Piercing Aftercare Advice

Before jumping into my tips and tricks for piercing aftercare, I wanted to disclose that I am not a professional, and this routine works best for me but may not work for you. The number of times you should clean your piercings daily depends on the sensitivity of your skin. With that being said, let’s begin.

Saltwater Solution

My favorite solution, and many piercers will agree, is a homemade saltwater mix. Using an eight-ounce spray bottle, I will fill it to the top with purified bottled water and then put a quarter teaspoon of iodized salt into the spray bottle. Once shaken very well, I will use it to spray my piercings periodically throughout the day– approximately five times a day. The spray bottle method makes it easier to clean more complicated piercings, such as the septum. I will also spray q-tips and clean around the piercing more thoroughly to make sure any crusties are being removed. 

At least three times a day, I will create this solution again, but in a coffee cup. Once the salt dissolves, I put the cup in the microwave for about 30-45 seconds, then hold the hot water mixture against my piercings for five minutes. This allows the fresh wound to drain and speeds up the healing process. However, you may not be able to clean your piercing as often. As I mentioned earlier, it depends on your skin’s sensitivity, as the salt may cause your skin to dry out faster or irritate it. For example, I am unable to soak my nostril piercing three times a day because the skin on my nose will dry out quicker and peel. As a result, I will usually submerge it in saltwater once a day and spray it three times throughout the day.

Antibacterial Soap

In addition to cleaning my piercings with saltwater, I will use antibacterial soap to wash them in the shower. This is always the last step in my shower routine to ensure there is no shampoo and conditioner on my ear piercings. I always recommend not using soap on any facial piercings and sticking to the saltwater solution. However, the soap on ear and body piercings will help keep the piercing extra clean and prevent infections.

While in the shower, pump a dime size drop on the palm of your hand and mix it with water until soapy. Using the tip of your finger, gently rub it around the front and back of each piercing. Once done, thoroughly rinse each piercing because any leftover soap can dry up and irritate the piercing and/or skin. 

Piercing Complications

I wanted to also mention the consequences of not regularly cleaning your piercings. The most common and significant complication is an infection. Some signs of infection include redness, swelling, discharge, and/or feeling hot to the touch. If you believe your piercing may be infected, it is important to contact your piercer or doctor before it worsens. The doctor may prescribe antibiotics if the infection is severe enough. 

Other complications that can occur are rejection and migration. Piercing rejection can occur if the body sees the piercing as a foreign object and tries to push it out. Some signs of rejection/migration are the hole of the piercing getting larger, jewelry moving more freely, jewelry becoming more visible under the skin, and/or the jewelry hanging differently. In the case of a rejecting piercing, it is important to take it out immediately, or the scarring will worsen. 

Another complication that can come from piercings is keloids. Keloids are thick raised scars that can be pink, red, or brown and darken over time. They are usually harmless to the body but may be cosmetically unappealing. If left untreated, keloids can grow larger over time and become itchy and painful. To minimize a keloid, use the saltwater method I mentioned above to ensure the piercing site is clean.

 

This is an example of a keloid I had growing on my conch piercing. After a couple weeks giving it extra cleaning and soaks, it cleared up completely.

Other Tips

Some more tips I recommend to keep your piercing clean and infection free are to always wash your hands before cleaning your piercing. It is crucial never to touch your piercings with dirty hands. That one should be a given, but it never hurts to repeat important information. Also, do not try to move or twist the piercing as this can cause inflammation and irritation to the wound. 

Another common tip in the piercing world is to not change the piercing earlier than the recommended healing time. For example, most cartilage piercings take about four to six months to heal and can be changed after that. With the help of a piercer and excellent piercing aftercare, you may be able to switch it sooner; however, always follow your piercer’s recommendations.

Here are a few of my favorite piercings on my ears: the double tragus and rook. Piercings are a fun way for people to express themselves, and a new piece of bling can give people a boost in their confidence. However, it is important to follow a good aftercare routine to keep your piercing clean, assist with the healing process, and prevent it from having to be taken out. Stay clean and keep your bling. Thank you, everyone for reading!