
| Nipples | 2 Months |
| Industrial | 6 Months |
| Labret | 6 Weeks |
| Microdermal | 6-12 Months |
Normal Expectations Of Your New Piercing
Bleeding, bruising, discoloration, or swelling is not uncommon. These are not indications of any developing problems or complications. Use of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID's), such as Ibuprofen, can help minimize swelling during the healing process. Always make sure to use all medications per the bottles instructions or as prescribed by your Doctor.
Tenderness or discomfort around the area of your new piercing is to be expected. You may feel itching, stinging, aching or other unpleasant sensations periodically, lasting for about 3 – 5 days after receiving your new piercing. These sensations may last longer then the normal period, or may return temporarily throughout the healing period of your piercing.
Secretion of a white to yellow colored fluid is normal. This fluid is called lymph. Lymph comes from your lymphatic system and secretion of this fluid is part of your bodies natural reaction to a puncture wound; it is pushing out any dirt and/or bacteria that has worked its way into your piercing. It will form a crust around the openings of your new piercing and on the jewelry. This is not pus; it indicates that your piercing is healing properly.
Sebaceous glands are microscopic glands in the skin which secrete an oily matter called sebum. Once your piercing is completely healed it may secrete sebum, which can noticeably build up on your piercing. This again is not pus, but indicates that your piercing is healed.