Essential Aftercare Tips for Healthy Piercing Healing

Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching or cleaning your piercing.

Use a sterile saline wound wash to clean the area. Avoid twisting or rotating jewellery, which can cause irritation.

Gently pat the area dry with disposable products like gauze or cotton swabs. Avoid cloth towels as they can snag and harbor bacteria.

Do not mix your own sea salt solution - it’s often too strong and can harm the healing process. Use only sterile saline labeled for wound care (.09% sodium chloride). Avoid products with additives like moisturisers or antibacterial agents.

Bleeding, swelling, tenderness, and bruising.

Some itching, crust formation, or whitish-yellow fluid. Tissue tightens around jewellery as it heals.

Jewellery may feel tight; don’t force movement. Clean your piercing as part of your regular hygiene routine to prevent buildup.

Even healed piercings can close quickly. Always keep jewelry in if you wish to maintain the piercing.

Avoid unnecessary handling or twisting of the jewellery.

Safe, but avoid direct contact with gym equipment.

Change bedding regularly and wear clean, breathable clothing.

Showers are better than baths; if bathing, rinse the piercing thoroughly afterward.

Alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial soaps, and ointments can harm the healing process.

Avoid beauty items like makeup, lotions, or sprays near the area.

Protect piercings in pools, lakes, and hot tubs with waterproof dressings.

Be mindful of pressure, friction, and rough handling to prevent complications.

Keep it in place until the piercing is fully healed.

Visit a professional piercer for downsizing or changes.

Regularly check jewellery to ensure ends are secure.

Consult a piercer before taking jewellery out to minimise scarring.

Protect with a hard, vented eye patch secured by fabric.

Use a clean t-shirt over your pillowcase, disinfect glasses and phones, and avoid sleeping directly on cartilage piercings.

Wear supportive clothing, like sports bras, during healing.

Maintain hygiene and use protection during sexual activity; avoid saliva and use new water-based lubricant.