Piercing Aftercare Recommendations

• Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching or cleaning the piercing.
• Use sterile isotonic saline wound wash (0.9% NaCl only), pre-packaged and labeled—not homemade salt solutions or contact lens saline.
• Clean twice a day with spray-on saline; do not rotate jewelry.
• Dry gently with single-use gauze or cotton swabs. Avoid cloth towels.

• Early signs: slight bleeding, swelling, tenderness, or bruising.
• Healing stage: white/yellow discharge (not pus), crust around jewelry.
• The outer layer may look healed while the inside is still healing—continue care.
• Leave jewelry in place. Piercings can close quickly.

• No alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, BZK, or antibacterial soaps.
• No homemade sea-salt soaks.
• Avoid over-cleaning, playing with jewelry, and trauma.
• Stay out of dirty water (pools, lakes, hot tubs). Use waterproof film dressings if needed.
• No oral or bodily fluid contact during healing.
• Avoid caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and stress.
• Keep cosmetics and lotions away from the piercing.
• Don’t attach charms or heavy items.

• Take showers instead of baths. Clean tubs thoroughly before use.
• Change bedding often and wear clean, breathable clothing.
• Exercise moderately, avoid impact, and clean gym equipment.
• Maintain a healthy diet, rest well, and manage stress.

• Leave initial jewelry in place during healing. Resize only with help from a piercer.
• Check threaded ends occasionally for tightness.
• If removing permanently, clean until the hole closes. Minor scarring may occur.
• Ask a piercer about non-metallic jewelry for medical needs.

• Watch for: excessive bleeding, swelling, warmth, redness, pain, green/black discharge.
• Oral issues: plaque, gum recession, tooth damage.
• Don’t remove jewelry if infected—seek medical help.

1. Hand hygiene is essential.
2. Use only sterile saline and clean gauze.
3. Avoid over-cleaning and rotating jewelry.
4. Support healing with healthy habits.
5. Protect from trauma and unclean environments.
6. Let professionals handle jewelry changes.
7. Know when to seek help.