PIERCINGS
Body Piercing Healing
Good aftercare of your new body piercing is essential to promote good healing and minimise the risk of infection. Healing times will vary with the type and position and vary from person to person. For the first few weeks it is normal for the area to be tender and swollen as the piercing starts to heal.
What to expect with a standard piercing
Week 1 |
Inflammation |
Swelling, redness and clear fluid are normal. It’s time for ice, ice, baby! |
Week 2 - 4 |
Healing |
Yellow ‘crusties’ form, don’t pick them! Warm soak the area with saline solution. |
Week 5 |
Maturation |
Redness should mostly be gone, but it’s important to still clean the piercing. |
Week 6 |
Downsizing |
Come in because we may need to change the jewellery. |
Looking after your piercing
Oral piercing
Healing for oral piercings can take up to 6 months, and it’s perfectly normal for initial swelling to last around 2 weeks. Maintaining consistent aftercare will help speed up the healing process.
Do
- Use alcohol-free mouth rinse, a maximum 2 x per day. Oral-B is yummy.
- Follow facial aftercare for lip piercings.
- Use ice and drink cold drinks to help with inflammation
- Eat soft foods during initial healing
- Rinse with cold water after every meal
- Downsize jewellery in 4-6 weeks.
Do not
- Do not play with jewellery at all.
Facial and torso piercing
Healing for facial piercings, including nostril, septum and eyebrow, can take between 2 - 6 months. For belly button piercings, average healing time is 6 months, but may take up to 1 year.
Do
- Clean 2 x a day with warm saline solution (we recommend Neilmed piercing aftercare)
- Wipe any excess saline with a sterile gauze
- Take extra care not to bump or catch jewellery
Do not
- Do not turn or twist jewellery
- Pick at your crusties!
General advice
- Gold and sterling silver are not good for the first 6 months.
- Sleeping on or bumping your piercing will slow healing and cause lumps.
- Oral piercings that are constantly played with will rip and cause white bumpy scar tissue. Saline compresses can help to reduce bumps.
- Don’t be tempted to use products containing alcohol to keep piercing clean (e.g. dettol, betadine, listerine etc) These harsh products will harm your piercing.
Signs of irritation or infection
If you are diligent with your aftercare regime, you significantly minimise the risk of irritation and/or infection, but it’s important to know the signs to look out for.
If you have any worries please contact us and we can book you in for a consultation.
If you develop a fever or the infection starts to spread, it’s really important to see your GP, or call 111, as soon as possible, as you may require antibiotics.
Irritation |
Infection |
Tender/redness |
Excessive swelling |
Slight swelling |
Hot |
Crusty (yellow/white) |
Weeping/pus |
Hypertrophic scarring (bumps) |
Painful |
Dry skin |
Generally feeling unwell |