How to Look After Your Piercing
Don't touch!
While your piercing is healing it is important not to touch it with your hands (or let anyone else touch it) except when you are cleaning it. Wash your hands, preferably with anti-bacterial soap before touching your piercing.
Touching, movement, knocks and bumps will slow down healing, so be careful during physical activities, when playing sports or when putting clothes on or off over a new piercing. Be aware of hair around the site as it can easily get tangled around jewellery.
Protect your piercing with a non-stick dressing if necessary. Piercings under clothes may need to be covered when they are new.
Tongue and sexual contact should be avoided at the site for approximately two to four weeks. Always practice safe sex as risk is greater with a new piercing.
Clean it Twice a Day
Wash your piercing when you have a shower. Make sure to remove any crusty build up on the jewellery. Dry it with a clean towel or tissue, and then apply an anti-bacterial solution with cotton wool. Use your aftercare product with a cotton wool ball to clean your piercing when not showering.
Move the Jewellery
When the jewellery is clean and wet from the anti-bacterial solution gently move the jewellery up and down or rotate the ring. Don’t move the jewellery at other times.
Barbell/labret stud balls should be tightened daily by turning clockwise.
Aftercare Products
Use water based products designed specifically for piercings. Do not use general wound care products, antiseptic creams or products that will dry the piercing out such as metho or peroxide.
Rising Angel recommends the Easy Piercing range of aftercare products. The Easy Piercing range includes a cleanser, an anti-bacterial spray, a saline spray and a mouthwash.
Saline Solutions
Saline solutions can be used instead of anti-bacterial products, however the right saline solution should be used to prevent drying out the piercing. The concentration recommended for piercings is 5%. Many saline solutions available are too concentrated and therefore are not suitable for piercings. You can mix your own saline solution by mixing half a teaspoon of salt to 200ml (about 1 glass) of water. Use sea salt or rock salt as most common brands of table salt contain an anti-caking agent which is not ideal for piercings.
Infection
If infection occurs keep the area clean and wash it twice a day. Soak it in a warm mild saline solution for 10-15 minutes twice a day. Take ibuprofen to reduce the associated inflammation (seek advice from a doctor or paharmacist before taking any medication). If there is no improvement in a few days then come in and see us for advice, if there is no improvement in a week then see a doctor. Always remember, don’t take the jewellery out as infections can become trapped below the surface causing serious problems.
Nose Piercings
Nose studs can come out quite easily so be extra careful when washing your face, brushing your hair and putting clothes on or off over your face. Secure the stud at night while you sleep with some micro-pore tape and cotton wool or a band-aid for the first week or two.
Oral Piercings
Oral piercings need to be rinsed with an anti-septic mouthwash twice daily, during cleaning. Tongue piercings need to be rinsed six times a day. After the second day the mouthwash needs to be diluted to half strength. Rising Angel recommends Easy Piercing Mouthwash as some other brands are not anti-bacterial.
Ask your pharmacist for an anti-inflammatory to combat any swelling. To control swelling after a tongue piercing we recommend you keep your tongue cold with ice, cold drinks e.g. slurpees, and cold foods for the first 24 hours.
We recommend getting a new toothbrush after an oral piercing. For tongue piercings, gently clean your tongue with a soft bristle toothbrush.
During the first week you should avoid alcohol and smoking.
Tongues are pierced with a longer-than-needed barbell to allow for any swelling. Avoid excessive movement of the barbell as it can cause stress to the site and chip your teeth. You will need to return to Rising Angel in 10 to 14 days to change over to a shorter barbell.