I've Just Been Pierced......What Happens Now?

During the first few weeks of healing, it’s likely that you will experience the following:- Localised swelling, localised pain and tenderness, discharge of a clear or cloudy fluid, bruising and bleeding.
Discharge of a clear or cloudy fluid may persist for several months with slow healing piercings.

These are very normal, you may experience none, some or all to a degree and still have a very healthy piercing. 

 

DO NOT touch, pick at, twist or apply cosmetics to your piercing.

 

Please read this page carefully and follow the cleaning instructions listed as advised.

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STERILE SALINE

Sterile 0.9% Saline is an isotonic solution, this means it neither over hydrates or dehydrates your skin, to cause minimum disruption to the wound healing process.
This is why it’s so important to not use soaps, oils and alcohol based products. They are not isotonic and will cause disruption to this type of wound healing.

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WASH YOUR HANDS

You must wash your hands before and after you clean your piercing to prevent the spread of infection. If you do not wash your hands prior to cleaning, you may be actively transferring harmful bacteria onto your piercing as your cleaning it.

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HOW OFTEN?

If you are showering or bathing daily, piercings should only be cleaned with sterile saline once or twice a day. Over cleaning will cause disruption to wound healing and under cleaning may cause infection.

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HOW SHOULD I APPLY IT?

Test your sterile saline stream by spraying it once into the sink before using it on yourself to help gauge the pressure of the flow - you can usually hold your canister a couple of inches away from your piercing. Concentrate the flow at the piercing exit wounds at the front and the back. It will only take  seconds to rinse your piercing. Do not remove your jewellery and DO NOT TWIST YOUR PIERCING as this disrupts the formation of new skin cells, delaying healing and potentially causing a bump.

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SHOWERING

Showering is an excellent way to clean your piercing, the constant stream of clean warm water will help remove dry exudation - the waste material that discharges from your piercing. Be careful not to use a loofah or shower pouf on or around your piercing in case of snagging, they also harbour bacteria.

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DRYING YOUR PIERCING

As soon as your piercing as been cleansed whether with sterile saline or in the shower you must gently dry the skin. The best way of doing this is using lint-free gauze, gently patting it front and back. DO NOT USE TOILET PAPER as it dissolves on contact with moisture and will leave the most particulate matter on your piercing. Kitchen roll is acceptable

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