Healing Period

Healing times for piercing vary greatly. The care you give your piercing determines how quickly and how well it will heal. During the healing period, some people assume they can remove their jewelry any time and reinsert it easily. This is not so. For ear, nostril and septum piercings, something should be left in the piercing for at least two months; for all other piercings something should be left in the piercing for at least six months. At that point, most people have healed sufficiently and can leave their jewelry out and reinsert it later; however, a few people will lose their piercing if the jewelry is left out for more than the briefest time. Even if healed, the piercing needs time to "toughen up." If you need to
remove the jewelry during the first few months, clean the piercing as described below, then insert a short piece of heavy monofilament nylon fishing line through the length of the piercing.

Healing Problems

Even with a near perfect piercing where all the steps to establish a sterile condition have been taken, some piercings still have problems healing. Common causes of healing problems are:

1) oral contact and/or handling your piercing with dirty hands,
2) using a cleaning agent that is not compatible with your body,
3) not cleaning the piercing properly, or
4) wearing jewelry to which you are allergic.

The following suggestions will solve most problems. If following these suggestions do not produce rapid improvement, you should consult a physician as soon as possible.

Allergic Reaction to Cleaning Agents

An itching, a rash, or a discharge of clear fluid, usually suggests an allergic reaction to the cleaning agent or to the jewelry metal. If the piercing is having an allergic reaction, it will show signs of redness directly around the opening, an enlarged opening, itching or burning feeling and will ooze a clear / milky fluid.

Most allergic reactions are reactions to the cleanser used to clean the piercing or from too frequently, (more than twice a day) cleaning of the piercing. If the piercing is being cleaned more than twice daily, switch to a morning / night only routine. If the frequency is not a problem, switch to a less irritating cleanser.

Allergic Reaction To Jewelry Metal

The next possibility is that the reaction is from the metal in the jewelry. While it is possible to have an allergic reaction to any metal including niobium and titanium, which are usually very hypo-allergic, stainless steel is usually the source of many metal allergies. Stainless steel contains carbon and nickel, both can cause reactions. Recent studies seem to suggest that nickel is the bigger problem. Denmark, Germany, and Sweden have laws regarding the nickel content of jewelry. Denmark prohibits any jewelry containing nickel,
including stainless steel, to be placed in a piercing during the six week healing time after a piercing.

In the October issue of Accent Magazine, an article on metal allergies stated that studies here and abroad suggest that 10% - 20% of women develop a reaction to stainless steel known as "Nickel Dermatitis". This condition, prompted by nickel's direct and prolonged contact with the skin, can be characterized by redness, itchiness, flaking, burning, swelling, and the hole becoming enlarged.  Products like Ring-Gel, applied several times daily, provide a natural buffer between the ring and body during healing. If Ring-Gel does not help, change your jewelry to Titanium or Niobium.

Infection

It is important to do everything possible to avoid infection. Your risk of infection is small, if you conscientiously attend to the aftercare. Infections are characterized by redness that continues to spread away from the piercing, the infected area will be hot and sore to the touch, and the piercing will ooze greenish yellow pus. If the piercing is infected, clean twice daily with an antibacterial cleanser and ensure that you don't touch the piercing or jewelry except with thoroughly washed hands. Antibiotic ointments used  for a prolonged keep oxygen, a natural healing agent from reaching the piercing. We suggest you try Bactine or sea salt.While rare, some people are allergic to the contents of some antibiotic ointments and thus could cause an allergic reaction on top of the infection. Remember use of antibiotic ointments should not be continued for more than a week if you choose to use one! .If an infection does occur, removing the jewelry will not necessarily end the infection. It may make matters worse by eliminating the passageway for the discharge of pus and matter. If possible, leave your jewelry in when consulting your physician. In summary if a piercing is not healing well, first check for an allergic reaction to the cleanser or to the jewelry metal, second check for infection.

General Care

Never touch your new piercing with dirty hands. Do not let your own or other people's saliva or body fluids contact your piercing until it has completely healed. Your piercing heals faster if not treated roughly. Genital piercings do not prohibit sexual activity during the healing period; however, use a condom to reduce risk of infection. Use of rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide on your piercings is NOT effective and can prohibit healing. Eat a well-balanced diet with a vitamin / supplement. Several medical professionals have suggested taking a zinc supplement. The suggested dosage is one 60 mg tablet for women and two 60 mg tablets for men daily for four weeks. Also suggested is 3000 mg of vitamin C daily.

Piercings Below the Neck

Thoroughly clean your new piercing twice daily with antibacterial soap. Avoid over cleaning and using too many cleaning/healing agents at once. When cleaning your piercing, first wash your hands thoroughly. Then remove any matter that may have dried on the jewelry and around the opening of the piercing with warm water, and if needed a cotton
swab. Then pour a little antibacterial soap onto the jewelry/piercing, lather it up and work the jewelry back and forth at least 6 times. Leave the soap in contact with the skin for 2 - 3 minutes. Finally, rinse the soap off very thoroughly under running water, again working the jewelry back and forth at least 6 times. Be sure to rinse well!  If a rash or irritation develops when using any  product, try a different cleaning product. Some alternatives are Betadine surgical scrub, Antibacterial Dial, Soft Soap, Physoderm, or a low pH soap. Avoid ALL perfumed soaps or soaps containing deodorants, cold creams, etc. It is a good idea to urinate after cleaning any genital piercing through or near the urethra. This will rinse out any cleaning agent that might have gotten inside.

Most Piercings above the Neck

The best product for cleaning ear, nostril, septum and eye brow piercings is one that contains the antiseptic Benzalkonium Chloride. It sold under the trade name EarCare. An alternate cleanser is Bactine diluted with water. Twice daily, after washing your hands, use a cotton swab saturated with EarCare or the diluted Bactine to remove any dried matter, then work some solution into the piercing.

Special Piercings

Cheek, Lip and Tongue piercings require special care. Gently suck on ice or Popsicles for the first 24 - 48 hours after your piercing to minimize the swelling. You must avoid oral contact of any kind (no wet kissing, oral sex, etc.) for 6 weeks. Reduce your intake of warm beverages, hot/spicy foods, tobacco, alcohol, or anything that might irritate your mouth during healing, especially the first week. Rinse with Listerine or another antibacterial mouthwash for 30 - 60 seconds after consuming anything other than water. If Listerine is too harsh either dilute it or use a sea salt and water gargle, 1/4 teaspoon salt to 8 oz. of water. Twice daily use Gly-Oxide or Peroxyl, following the instructions on the
bottle. Do not omit this step. You might want to rinse with water after using. Clean the outer opening of cheek and lip piercings twice daily with EarCare or Bactine. Bactine should be diluted with water. Apply liberally with a cotton swab while rotating the jewelry. Regularly, wash your hands, and check to make sure that the stud backs/balls have not worked loose. Follow the above care routine for 6 - 8 weeks.

Please remember, we can not stress enough that if you have problems that are not getting better, seek professional help!  It is rare that there is a major problem with a piercing, most do well if cared for properly, but be aware that complications can happen.