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piercing aftercare

GENERAL PIERCING INFORMATION

With proper post piercing care, infections are rare. Minor soreness may be experienced while the piercing heals. If the pain continues and the piercing is very sore and/or excessive redness or discharge occurs for an extended period of time, you may have an infection. If you think you have an infection, see a doctor as soon as possible. In the case of nostril or septum piercing infections, it is imperative to see a doctor without delay.

Body jewelry may be removed and changed when the piercing is healed. However, if jewelry is removed too soon or before the area surrounding the piercing has toughened, the delicate interior of the piercing can be easily torn when new jewelry is inserted.

Once healed the jewellery should be removed regularly for cleaning. In the case of Low-Nickel Stainless Steel jewellery, we recommend removal for cleaning at approx. 3 month intervals, titanium at 6 month intervals, Gold at 2-3 month intervals.

COMMON COMPLICATIONS:

If aftercare advice is not followed correctly, infection may occur at the site. Possible indications of infection are increased redness or swelling, the piercing is painful to touch. There may be a painful throbbing sensation or feeling of heat. The discharge becomes yellow or green in colour and smells offensive. If the above symptoms occur seek urgent medical attention. In emergencies attend the local A&E Department. Do not remove jewellery before being assessed. Useful Numbers: NHS Direct 0845 46 47.

After having any piercing, customers are welcome to contact Avalon at any time for additional information.

The initial body piercing should not be performed using Grade 316L Stainless Steel or any other material containing more than 0.05% Nickel. Additionally these materials should not be worn during the healing period (epithelization).

This is not only to protect the people (approx. 5%) who have an allergy to Nickel, but also to prevent Sensitisation, where an allergy is developed during the healing period.

The best material for an initial piercing is Medical Implant Grade Titanium, Low-Nickel Stainless Steel and Low-Nickel gold which is also fine.

Minimising piercing infection risk - cleaning:

1. Always wash & dry your hands before handling a new piercing site.

2. New piercing's should be cleaned thoroughly at least twice a day.

3. Try to wear loose cotton clothing to minimizing rubbing & irritation to the piercing site.

4. Do not use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or petroleum based products on your piercing.

5. A mild, low pH medicated soap such as Carex can be used. Soaps which contain deodorants, cold cream, strong perfumes or other additives should be avoided.

6. Additional methods of cleaning your piercing involve the use of saline solutions. Sea salt soaks are recommended for maintenance of new piercings. Dissolve ¼ teaspoon of sea salt in half a pint of warm water and soak the piercing for 3-5 minutes once or twice a day for the first six weeks. Make sure to rinse with clean water after salt soaks so there is no residue left. Sea salt can be purchased easily from any supermarket. You can also purchase saline solutions.

7. During the healing process, matter secreted from the piercing will dry on the jewelry and around the openings of the piercing. To remove this secretion it may be necessary to first soak your piercing in warm water. Once the outside of your piercing is clean, lather the piercing with soap and move the jewelry back and forth a few times. Rinse the piercing thoroughly, working the jewelry back and forth under running water if possible.

specific piercing guidance & information:

EAR LOBE/CARTILAGE:

Clean as in general advice section. Leave exposed. Minimum healing time: three months to a year.

NOSE:

Nostril: clean as in the general advice section once a day with a cotton bud on the outside only. DO NOT touch the inside. Leave exposed. Do not change for at least 12 weeks. To avoid loss of stud jewellery cover at night with surgical tape or plaster for at least the first 7 days. Minimum healing time: Three months to a year.

Septum: Use warm pre-boiled tap water to soften and remove crusts up to two times a day. Leave exposed. Minimum healing time: Three months to a year.

FACIAL:

Eyebrow: Clean both piercing holes twice a day using a separate cotton bud and solution, soak off any crust formation and dry carefully with a clean tissue. Cover the site with a clean dry dressing for sporting activities.

Piercing can be problematic as the skin is thin. Migration can occur forcing the piercing out. Although little can be done to prevent this seek advice from your piercer.

MOUTH:

Tongue: may swell to the length of the inserted bar, particularly in the first two weeks. If the bar becomes too tight please see your piercer. If out of hours contact NHS Direct 0845 46 47. If you have problems with swallowing or any neck pain however, you must contact a medical practitioner straight away or go to your nearest Accident & Emergency Dept. Minimum healing time: two months.

To help reduce the initial swelling ice or iced water can be used, avoid foods that are hot, spicy or excessively salty, and keep dairy to a minimum. Avoid alcohol as this can cause dehydration which will result in swelling. Avoid smoking.

Half strength mouthwash should be used at least twice daily or after eating, drinking or smoking. The site can also be cleaned gently with toothpaste and a soft toothbrush if there is a build up of coating around the site. Chewing gum should not be used until the site is healed or you feel confident with the piercing. Oral sex should be avoided until after the first bar change (approx. 2 weeks). The bar size should be changed after 10-14 days with great care or by your piercer. The bar balls must be checked twice daily to ensure they are screwed on tightly and reduce the risk of swallowing/aspiration. Piercing may cause permanent damage to teeth due to the friction against enamel. Downsizing your bar can reduce this.

lip and cheek: rinse with an alcohol free antiseptic after eating, drinking or smoking. Remove any dried matter from your piercing, swab the outside of the piercing with an alcohol free antiseptic and rinse thoroughly. Again, this procedure should be performed at least twice daily.

NAVEL AND OTHER TORSO PIERCINGS:

After a navel piercing, a small amount of redness and crusting is normal, as is a discharge of a small amount of clear fluid. These symptoms should lessen within six to eight weeks. Clean both piercing holes twice a day with a cotton bud as in the general advice section. Use a separate cotton bud and solution for each hole. Avoid tight clothing around the waist and avoid the use of belts until the site is healed. Cover the site with a clean dry dressing if doing stretching exercises/ contact sports. Avoid swimming if possible until the site is healed. Do not change jewellery for at least 4-6 months, if you experience any problems and need to change the jewellery before this time please return to your piercer. Minimum healing time: four to six months.

NIPPLES:

Male; Clean as in the general advice section using a fresh cotton bud and solution for each piercing hole, and leave exposed.

Female As for males but cotton bra/nipple pad will also need to be used to protect the site from friction. If the site is oozing, nipple pads should be used and soaked off before cleaning the site. Minimum healing time: four to six months.

FEMALE GENITALS:

The best place to clean your piercing is in the shower. Allow clean water to run over and saturate the piercing before you begin to wash it. This will help to soften and wash away some of the dry, crusted discharge from around and on the jewelry. Remove the rest before washing with a wet cotton ball. For at least the first week or two, take showers instead of baths. Sitting in a bath tub could introduce bacteria or harsh soaps to your genital area, causing irritation or infection

A soap product is not necessary for most - you don't want to kill the healthy bacteria that live in the genital region. A simple sea salt or saline solution wash twice a day (and after sex or masturbation) is sufficient unless you start having a problem. If you feel you need to cleanse the area more thoroughly, use a mild liquid anti-microbial soap and clean the piercing by applying a tiny drop of soap to piercing and jewelry. Then thoroughly rinse by applying clean water.

Pat (do not rub) piercing dry with a clean, dry paper towel or similar paper product. Do NOT use washcloth or towel, as these are breeding grounds for bacteria. Thoroughly clean piercing once a day for the duration of the estimated healing time for your particular piercing. Remember, this is an initial healing period only.

Your piercing will not be completely healed until many weeks after the initial healing time is over.

Do not ointments, creams, or astringents on your new piercing.

Do not allow your piercing to come in contact with any bodily fluids for the first few weeks while it is healing. This includes saliva as well as semen. So, you are not restricted from sexual activity, but a condom or dental guard must be used for any and all sexual contact, or you are putting yourself at risk for infection. This includes masturbation and/or the use of sex toys

MALE GENITALS:

Prince Albert, Frenum, and Dydoe piercings - healing time approximately 2 to 4 months.

Scrotum, Guiche piercings - healing time approximately 4 to 6 months.

Ampallang, Apadravya piercings - healing time approximately 6 months to a year.

Genital piercings often bleed up to 24 hours after the piercing procedure, depending on its depth and complexity. Prince Albert, Ampallang, and Apadravya piercings may bleed intermittently for several days, particularly during erections. If you experience heavy bleeding that does not appear to be clotting, please contact me and your doctor. A light bandage of clean gauze can be worn.

Clean your piercing twice a day using a liquid antibacterial soap. The shower provides the best place to adequately lather and rinse piercings. Over-cleaning can irritate the piercing so do not clean more often than this unless the piercing has been exposed to dirt, sweat, or bodily fluids. Saline solution may be used to remove dried discharge between cleanings.

Remove any dried discharge from the jewellery using a cotton swab and warm water before rotating the jewellery – do not use your fingernails. Apply the soap around the piercing and work it into a lather whilst rotating the jewellery for at least 15 seconds. Allow the lather to saturate the piercing for approximately 3 minutes. Rinse your piercing, jewellery, and the surrounding area thoroughly under running water. While rinsing, rotate the jewellery several times.

Don’t use a washcloth or sponge to clean your piercing. Cloths and sponges trap and collect bacteria and mildew.

Do rinse your piercing and jewellery thoroughly with water after showering or bathing to remove soap residues.

Do dry the piercing thoroughly using a tissue or cotton swabs. Bacteria thrive in warm, moist environments.

Warm salt water soaks help to remove dried discharge and lymph secretions and to relieve itching. Use 1/4 teaspoon salt per 8 ounces (just under a metric cup) of water. There is no need to clean your piercing after soaking it in salt water; however, soaking should not replace cleaning. A disposable cup is suggested. If you feel a stinging sensation or your piercing bleeds during the soaking, discontinue soaking until the piercing has begun to heal (usually 1-2 weeks).

The most frequent cause of infection is touching the piercing or jewellery with unwashed hands or contact with unclean items such as clothing, bedding, and hair.

Don’t allow your piercing to come in contact with another person's bodily fluids during the healing process. This includes saliva (your own and others’) as well as semen. Your own urine is non-pathogenic as long as you do not have a bladder or urinary tract infection. There is no need to clean the piercing after urinating, although it may burn during the first 24 to 48 hours. While a new or healing genital piercing does not prevent sexual activity, appropriate barriers should be used (such as a condom or dental dam). You should not feel pain during sexual activity after the piercing has healed.

After the healing process is complete you should continue to clean your piercing once a day as part of your bathing or showering routine to prevent a build-up of dirt and dead skin cells.

Body jewellery may be removed and changed when the piercing is healed. However, if jewellery is removed too soon or before the area surrounding the piercing has toughened, the delicate interior of the piercing can be easily torn when new jewellery is inserted.