Aftercare for your new piercing

The good news: it’s simple. , patience, and hands off.

The only product you need

A spray can of sterile saline solution, from any pharmacy. Morning and night: spray, let it sit for a minute, and gently pat dry with gauze or a clean paper towel (not a bath towel, it holds bacteria). That’s it.

What to avoid

No alcohol, no peroxide, no ointment, no tea tree oil. Don’t twist the jewelry, don’t touch it with unwashed hands, and don’t sleep on it. While it heals, also skip pools, lakes and hot tubs.

What’s normal

Some redness, swelling and tenderness for the first days. A clear or whitish fluid that dries into little crusts around the jewelry: that’s your body healing. Rinse it off with saline, no picking.

The downsize

At first your post is a little longer to leave room for swelling. Once the swelling is gone (often around 4 to 8 weeks), it gets swapped for a shorter one: that’s the . The jewelry moves less, snags less, and your piercing heals better. Message me when you get there — your card reminds you too.

When to message me

A bump showing up, irritation that won’t settle, jewelry that feels too tight or too long, or just a doubt: message me on Instagram with a photo. I’d much rather get one question too many.

When to see a doctor

If the redness spreads, the area gets hot, there’s thick yellow or green pus, or you have a fever: see a doctor quickly. Don’t take the jewelry out yourself without advice — it can trap the infection.

Healing times

Questions

♡ Can I use homemade salt water?
No: table salt isn’t sterile and the mix is never quite right. A can of from the pharmacy costs a few dollars and lasts a long time.
♡ Can I change my jewelry myself?
Not before it’s healed. Even after, message me if you’re unsure: the wrong jewelry can irritate a piercing that was doing great.
♡ There’s a little bump next to my piercing.
It’s common, especially on cartilage, and usually caused by pressure (sleeping on it, earbuds) or a post that’s too long. Send me a photo and we’ll look at it together.

Worried about your piercing?

Message me with a photo. I answer quickly, promise.