General Aftercare

The following is a guide for the client to be able to take good care of the piercing to assist in the healing process.

The basics of external body piercing aftercare:

1. Hands Off! DO NOT TOUCH YOUR NEW PIERCING! Touching your piercing transfers bacteria directly into an open wound which can lead to an infection and the requirement of a medical professional.
2. Leave your jewellery alone! DO NOT CHANGE, TWIST, MOVE, OR ROTATE YOUR JEWELLERY! This disrupts the healing process and disturbs the regenerating tissue. If you like your piercing, keep jewellery in—do not leave the hole(s) empty. Even healed piercings that you have had for years can shrink or close in minutes once the jewellery is out.
3. Keep the piercing wound CLEAN. But DO NOT OVERCLEAN IT. You need to clean them twice a day, once in the morning, once at night after shower.
4. Rinse your piercing with fresh water in the shower. This should loosen any very hard crusty matter that forms on the jewellery.

After your shower, do the following 3 steps two times a day.

1. WASH your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning the piercings.
2. SPRAY your piercing’s entrance and exit holes with sterile saline or saltwater solution. Packaged Sterile Saline (wound wash saline) or saltwater spray are the only solutions we recommend for cleaning your fresh piercing(s), as they are the safest and gentlest for most people. You can put the solutions into a clean spray bottle (available in our shop for $-each).
3. Dry the piercing with clean paper products gently. A facial tissue or paper towel would be ideal. We recommend micro brushes for cleaning crusty discharge away from the jewellery as these small brushes are ideal for accessing difficult to reach tiny areas without leaving fibres. They are available in both our retail for $8 each pack).

What to AVOID

• AVOID using rough cotton balls or cotton buds, as they contain fibers that can be left within your piercing, catching on the jewelry and causing irritation and possible infection.
• AVOID using alcohol, tea tree oil, harsh chemicals, benzalkonium chloride (e.g., Studex), hydrogen peroxide, iodine-based products, antibiotic ointments, or harsh soaps to clean your new piercings.
• AVOID overcleaning. You only need to clean twice a day; overcleaning can lead to increased irritation.
• AVOID sleeping on your new piercing and be cautious of it getting caught by hair or clothing, which may cause bumping or irritation.

Be patient
Do not change your jewellery until they are healed unless the jewellery is causing problems or needs to be downsized. Everyone heals at a different rate, and a piercing might seem healed before the healing process is complete. This is because tissue heals from the outside in, and although it feels fine, the interior could remain fragile. Be patient and keep cleaning throughout the entire initial healing period.

What’s normal
Do not worry if bleeding, redness, swelling, tenderness and/or bruising are just normal for a brand-new piercing. During the healing process, some discolouration, itching, secretion of a whitish yellow even greenish sticky discharge (not pus) that will form crust on the jewellery. The tissue may tighten around the jewellery as it heals. If you do have concerns, please visit us without any appointment needed.

Average General Piercing Healing Times
Below are approximate healing times for healthy piercings on most people. Keep in mind that your piercing may heal more quickly or take even longer. Continue suggested aftercare for at least the amount of time listed below for your piercing.

 

How to make your own saltwater solution?
Dissolve 1/4 teaspoon (1.42 grams) of non-iodized salt into one cup (250 ml) distilled bottle or cool-boiled water. Make sure your salt-to-water ratio is correct. A stronger or weaker solution is not better and may not be working or irritate your piercing.

What to do with Piercing bumps?
The most common reason for bumps/lumps is irritation. Your fresh piercing may get knocked or bumped, OR something may have entered the hole, it could be dust, makeup, hair products, ANYTHING. This foreign object will also be irritating it from the inside. You can use saltwater compress to get rid of the irritation bumps.

Saltwater compress: For soreness or piercing bumps, you can saturate a gauze pad or clean paper products with sterile saline or saltwater. Then place the gauze on the piercing for 10 minutes. You can do this once or twice a day. This is very beneficial for healing and relieving any piercing bumps.

Check-up
Here at Pheenix, we provide free check-ups and cleaning for your piercing if you get the piercing(s) done in our shop.
A check-up 2-4 weeks after piercing is recommended even for piercings which don’t require a downsize. This helps us make sure your piercing is healing well and we can help solve any issues, that may occur, early on.

Downsizing
Please note: Downsizing will be an additional cost of $5-$15 for a new piece of jewellery.
Downsizing is crucial for a healthy piercing that lasts longer. It means switching the post or ring to a shorter or smaller one to give a snug-fit after swelling has gone down. A snug, well-fitting piece of jewellery minimises the risk of snagging and pressure issues and is much more comfortable.

Remember: The MOST important thing is we are here to help you. If you have questions or concerns about body piercing, do not hesitate to come and see us, give us a call, or drop us an email.

Disclaimer: These guidelines are based on a combination of vast professional experience, common sense, research, and extensive clinical practice. If you suspect an infection, seek medical attention.