You have a new piercing?

Your piercer used best practices and the best of material?

Well, the rest is up to you, you need to:

• Prevent Infection

• Assist your body in the healing process

Looking after your piercing can be demanding, it requires attention to detail and above all else COMMON SENSE.

After care 

After care instructions given by the piercer are most important as it minimises the risks of infection, rejection of the jewellery and/or closing of the piercing. We stress that no matter where you get pierced and under what conditions, proper aftercare is vital to the success of your piercing. Even a perfect piercing done under ideal conditions can get infected unless all the correct precautions are taken it is kept clean.

These recommendations come from our experience in the piercing healing process and please remember we are also always available to answer your questions or specific concerns. Please email or call us, or drop into the salon.

Consider that everyone's body and circumstances are different and we take no responsibility for your lifestyle choices but if you take the time to observe your own body and its healing on a daily basis, over time you will quickly learn what works for you. Beyond that, you will become more aware of the interaction between your physical being and other aspects of your life, such as stress, environment, diet, smoking, exercise, etc. In the long run this leads you to a keener awareness of your health and your own role in your healing.

Please note in the instance of an infection: It is not our policy to comment on or discuss procedures performed by other piercing establishments and that it is often difficult to tell what is going on with a specific piercing without physically seeing it. In the event the piercing was performed at Elegant Image please make an appointment with one of our paramedical team to discuss possible remedies, else if the piercing was performed elsewhere please seek advice from the piercing establishment. In any case, if the infection is severe, you should immediately consult a physician.

BASIC PIERCING CARE

During and after your piercing you will be provided with after care advice we, expect that you heed this advice and take all the precautions to keep your wound clean during the healing process. The purpose of cleaning the healing wound is to remove any dead cells and discharge excreted by your body, as well as any external dirt and bacteria picked up during the day. Remember, you are not treating the wound with medicine or making it heal, but rather keeping the area clean while your body is healing itself. Basic hygiene and common sense, with particular attention to the specific area, are all that are required. You will be the best judge of what works for you. Remember, pay attention to your body. It will tell you if you are doing something wrong.

New piercings should be cleaned once or twice daily, depending on your skin sensitivity, activities and environment. Continue cleaning every day for entire healing period. Bear in mind that over-cleaning or using antiseptic products can irritate a piercing and extend the healing time. Again a commonsense approach works best.

LIQUID ANTIMICROBIAL / GERMICIDAL SOAP

Additionally we recommend the use of antimicrobial or germicidal soap as these products not only kill germs but also remove residue build-up from smoking, cosmetics and natural healing discharge. Medicated products are most effective and least irritating, and are available from your pharmacy. Liquid Tea Tree oil soap (available from Elegant Image) is a natural and cruelty-free alternative‚ there are many other possibilities, and other mild fragrance and colour-free antibacterial soaps. Keep in mind commercial antibacterial soaps may be less effective and more irritating, especially over time.

TO CLEAN THE PIERCING

First wash your hands with the above soap. Never touch your piercing with dirty hands! (this is the easiest way to get an infection). Let warm water run over your piercing for a minute, or do a pre-soak with warm or salt water to loosen dried discharge. This crusty discharge is a secreted lymph, blood plasma and dead cells, and is a normal part of your bodies healing process. You can use a cotton swab to help remove any liquid or discharge, but don't pick at it (no matter how clean you believe your fingernails to be). Lather the piercing and surrounding area, making sure to remove any discharge on the jewellery. Once the jewellery is clean, soap it up and move it through the piercing several times so the lather is pulled all the way through the skin. Leave the cleanser to work for a minute or two, then rinse well, again moving the jewellery through the piercing while rinsing.

WARM SALT WATER, Warm salt water soaks can work wonders in healing piercings. They help draw out discharge, soothe irritations and may prevent infection. They also stimulate circulation which encourages speedy healing. You can use soaks for general healing, to remove dried discharge before cleaning or activity, and to treat minor infections and irritations. We strongly suggest soaking your piercing for several minutes at least once a day, more often if you are having trouble with healing. Quick one minute soaks can also provide a soothing bath between normal cleanings

Sea salt: (non-iodized; available from health food stores and some grocery stores) works best as it is most pure. Most table salt contains extra chemicals (aluminum, magnesium, iodine, etc.) which can irritate and sting, and dextrose (sugar) which can cause yeast infections Many non-iodized salts and kosher salts are natural sea salt. Read the label: Be sure it only contains sodium chloride (salt) and maybe a form of dehumidifier (calcium-phosphate or calcium-silicate) to minimise clumping. Never use Epsom salts as they are too strong and are not meant for surface wound soaking.

Soaking directions: Dissolve a pinch (1/4 teaspoon) of sea salt into one cup (235ml) of hot distilled/demineralised water, or 1/4 cup of sea salt in a hot bath (a clean tub please). A stronger solution is not better and may actually be harmful to your piercing. Tip the glass and hold it over the piercing for 5-15 minutes (until water cools), pressing the glass against the skin to form a seal. For facial or ear piercings you can pour some of the mixture into a shot glass, medicine cup or similar small container. For nostrils try the clear plastic caps from squirt water bottles. With smaller cups, change the solution as it cools to be sure it is still working well. A less effective option is to saturate several cotton balls in the solution and pack them around the piercing. After soaking, rinse with clear water and pat dry with clean cloth or paper towels.

THE FOLLOWING SHOULD NOT BE USED

DO NOT USE Rubbing Alcohol, Alcohol is too harsh. It irritates and dries out the skin and can delay healing. It also burns and stings, and may not be as effective on germs (when used topically) as previously thought. Commercial witch hazel solutions containing alcohol should be avoided.

DO NOT USE Hydrogen Peroxide, Peroxide does kill many bacteria, but it also destroys the healthy skin around the piercing. Used long enough, it can eat away at the skin and actually keep your piercing from healing.

DO NOT USE Antibiotic Ointments, These do not work for more than two weeks, as your body becomes tolerant to the antibiotic in that time. This makes them worthless for long term healing. They also have large amounts of petroleum jelly in them, which keeps oxygen out of the piercing and creates the perfect warm moist environment for bacteria to breed. The greasy barrier also keeps water and cleaning solutions from effectively reaching your piercing, making it impossible to clean. Read the label: In most cases they do not recommend use on puncture type wounds.

DO NOT USE Medical Strength Betadine (Povidone Iodine)/Hibiclens, These solutions are used for first aid or surgical wound care, they should not be used for long term care unless their strength has been diluted as they may prove to be too strong and may hinder the healing process.

DO NOT USE Benzylkonium Chloride (Pierced Ear Solution), While sometimes used in the past, Benzylkonium Chloride has proven to be problematic for many people. It is not as effective a cleanser as antimicrobial soaps and does not penetrate or remove oil and discharge in the piercing. Most BZK products have a very short shelf life of a month or less. Additionally, there has been some confusion over ingredients and it seems some manufacturers may be using formulas which are not compatible with human tissue. If you need a quick rinse on the go, try individually wrapped saline pads instead (available from pharmacies).

Average healing time for piercing

Delayed healing time may be caused by infection, irritation, or the formation of scar tissue. An evaluation by a health professional may be needed if your piercing does not seem to be healing.