General Piercing Aftercare

• Most piercings will take 6-8 weeks to heal, depending on consistency of cleaning, your health, and the way you take care of it.
• Never touch your piercing during healing with hands that have not been washed.
• Consider your new piercing as an open wound, do not let others touch or play with it during the healing period; keep your piercing away from other's bodily fluids.
• Do not soak your piercing in lake, pool or bathwater for the first 2-3 weeks.
• Clean your piercing in the shower LAST, after all other soaps and shampoos have been washed away.
• NEVER apply alcohol, peroxide, or petroleum-based ointments to your piercing; not only will they slow the healing process, but they can lead to infection.
• DO NOT remove jewelry if you suspect infection, this will only cause the outer layer of skin to close, and trap the infection. Please consult your piercer or physician with any concerns.
• It is normal for your piercing to discharge yellow or white fluid; this is not a sign of infection, only irritation. If the discharge is greenish in colour, come see your piercer at your earliest convenience.
• Some people find that they are prone to "keloiding" which is developing a bump of scar tissue around the entrance and exit of a piercing.
• We recommend that you come by and allow your piercer to check how the healing process is progressing.

Genital Piercing Aftercare

• Generally, genital piercings take 6-8 weeks to heal, depending on placement of jewelry, and how diligently it is cared for.
• For the first 4 weeks of healing, avoid ALL sexual contact with your piercing. DO NOT touch your piercing for any other reason than to clean it.

To Clean your new piercing:

• With genital piercings, remember; "Less is Best"
• clean, soak in a warm (not hot!) bath, containing 1 cup sea salts. Do not use perfumed salts, as these may cause irritation.
• Soak for only 10 minutes. While soaking, gently work off any encrusted lymph or blood, gently turning the jewelry after all crust is removed. Rinse afterwards to remove any drying salt. Gently pat dry your piercing.
• It is completely normal for genital piercings to bleed occasionally for the first 2-3 weeks. If you have any concerns or questions, feel free to contact your piercer.

Torso Piercing Aftercare

• Daily cleaning consists of a simple 3 minute cleaning, 2-3 times daily for 6-8 weeks.
• For all piercings, we recommend Spectro gel, Tersaseptic or any other mild, non-scented antimicrobial cleanser.
• Bactine spray is also appropriate for all external facial and ear piercings, but not for torso piercings.


To clean your new piercing:

• Wet the piercing with warm water, to soften any dried crust that will collect on the jewelry. This crust is lymph and blood, which your body naturally produces during the healing process. Do not turn your jewelry before properly removing encrusted lymph. To do so will damage the piercing, and cause you pain.
• Apply the antimicrobial cleanser. Gently turn the jewelry back and forth SLOWLY, working the cleanser into the piercing. If you have chosen Bactine as your aftercare regime, apply the solution to the piercing using a cotton swab moistened with water.
• If you are using an antimicrobial cleanser, you must rinse the piercing in the same manner, slowly rotating the jewelry. Ensure that the cleanser is completely rinsed out of the piercing. Bactine does not require rinsing.
• Allow to air dry.
• For navels ONLY, do not wear clothing with tight waistbands that sit directly over the piercing. This will cause the piercing to become irritated, and can lead to early rejection. It can also cause your piercing to lean to one side.
• 6-8 weeks is the approximate healing time for the outside layer of skin. It is completely normal for the piercing to discharge for up to a year and a half. If you have any concerns, do not hesitate to consult your piercer.

Oral / Facial Piercing Aftercare

• General healing time is 3- 4 weeks.
• There is a swelling period that peaks 48 hours after the piercing was performed, and can last anywhere from a couple of hours to 10 days.


To clean your new piercing:

• For the first two weeks, you must rinse your mouth after ANYTHING goes into it. This includes eating, drinking (with the exception of water) and smoking. A saline solution (salt water prepared by mixing 1/4tsp. Sea salt per cup of water) can be used throughout the healing period . After the initial two weeks, rinse 3- 4 times daily with your saline solution.
• Avoid open mouth kissing, oral sex and alcohol and any mouthwash containing alcohol for the first 2 weeks.
• After 4 weeks, you may wish to get a shorter barbell. While not necessary, it is best for your dental work.
• When your piercing is healed, brush your tongue when you are brushing your teeth.
• Every three months, remove the jewelry and soak in hydrogen peroxide to remove calcium or plaque buildup.


For lip, labret, cheek, madonna and medusa piercings:

• These piercings have a two-fold cleaning process.
  
  To clean your new piercing:
  
• Use an antimicrobial cleanser such as Spectro Jel or Tersaseptic as described in the Torso and Facial aftercare section.
• Also follow cleaning steps outlined in the Oral aftercare section.