Sea salt
- Aftercare
- General piercing aftercare
- Tongue piercing aftercare
- Microdermal aftercare
- Intimate piercing aftercare
FAQ - Piercing Aftercare
If you've followed our advice about finding a good piercer, you now have a piercing that has been performed professionally and appropriately using the best in modern techniques and jewellery, but if that was all there is to it you would already have a completely healed piercing.
Unfortunately it's not as easy as that. Your piercing will take time to heal and needs to be cared for properly over many months. Keeping the piercing from becoming damaged whilst it heals is your job.
Your body has a remarkable ability to heal itself. When you have a cut your skin heals, usually infection-free as long as you leave it alone. We all know that picking scabs can cause infection and scarring, and that knocking or banging cuts or wounds just opens them up again so that they become sore and never heal.
The same is also true about your piercing
Using the wrong aftercare can lead to irritation, infection, migration and severe scarring.
Most aftercare instructions concentrate on the the need to keep bacteria away at the expense of the body's natural healing processes, thus reducing the body's ability to heal itself.
We enable the growth of bacteria by trying to fight the natural order. We seem to mistrust nature and our bodies and seem to think that our bodies can't possibly heal without our constant intervention. We introduce bacteria and cause irritation without meaning to - just by trying to help.
What we need to do is allow nature to take over the job of healing in order to end the cycle of infection to antibiotic to more severe infection to stronger antibiotic, and only help when our help is needed.
The methods we use have been tried and tested many thousands of times by piercers all around the world. Following these aftercare instructions properly will ensure that your piercing heals well.
This method is called LITHA
L - Leave
I - It
T - The
H - Hell
A - Alone
It's just plain common sense - and so simple !
Please ignore all advice from other sources
The methods we use have been proven to work thousands of times. The combination of the way the piercing is made and the jewellery we use means that all other aftercare methods will be totally unsuitable.
DO NOT listen to 'blokes in the pub', friends, relatives or other 'piercing experts'.
This is really important. When you show your new piercing off, there will be a huge number of people around you that are suddenly 'piercing experts', that have a sure - fire method of getting your piercing to heal. PLEASE don't listen, even if it's someone you've trusted all your life. Many people just want to help and don't realise that the information they give is wrong and could cause harm.
Cleaning frequency
Clean the piercing ONLY WHEN IT IS 'CRUSTY'. If it isn't "crusty" then leave it alone. Overcleaning your piercing will irritate it, causing it to take longer to heal, or even develop problems that could cause your body to reject the jewellery so it's really important to clean it only when it needs it.
The piercing will only get 'crusty' if it is upset, so if you take care, remember that you have a healing piercing and take proper precautions against upsetting it, you should only need to clean it 2 or 3 times a week.
If it's getting crusty more regularly and you find you're cleaning it a lot more, then you must try to find out how you are upsetting it. You aren't allergic to the jewellery, because no-one is. It is completely biocompatible. You may need to make some lifestyle changes for a while. If you contact us we can have a chat and see if we can suggest things - it often helps.
Salt water only.
Sea salt is by far the best thing to use. If you really can't get sea salt then table salt will do. Low-salt and rock salt must never be used.
The minerals in sea salt help to increase blood flow to the area, which speeds up the healing process, and it's very kind to the tender cells around the piercing. It's mildly disinfectant and kind to the skin. It's also very cheap and readily available from any supermarket.
Many other substances, like alcohol, surgical spirit, hydrogen peroxide, dettol, TCP, witch hazel and tea tree oil - and many others - can actually damage new cells, lengthening the time it takes for your piercing to heal and leaving you open to infection and migration for longer.
General piercing - aftercare
This applies to all piercings except the tongue, intimates and microdermal anchors, which have their own instructions.
Click here for Tongue Piercing aftercare
Click here for Microdermal aftercare
Click here for Intimate piercing aftercare
General piercing - During the first 3 days
If you've read the page about pain and endorphines then you know why we tell you to leave it alone for 3 days. During the first 3 days your piercing is beginning to settle. Don't be tempted to prod, poke, pull or touch your piercing during this time. It will not feel sore during this time, but will become sore after the 3rd day if you upset it now. If your piercing is covered with a transparent dressing then keep it on during these 3 days. If the dressing comes off - leave it off, but still don't touch the piercing for 3 days.
General piercing - After 3 days
FIRST WASH YOUR HANDS
It is so important to remember to wash your hands before cleaning your piercing. If you have anti-bacterial soap, please use it. If you transfer bacteria from your hands you could cause an infection to develop.
- Pour some warm water into a clean glass and add half a teaspoon of sea salt to the water. Sea salt contains minerals that help to improve blood flow to the area, speeding up the healing process.
- Soak your piercing in the water for a few minutes. If you can't dangle your piercing in the water, put the open end of the glass over the piercing whilst bent then stand up.
- Once the piercing has soaked for a while dip a cotton bud ( Q-Tip ) into the water and use this to scrub any crusty bits off the jewellery. Move the jewellery only enough to clean i. Do not turn the jewellery through the piercing as this will tear the newly forming tissue. Make sure that you clean all the crust off the jewellery but dont scrub at the piercing. If there is any loose secretion around the piercing you can clean this off but leave anything that is stuck so that you don't damage the fragile tissue underneath.
- Once you have cleaned the piercing, use a good quality paper towel to dry the area thoroughly. DO NOT USE FABRIC TOWELS as they tend to harbour bacteria and can catch on your piercing.
- Once you've cleaned your piercing leave it alone until it needs cleaning again. If your piercing is getting crusty more than 2 to 3 times a week it is probably being upset by something.
General piercing - Do's and Don'ts
- DO NOT move the jewellery except to clean it.
- DO NOT prod, poke or pull the piercing.
- DO NOT pull on your skin in order to see it better.
- DO NOT sleep on your piercing.
- DO NOT use sunbeds or fake tan until the piercing has completely healed and be careful not to get make-up too close (remember that if you perspire make-up could run into the piercing).
There are a number of problems that can arise if these instructions are not followed. If you notice any of the following you MUST come in and show us so that we can advise on the best course of treatment.
- The piercing looks red and feels sore.
- There is a lump on or near the piercing
- The piercing feels hot to the touch.
- The piercing weeps constantly.
- The piercing is shrinking and the holes are getting closer together.
General piercing - 4 week checkup
To avoid problems with healing we offer a free check-up service. Call in after about 4 weeks so that we can check your piercing. At that point we can tell if it's healing properly and advise what to do if it isn't healing well. If you have a lip or tongue piercing, call in in about 2 weeks to have your jewellery trimmed to size
Tongue piercing aftercare
This applies to tongue piercings only.
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Click here for Microdermal aftercare
Click here for Intimate piercing aftercare
When you look in the mirror you will notice that the bar is angled so that the top ball is further back than the bottom ball. this is so that the bar doesn't rub against your gums and cause ulcers or blisters. You will also notice that the bar angles slightly sideways. The top ball will lie as close to the centre of your tongue as possible, with the bottom ball slightly off to one side of the frenulum. This is because piercing through the frenulum could cause very severe swelling that could make breathing difficult. You will only notice this sideways angle whilst the bar is long. Once the bar is trimmed it will look and feel central.
There will be a slight stinging sensation on the underside of your tongue for about 5-10 minutes. Once this sensation has stopped the hardest thing will be just getting used to the bar. It takes 2-3 hours to get used to the bar being there and then 2-3 days to get used to eating and talking properly.
Your tongue is likely to swell by about 6-12mm for around 2 to 7 days, although some people have reported no swelling at all. During this time any discomfort can be relieved with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen. Cooling the tongue with ice also helps. The swelling will get worse if you get dehydrated so be really careful when drinking or taking drugs.
It can be a little awkward to eat whilst your tongue is swollen so we would suggest that you eat lots of little snacks instead of one big meal. It helps to take small mouthfulls and hold your head sideways when you eat. It is better to eat the food that you normally would. A liquid diet will do you no good as you won't be getting the nutrition you need to heal the piercing. Do beware during the first few days, though, because acidic and spicy foods can sting.
Tongue piercing - About the plastic jewellery
The shaft of your tongue bar is made out of biomedical plastic. This is by far the best bar to use for tongue piercing because it is flexible, completely body-safe and plaque doesn't stick to it. It also has the added advantage that the balls stay on tight, so no swallowing the bar in the middle of the night like metal bars. You do need some self control, though, because it is possible to chew through the bar or to stretch it so that it eventually goes really thin and snaps. Most people prefer plastic bars because it saves on dentists bills. If you have plastic balls on your bar you will need to be really careful. Plastic balls are acrylic. If you chew on them they could splinter into sharp pieces when they break.
Tongue piercing - Cleaning the piercing
keeping the piercing clean is really easy. Your saliva contains enzymes that kill bacteria and help to heal wounds inside the mouth. All you need to do to help is rinse your mouth with warm salt water after eating and smoking and clean around the top and bottom balls with a dry cotton bud any time it needs it. (When there is a whitish/yellowish goo collecting).
Do not use mouthwash, dettol, TCP or anything but salt water or you could cause problems with healing. You will notice a coating on your tongue and you may suffer with bad breath until a couple of days after the bar has been shortened. There is no point brushing your tongue, as the coating will come back after a few minutes, you will just make it sore.
Tongue piercing - Shortening the jewellery
It is safe to shorten the bar 5 days after the swelling has gone down. This is usually after 1 1/2 to 2 weeks. Call in when you think it's ready and we'll have a look. Don't leave the long bar in for more than 4 weeks without having it checked, as there is a chance you could catch the bar, damaging the piercing or your teeth.
Tongue piercing - Avoiding infections
You need to consider your tongue piercing as an open wound for 6 to 8 weeks. As with any open wound there is a direct route into your bloodstream. If you get someone elses body fluids inside the wound you are at risk of catching any disease that they have. If you are in a solid relationship with someone you trust then you are ok kissing etc., but beware of kissing people you don't know.
Tongue piercing - If you think you have a problem
Problems with tongue piercings are actually quite rare, but need prompt attention. Contact your piercer immediately if you notice any of the following:
- You are having difficulty breathing
- Your piercing is particularly sore
- The bar feels too tight
- Discarge from the piercing any colour other than whitish/yellow
Tongue piercing - Changing the jewellery
You must leave something in the piercing for at least the first 12 to 18 months. If you leave the jewellery out, even for a short period, during this time it will close down or could heal altogether.
You can change the jewellery once the piercing has completely healed and toughened. This usually takes around 2 months for a tongue piercing. If you change your jewellery too soon you could damage the fistula (tunnel of scar tissue) that your body has made. This could lead to infection and swelling.
Microdermal aftercare
This applies to Microdermals only.
Click here for General Piercing aftercare
Click here for Tongue piercing aftercare
Click here for Intimate piercing aftercare
A transparent dressing will usually be used to cover the microdermal, unless it's on the face. This will need to be removed after about 5 hours. As with most piercings they are best just being left alone and only cleaned when it's absolutely neccessary. You might find a small amount of bleeding or some bruising during the first couple of days. This is perfectly normal so don't worry.
If you do need to clean it (when it's crusty') the easiest and most effective method is 'Sea salt soaks'.
Pour some hot water into a bowl, bath or sink and add some sea salt to the water. Soak the anchor for about 5 mins or until any 'crusty' has softened and then wipe carefully around the disk to dry it with a flattened cotton bud. That's it.
Don't be tempted to overclean the anchor as this will upset it. It will also become upset if you prod, poke, pull or twist the anchor, or if it is rubbed on clothing, bedding, seatbelts etc..
If you notice anything wrong it is important that you return to your piercer for help and advice as soon as you can. You need to be aware of changes to the skin around the anchor. If you notice any of the following you must return to your piercer immediately so that he/she can advise the best course of action:
- The area around the anchor feels hot to the touch.
- The area is red and angry looking.
- There is a discharge any colour other than clear.
- The disk appears to be embedding.
- The disk is starting to sit at an angle.
Intimate piercing aftercare
This applies to intimate piercings only.
Click here for General Piercing aftercare
Click here for Tongue piercing aftercare
Click here for Microdermal aftercare
Intimate - Every night during the 1st 4 weeks
- Run a bath using warm water and add a tablespoon of sea salt.
- Sit in the bath and soak for a while.
- Use a cotton bud or a cotton wool ball to clean the jewellery. Don't scrub at the skin around the jewellery, just clean the jewellery.
- Pat dry gently.
That's it ! That's all you need to do. After 4 weeks your piercing should be settled enough to go back to normal and stop the salt baths. If your piercing starts to sting, or get sore - start the sea salt baths again and it should settle within 2-3 days. If it doesn't settle within a week, contact your piercer.
Intimate - Around 4 weeks
Call into the studio to have your jewellery checked.
The jewellery we pierce with is appropriate for the 1st 4 weeks. It's the best jewellery, for you, to get through the initial settling period. It will be too long once the piercing starts to settle. If it's not checked your piercing could migrate.
This jewellery must be checked.
Most people will need to have the jewellery trimmed to fit, but some need to change to completely different jewellery to avoid migration.
If you leave it longer than 4 weeks the long jewellery will catch and possibly tear the piercing.
It's free, even if the jewellery needs changing - it's all in the cost of the piercing.