Piercing
Emporium
&
Tattoo

400 Shrewsbury street
Worcester, Ma 01604
(508) 754-0564

www.piercingemporium.com

New England’s only Seminar Educated and Association of Professional Piercers Member

Aftercare sheet

Body & Facial Piercing Aftercare

Cleaning Instructions

Body piercings need to be cleaned once or twice daily, everyday, for the entire initial healing time. Do not clean more often as this can irritate your piercing, and possibly delay your healing.
Before cleanings wash hands thoroughly with liqiud antibactrerial soap and hot water. If you wish you may wear disposable gloves. Never touch the healig piercing with dirty hands. This is vital for avoiding infections.
Prepare the area for the cleansing by rinsing with warm water and be sure to remove any stubborn crust. Never pick with fingernails! This step is important for your comfort.
Apply cleaning solution to the area with your clean hands. Cleanse the area and the jewelry, and gently rotate the jewelry back and forth a few time to work the solution to the inside.
Rinse the area thoroughly under running water, while rotating the jewelry back and forth to completely remove the cleanser from the inside and outside of the piercing.
Gently pat dry with dispsable paper products such as gause or tissues, because cloth towels can harbor bacteria.
Please try to be patient. Each body is unique, and healing times can vary considerably. If your piercing is tender or secreting you should continue the care regimen, even if it is past the stated average healing time range.

Mild sea salt water soaks are stongly suggested at least once a day to accelerate healing and and increase your comfort. This may also help reduce irritation in the area. Dissolve 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt into 8oz. of warm distilled water into a disposable cup. A stronger solution is not better as you can burn your piercing with to much salt. Invert cup over the area to form a vaccum and soak for 10-15 minutes. For certian placements(i.e. eyebrow) it is easier to use a clean gauze pad soaked in the sea salt water and applied to the pierced area. Follow with a clear water rinse or splash then pat dry with paper products.Salt water soaks help to stimulate air and blood circulation which speeds healing.

What Is Normal

Bleeding, Bruising, Discoloration and/or swelling is not uncommon. Any break in the skin, including a new piercing can bleed or bruise. These are not indications of any complication. reduce intake of asprin, alcohol and caffeine. For above-the-neck piercings try sleeping with your head above your heart to limit overnight swelling. Studies show anti-inflammatory products such as Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) can help minimize swelling.
Some tenderness or discomfort in the area of the piercing is not unusual. You may feel stinging, itching, burning, or aching off and on for several days or longer.
Secretions of a fluid which contains blood plasma, lymph and dead skin cells is normal. It is fairly liquid, whitish-yellow in color and forms a crust on the jewelry at the opening of the piercing. This is not pus, but indicates a healing piercing.
Once healed your piercing may secrete a semi-solid white malodorous substance from the oil glands called sebum. The is not pus, but indicates a healded piercing.
Piercings may have a tendency to have a series of “ups and downs” during healing by seeming healed and then regressing. Try to be patient, and do keep cleaning during the entire initial healing time, even if the piercing seems healed sooner.
tightness is normal. do not expect jewelry to swing freely in most body piercings, even afterthey are thoroughly healed.

What To Do

Wash your hands prior to contact on or near the area of your healing piercing.
Leave the piercing alone except when you are cleaning it. It is not necessary to rotate the ring while healing except during cleanigs.
Leave the starter jewelry in during the entire minimum initial healing time! The balls on the jewelry can be changed at anytime.
Check twice daily with clean hands to make sure the balls are screwed on tight on threaded jewelry such as barbells. both balls tighten to the right. Rings with one ball do not screw on the are held on by pressure.
Make sure your bedding is clean, especially if pets get into your bed.
Wear clean, comfortable, breathable fabric clothing in the area of a body piercing.
A multi-vitamin mineral supplement containing zinc and vitamin C may help boost your body’s healing abilities.
Get enough sleep, eat a nutritious diet, avoid undue stress, recreational drugs, and alcohol.
Showering is safer then taking a bath, as bath tubs tend to harbor bacteria.

What To Avoid

Do not use alcohol, peroxide, betadine, hibiclens or bactine as they are overly strong and drying which can damage piercings.
Do not use bacitracin, neosporin or any triple antibiotics on your piercings , as they will prevent oxygen from reaching the inside of the piercing and leave a sticky residue.
Avoid oral contact, rough play and contact with other bodily fluids.
Do not use bandaids on a healing piercing.
Avoid submerging your piercings in water such as lakes, pools, jacuzzis, ocean, etc. Most bodies of water harbor large amounts of bacteria. If there is sea life, motor oil or children in the water it is not clean enough! If you must go in the water use a breathable, non-water-permeable wound sealant such as Tegaderm or Clean Seals (available at drugstores) to protect your piercing from bacteria getting in.

Ear and Facial piercings

Shield piercings from hair spray, lotions, make-up and other foreign substances.
Make sure pillow cases are clean and changed often.
Clean your telephone receiver and use the other ear for talking.

Nipple

It is better to sleep in a cotton shirt or women in a sports bra for comfort and reduce in bacteria.

Genital

Sexual activity isn’t prohibited but must be hygienic.

Estimated Initial Healing Times

Facial Piercing......... 2-3 Months

Cartilage Piercings.....3-4 Months

Below the Neck..........4-6 Months

Prince Alberts, Clitoral and Clitoral Hood Piercings.........4-6 Weeks

Ampallang, Apadravia....6-8 Months

Other Genitals.............2-3 Months

Surface Piercings........4-12 Months