Guidelines for healing your piercings - UPDATED

**At the first sign of trouble go into the piercing studio. Do not rely on the internet and advice here. Nothing beats being seen by professionals**


Ive compiled a small list because I am a bit bored

Everyone is different though and please dont take what I say as gospel. If you are having major trouble go see your piercer and theyl sort you out

Genereal Troubleshooting and good practice

*Sea Salt soaks - boiled water and let it cool to a bearable temperature, add sea salt until it tastes like tears (perfect salt water balance). Soak your piercing for 10 minutes or so.

*Chamomile tea bags - great for reduction in scarring. God send. Honestly. Boil water, throw in your tea bag. Add in cold water until cool. Place tea bag over piercing for 10 minutes. Works wonders. Used it on my very troublesome conch.

*Sea Salt steam - for awkward areas to soak. Basin/Pot with sea salt in it. Place towel over your head. Pour in boiling water into pot and place your head above (not too close) let the steam do it's thing. Gently clean after 10 mins steaming.

*Good healthy diet, if you are lacking vitamin E & C tablets are great. Zinc tablets in small doses, never more than 30 day run.

Piercings from your neck up: (includes nipple and navel though )


*wash your hands before tending to your piercing, if they are dirty you will just increase the chances of introducing an infection.

*clean off the crusties that have formed in or around the piercing with some anti bacterial soap. (I find using a Q-tip quite helpful sometimes) However don't force them off, if it doesn't come off after a soak removing them will agitate the piercing more.

*Using make up remover pads (cotton pads) clean the area with warm/hot salty water (if it tastes like tears - perfect)

*Gently dry.


Oral piercings:

*wash your hands

*rinse your mouth out with diluted mouthwash. About half mouthwash, half water. If it stings increase the amount of water in the solution.

*Remove crusties gently after soaking (never force them off) its a labret or cheek piercing. Clean the outside of the piercings also with your salt water mix using a cotton pad.

*Avoid cigarettes, drinking and kissing for the first while at all costs. Also if it is a tongue piercing keep away from dairy products, spicey food, alcohol etc. Solid food will also be difficult enough to chew. Soup is a good place to start


Genital Piercings:

*wash your damn hands

*wash with anti bacterial soap and remove any crusties, never force them off.

*Dont play with it, no sex or DIY's for a month

*When you first urinate it will sting. AmazingEmmet recommended (for guys) peeing into a cup of warm water which does lessen the stress and pain of it The passing of urine also cleans the piercing from the inside for both sexes.


Surface Piercings:

*By far the hardest of piercings to keep. They demand alot of attention and minimal stress. The slightest agitation will cause them to reject.

*Basically follow the instructions for piercings above your neck and hope for the best.

*They generally will not work.

Microdermals:

*Soak daily with salt water solution

*Do not try remove crusties, leave it be

*Even when you feel it is healed keep soaking daily. They require maintenance 24/7, any slip up will result in an agitation and possible subsequen loss

Dermal punched procedures: e.g conch punching

*Soak in salt water solution maximum twice daily, no more.

*DO NOT PICK AT SCABS/CRUSTIES, the temptation is there but please don't

*Leave the jewellery as it is, do no remove or fiddle with it

*Gently wipe off crusties after soaking, do not force them off. If they stay either soak again or leave them be

*Swelling is a major issue usually, make sure the jewellery is long enough to accommodate for it. I swell like a b¡tch so standard 16mm tunnels aren't an option. I tried my best by taking nurofen to ease swelling but wasn't happening. I ordered a 19mm glass piece previously for my other conch and had that handy. So basically, if you swell a lot keep an eye out and make sure your ear isn't trying to engulf the jewellery, it causes so many problems which take months to heal.

*At the first sign of trouble go into the piercing studio. Do not rely on the internet and advice here. Nothing beats being seen by professionals.

Holistic approach?

*Make sure you are in the peak of your health before getting a piercing, no matter how small.

*Going on holiday in the next 3 months? Probably not a good idea to get a piercing as you will be cleaning it with water you aren't used to.

*Make sure you are on a good healthy diet and looking after yourself.

*Stressed? Work long hours regularly? Will probably slow the healing process of your piercing. Stressful times ahead? Exams and the like. Best to wait till after the ordeal