after care for your body piercing

a new piercing

Getting a new piercing involves breaking the skin surface so there is always a potential risk for infection to occur afterwards. Your piercing should be treated as a wound initially and it is important that this advice is followed so that the infection risk can be minimised.

bleeding

Most piercings will bleed at first but this should stop within a few minutes. Gentle pressure on or around the pierced site will slow bleeding, but if it is excessive or persists then immediate medical advice should be sought.

swelling

Remember all pierced regions will tend to swell immediately after treatment, and the item of jewelry you have inserted will be designed to accommodate this. Tongue piercings may swell to the limit of the inserted bar, and this can be reduced by rinsing the mouth with iced water.

jewelry becomes too tight

If jewelry becomes too tight because of swelling, see your body piercer immediately. Always wash and dry your hands before and after any essential handling a newly pierced site, e.g. cleaning of the area.

cleaning

After removing any initial dressing applied by the piercer, clean the piercing twice a day if possible - the use of boiled , cooled water and clean gauze or other non-disintegrating cotton wool swabs is best for this. Sterile (normal) saline purchased in sachets from your pharmacist is also suitable for this.

Gently soak off and wipe any crusty formations at the wound site - do not pick them off. Avoid applying hot cleaning solutions or surgical spirit on the treated area as they can damage delicate healing skin.

leave it alone!

Avoid unnecessary touching, scratching or picking of the newly pierced site to reduce risk of infection. In particular, avoid using fingernails to handle jewelry, as the underside of nails are more likely to introduce infection to the pierced site.

bathing

If possible, shower rather than bathe whilst the piercing is healing so that unnecessary water submersion is avoided.

drying

Pat dry the pierced area after cleaning - do not rub as this could snag jewelry and tear delicate healing tissue.

skin products

Do not use skin products on the treated area that have not been recommended by us or are not intended for open wound healing. There is generally no need to use any other skin antiseptic products and you should not share skin products with others.

wear loose clothing

Try to wear loose, cotton clothing to minimise rubbing and irritation to a newly pierced site, and in general try and keep a new piercing as dry and exposed as possible.

protect from dirt

Always keep a new piercing covered and protected if working in a dirty/dusty/oily environment - a non-adhesive dressing secured with dermatologial tape is best.

wear high quality jewelry

Only ever change your jewelry as directed by us, and ensure any new jewelry you buy is of good quality and is from a reputable dealer. All jewelry sold by 777 Body piercing is high quality.

healing times

For body piercing, expected (complete) healing times are difficult to predict because individuals' healing abilities vary, but all clients should be told what to expect. The healing time is the time required for the jewelry 'tunnel' to become dry and healed after the initial tissue damage. Guidelines are scarce in this area, but those provided below originate from the US Association of Professional Piercers:

facial healing

Ear lobe, eyebrow and nasal septum six to eight weeks. Cartilaginous regions of the ear and nostril take two months to one year. Lips and cheeks take six to eight weeks.

tongue healing

The tongue takes four to eight weeks and chewing gum should be avoided whilst oral piercing are healing. Newly pierced tongue regions can be gently cleansed with a clean soft toothbrush and toothpaste, in order to remove any coating around the site. Half strength wash - diluted with tap water - should be used twice daily after tongue piercings, and additionally after eating, drinking or smoking.

genital healing

Genital piercings both female and male including inner labia, clitoral hood take four to twelve weeks, whilst nipples, scrotum and outer labia can take two to six months. Navel and ampallang - a transverse penile piercing - can take anywhere from four months to one year.