PIERCING
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AFTERCARE
Healing time chart
What to expect following a piercing?
Within two to four weeks of a piercing, it will be normal to see:
Swelling;
Bleeding and/or bruising;
A warmth feeling around the piercing area;
Crusties;
Whitish / yellowish secretions.
Piercing aftercare
- Wash your hands thoroughly before cleaning or handling your piercing;
- Use a sterile saline solution to clean your piercing 1-3 times a day during the healing period (see table);
- Use either sterile gauze or a compact cotton swab to clean and dry around the jewelry, front and back, without moving it as much as possible if there are any debris or secretions;
- Be sure to rinse thoroughly once you’re done with the aftercare, your shower or your beauty routine. Moisture, beauty products and soaps can create irritation around the piercing.
What to avoid while healing
- Avoid using rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or antibacterial soap; all these products are too strong for a fresh piercing;
- Do not touch your piercing to turn or move it, this damages the tissues that are trying to heal around the jewelry. The healing period may take longer and may lead to several complications such as migration or scar tissue;
- Do not submerge your new piercing completely underwater such as swimming pools, spas, lakes, etc., as these waters are not sterile and can cause infections, while the products used to treat these waters such as chlorine can be extremely irritating;
- Avoid beauty products on or around the piercing such as creams, makeup or sprays;
- Do not sleep on a healing cartilage piercing as this could result in the migration of the piercing and the formation of irritation bumps. Use a travelling pillow to limit the pressure on it.
Post-oral piercing care
For piercings inside the mouth
- Get an alcohol-free, antibacterial mouthwash or sterile saline;
- You can also make your own saline solution using this recipe:
- Add 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt to a cup of hot distilled or bottled water;
- Let cool and use.
- Rinse your mouth in the morning when you get up, at night before bed and after each meal for 30-60 seconds, no more than 4-5 times a day.
For piercings outside the mouth (e.g., Labret, Philtrum)
- Wash your hands thoroughly before cleaning or handling your piercing;
- Use sterile saline to clean your piercing 1-3 times a day during the healing period (see table);
- Use either sterile gauze or a compact cotton swab to clean and dry around the jewelry on the outside only without moving it as much as possible if there are any debris or secretions;
- Be sure to rinse thoroughly once you’re done with the aftercare, your shower or your beauty routine. Moisture, beauty products and soaps can create irritation around the piercing.
What to avoid and some tips for healing
- Avoid food that might be too hot, too thick/sticky, too salty, or too spicy. The same applies to hot drinks such as coffee or tea;
- Cold drinks and foods can help with swelling and discomfort;
- Avoid alcohol as long as there is bleeding or swelling; this can prolong the healing period and exacerbate these symptoms;
- Avoid smoking as much as possible, otherwise rinse well with water afterwards, as the sucking effect and any of those ingredients can lengthen the healing process;
- Avoid moving or playing with the jewelry. Not only can this create discomfort, but it can also damage your oral health;
- Avoid any exchange of bodily fluids or oral sexual activity during healing;
- Once the swelling has subsided, make sure to book an appointment with your piercer to shorten your jewelry to avoid damaging your teeth and gums.
Stretching
Stretching means slowly widening the hole of an already existing piercing. It is a simple and risk-free procedure when performed correctly and with certain precautions.
When to stretch?
There is no precise time to wait after stretching since it can vary according to the individuals and according to the enlarged piercing. Therefore, it is necessary to consider a few weeks to a few months depending on these factors and make sure that the piercing has already healed and matured before the first stretch. It will then be necessary to treat a newly stretched piercing as a fresh one.
Aftercare for stretches
- Wash your hands thoroughly before cleaning or handling your piercing;
- Use sterile saline to clean your piercing 1-2 times a day during the healing period (see table)
- Be sure to rinse and dry your piercing well once the treatments, shower or beauty routine are over. Moisture, beauty products and soap can create irritation around the piercing.
- Do not remove the jewel for a minimum of two weeks following the stretch.
Healing Tips and Tricks
- Waiting at least 1 to 2 months between each size allows the skin to get used to the new size before moving on to the next. It also helps preserve the skin's natural elasticity without causing too much trauma;
- Massaging the lobes with jojoba oil or coconut oil helps keep the skin pliable and hydrated, preventing it from cracking or splitting which could cause difficulties in moving to the next size;
- Since a stretched piercing has a larger surface area, the usual discharges of a piercing are just as amplified, which can cause foul smells. Therefore, it is imperative to clean the stretches every day, even once healed;
- If your piercing is red, swollen and/or tender to the touch, you may have jumped sizes too quickly. In this case, it is better size down and clean it as a fresh piercing;
- Organic, silicone or acrylic jewelry are not suitable jewelry for initial stretches, but can be worn once the piercing is healed, over short periods of time;
- Single-flared jewelry is preferred for stretching. It is advisable to avoid jewelry with external threading since it can damage the skin tissues. Cones and spirals are also not ideal jewelry for stretching;
- Going up in a size should not be painful. It should cause little to no discomfort at all.
Downsizing
The initial swelling following a fresh piercing is quite normal. However, it will not last for the entire healing period. Generally, it is recommended to make an appointment for a downsize within the next 4 to 8 weeks following the initial piercing. This procedure allows reduces the risk of migration or bumping your piercing. This procedure concerns especially straight barbells and flat-back labret posts. For some piercings with curved barbells (such as the eyebrow), a downsize may be necessary as well. Always follow your piercer's recommendations and make an appointment if necessary.
Troubleshooting
If you suspect something abnormal or disturbing with your piercing, it is always recommended to return to your piercer for a follow-up appointment. They will be able to look at the problematic piercing and find solutions to help it. If they suspect an infection, they will strongly advise you to go see a doctor. Only a health professional can diagnose an infection and treat it accordingly. In any case, it is not advisable to remove the jewelry before meeting with your piercer.
Post-healing general maintenance
It is always relevant to make sure, on a weekly basis, that your jewelry is well tightened or clipped. Over time and multiple impacts, solidity may sometimes be compromised and this practice ensures you reduce the risk of losing your jewelry. It is always possible to make an appointment with your piercer to have them checked and readjusted.
It should also not be forgotten that a healed piercing does not mean that it is permanent. For some people, the tunnel can tighten in a matter of hours, others in a matter of days or even months. If you lose a piece of jewelry, it will be imperative to make an appointment as soon as possible with your piercer.
Saline solution :
You can make your own saline solution at home using non-iodized sea salt:
-Add a ¼ teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt to 1 cup of boiled water
-Let it sit and use once it’s cooled down
We also sell a ready-to-use saline solution by Neilmed in store for 20$!