FACIAL AND BODY PIERCING AFTERCARE

1. Dissolve 1/4 teaspoon non-iodized (iodine free) sea salt to one-cup (8-oz) warm distilled water.
2. Wash your hands prior to contact on or near the area of your healing piercing.
3. Place salt-water solution over piercing and soak the piercing for a ten to fifteen minutes twice daily.
4. Clean piercing twice daily with an antimicrobial soap such as Satin. Prepare the area for cleaning by rinsing or soaking with warm water to remove any “crusties”. Apply a small amount of the cleaning solution to the piercing and cleanse the area around the piercing and the exposed jewelry. Make sure to completely rinse off the jewelry and surrounding area in running water.
5. Do not touch or play with your piercing while it is healing except when cleaning.
6. Do not take your jewelry out while the piercing is healing, even to clean jewelry. Captive rings can have the beads changed while healing.
7. Make sure your bedding is clean and changed frequently while your piercing is healing.
8. Get enough sleep, eat a nutritious diet (a multi-vitamin mineral supplement containing vitamin C and zinc may help boost your body’s ability to heal), avoid undue stress, recreational drugs, and alcohol consumption. The healthier your lifestyle, the easier your body can heal your piercing.
9. Do not use alcohol, peroxide, Betadine as they are overly strong and drying which can hinder the healing process.
10. Do not apply any ointment such as Bacitracin, Neosporin, or any triple antibiotic ointment on your piercing. These prevent oxygen from reaching the wound and form a sticky residue, which can cause complications. They are not designed for use on healing piercings.
11. Avoid oral contact, rough play, and contact with others’ bodily fluids on or near your piercing during healing.
12. Do not hang charms or any object from your piercing during healing.
13. Avoid submerging your piercing in water such as pools, lakes, Jacuzzis, etc. unless you feel confident that the water is clean enough for a healing wound (which is what a healing piercing is).
14. If you are going to be in water of questionable cleanliness, use a breathable, non water-permeable wound sealant such as Tegaderm or Clean Seals (available here and at drugstores and pharmacies) before you go in, to protect yourself and prevent dirty water from getting inside your open wound. Cleaning afterwards is not likely to be effective in preventing infection.
15. At the first sign of infection go to your healthcare provider. Signs of infection include Pain, redness, pus, swelling, foul odor drainage, and heat to the site. Be advised that some swelling, redness, and discharge to the site are normal.