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Use either one or both of the following solutions for body piercing aftercare:
- H2Ocean purified ocean salt water after care spray
- Liquid anti-microbial or germicidal soap (Provon).
CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS
- WASH your hands thoroughly (with anti-bacterial soap) prior to cleaning or touching your piercing for any reason.
- Use SOAP (Provon) in the shower once a day. H2Ocean or warm saltwater soaks can be used throughout the day.
Soap instructions (Provon)
- Use soap (Provon) no more than once a day. This is always done at the very end of your shower to ensure that you remove other shower/bath products from the piercing. Lather up a dime size drop of the soap to clean the jewelry and piercin
- Again, with your lathered up fingertips, remove any dried matter that may be present on or near the piercing. Leave the cleanser on the piercing no more than thirty seconds, then rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of the soap from the piercing. DO NOT use any other shower/bath products after this is done.
- Dry with disposable paper products such as gauze or tissues because cloth towels can harbor bacteria and catch on the new piercings causing injury. Pat gently to avoid trauma.
H2Ocean Instructions:
- Apply the H2Ocean spray onto the pierced area and allow the solution to absorb into the skin. This should be done every 3-4 hours. If you notice any dried secretions on the piercing, simply spray a cotton swab with the H2Ocean and gently remove the dried matter. DO NOT over spray as this will waste the product
- DO NOT wipe the H2Ocean off, as it dries quickly.
Warm Saltwater Soak Instructions:
- Use packaged sterile saline solution with no additives (read the label!) or non-iodized sea salt mixture: Dissolve 1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized (iodine free) sea salt into one cup (8 oz) of warm distilled or bottled water. A stronger mixture is not better! Saline solution that is too strong can irritate the piercing.
WHAT IS NORMAL
- Initially: There may be some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness, or bruising
- During healing: There may be some discoloration, itching, secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid (not pus) that will form some crust on the jewelry. The tissue may tighten around the jewelry as it heals.
- Once healed: The jewelry may not move freely in the piercing; DO NOT force it. If you fail to include cleaning your piercing as a part of your daily hygiene routine, normal but smelly bodily secretions may accumulate.
- A piercing may seem healed before healing is complete. This is because piercings heal from the outside in, and although it feels healed the tissue remains fragile on the inside. BE PATIENT, and keep cleaning throughout the entire healing period.
- Even healed piercings can shrink or close in minutes after having been there for years! This varies from person to person; if you like your piercing, leave the jewelry in place.
WHAT TO DO
- Wash your hands prior to touching the piercing; leave it alone except when cleaning. It is not necessary to rotate the jewelry while healing except possibly during cleaning.
- Exercise during healing is fine, just “listen” to your body.
- Make sure your bedding is kept clean and changed regularly. Wear clean, comfortable breathable clothing that protects your piercing while sleeping.
- Showering is safer than taking a bath, because bathtubs tend to harbor bacteria. If you would like to take a bath, clean the tub well before each use.
Other Useful Information
- Avoid undue trauma such as friction from clothing, excessive motion of the area, playing with the jewelry and vigorous cleaning. These activities can cause the formation of unsightly and uncomfortable scar tissue, migration, prolonged healing, and other complications.
- Avoid the use of alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Betadine, Hibiclens or ointment.
- Avoid over cleaning. This can delay your healing and irritate your piercing.
- Avoid all oral contact, rough play, and contact with others’ bodily fluids on or near your piercing during healing.
- Avoid submerging the piercing in bodies of water such as lakes, ponds, rivers, community/public pools and hot tubs until the piercing is fully healed. If you have a well-maintained pool at home give it at least 4 weeks before swimming and monitor the piercing closely once you do decide to swim. The ocean/sea is fine after 2 weeks as saltwater is obviously not a problem, but you never know what else is in the water. It is always recommended to clean the piercing once you are done swimming.
- Avoid all beauty and personal care products on or around the piercing including cosmetics, lotions, and sprays, etc.
- Don’t hang charms or any object from your jewelry until the piercing is fully healed.
- Unless there is a problem with size, style or material of the initial jewelry, leave it in place for the entire healing period. A qualified piercer should perform any necessary jewelry change that occurs during healing.
- Contact your piercer if your jewelry must be temporarily removed (such as for a medical procedure). There are non-metallic jewelry alternatives.
- Leave jewelry in at all times. Even old, well-healed piercings can shrink or close in minutes after having been there for years! If removed, re-insertion can be difficult or impossible.
For Particular Areas
Navel
A hard, vented eye patch (sold at pharmacies) can be applied under tight clothing (such as nylon stockings) or secured using a length of ace bandage around the body (to avoid irritation from adhesive). This can protect the area from restrictive clothing, excess irritation, and impact during physical activities such as contact sports.
Nipple
The support of a tight cotton shirt or sports bra may provide protection and feel comfortable, especially for sleeping.
Genital
- In most cases you can engage in sexual activity as soon as you feel ready. Comfort and hygiene are vital.
- During healing all sexual activities must be gentle. To increase comfort and decrease trauma, soak in warm saline solution or plain water to remove any crusty matter, prior to sexual activity.
- Use barriers such as condoms, dental dams, and Tegaderm, etc. to avoid contact with a partner’s bodily fluids, even in long-term relationships.
- Use clean, disposable barriers on sex toys.
- Wash hands before touching on or near the piercing.
- Use a new container of water based lubricant. Do not use your own saliva as a lubricant.
- After sex, an additional saline soak or clean water rinse is suggested.
- Prince Albert, Ampallang and Apadravya piercings can bleed freely for the first few days.
- If using soap, urinate after cleaning any piercing that is near the urethra. Each body is unique and healing times vary considerably. If you have any questions, please contact your piercer.
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