Piercing Aftercare

Rules to follow while healing a piercing

These rules are not difficult or demanding.  But will make healing much easier!

  • Do not sleep on your new piercing!  A firm travel pillow can help a lot.
  • Avoid touching your jewelry and piercing.  This means absolutely no turning.
  • Keep cosmetics, creams and lotions off of your piercing.
  • Try to avoid submerging piercings in any standing water like pools, hot tubs and lakes.
  • Tight or restrictive clothing directly on the piercing can irritate the healing wound.
  • Never force jewelry to move.  You don’t have to twist or turn the jewelry to clean or heal your piercing.
A diagram showing the different kinds of surface piercings.

Other Helpful Tips

  • Check your jewelry often to ensure the balls or threaded ends, such as gems, are snug. Wash your hands before doing this.
  • Do not be tempted to change your jewelry too soon.
  • You can change your jewelry after the piercing is healed.  Jewellery must be worn 24/7 for no less than one year after receiving the piercing.
  • If you believe your piercing is infected, please contact us or a physician immediately. DO NOT remove the jewelry, as this could “trap” the infection and could possibly lead to the formation of an abscess.
  • Always be aware your aftercares expiration date and product’s shelf life.

All piercings are performed with longer or larger jewelry than necessary.  This is to allow for swelling and irritation during the healing process.

Things Not To Use

  • Anti-bacterial soaps or face washes.
  • Rubbing Alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.
  • Anti-biotic ointments.
  • Bactine.
  • Ear piercing aftercare products containing Benzalkonium Chloride.
  • Q-tips, cotton balls or cotton pads.
  • Sea salt.
  • Tea Tree Oil.

Special Considerations For Other Piercings

  • Oral piercings require rinsing off the mouth after eating, drinking, and smoking.  Rinsing should be done using clean water or an alcohol free mouthwash (Biotene or Crest Pro Health)
  • Tongue piercings are prone to swelling.  You should begin working on swelling reduction immediately after the piercing. To reduce swelling, consume cold beverages as needed.  Chamomile, or chamomile & lavender tea, as well as pineapple, mango, or papaya fruit juices are excellent for this purpose.  If nothing else is available, ice water will also work.
  • Genital piercings require that you abstain from sexual contact for a minimum of 3-4 weeks.  Also, even in a strict monogamous relationships, it is important to use safe sex precautions until you are certain the piercing is fully healed.
  • Surface Anchors should be covered with a small bandage when sleeping or in active situations.  Small round Band-Aids can be found in most pharmacies and are perfect for anchors. Cold soaks are invaluable for anchors and are highly recommended.

Downsizing Your Jewelry

Nearly all piercings need to have the jewelry downsized or replaced with a smaller piece of jewelry. Most piercings done with studs or barbells generally require downsizing after 5-6 weeks, or as swelling allows. Timing is different for everyone! It is vital to the health of your piercing that you downsize your jewelry as recommended by your piercer. Failing to downsize your jewelry in a timely manner can affect the angle of the piercing, lead to the forming of scar tissue, or lead to extreme long term discomfort. When concerning oral piercings, failure to downsize can also lead to oral damage.

Please note:  Any upgraded or downsized jewellery is an extra cost. This includes your new shorter post, or smaller ring.

Special Note

  • Be aware that we are not responsible for lost jewelry, infections, rejections, migrations or an inability to heal your piercing.
  • This information is based on our many years of experience in the body piercing industry and should not be taken as medical advice as we are not physicians or in any way affiliated with the medical industry.
  • ALL sales and services rendered are final. Absolutely no returns, exchanges or provide refunds