General Piercing Aftercare
Daily Cleaning Instructions
Wash your hands prior to touching the piercing; leave it alone except when cleaning. During healing it is not necessary to rotate your jewelry.
Clean 2–3 times daily with a packaged sterile saline solution (labeled for wound care). Do not use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or harsh soaps.
SALINE rinse as needed while healing. For certain piercings it may be easier to apply using clean gauze saturated with saline solution.
Apply using clean gauze or spray directly. Rinse gently if needed.
RINSE site as needed to remove cleaning solution residue. Moving or rotating jewelry is not necessary during cleaning or rinsing.
DRY by gently patting with clean, disposable paper products. Cloth towels can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry causing injury.
Do not twist, turn, or remove jewelry during healing.
Make sure your bedding is washed and changed regularly. Wear clean, comfortable, breathable clothing that protects your piercing while you are sleeping.
Showers tend to be safer than taking baths, as bathtubs can harbor bacteria. If you bathe in a tub, clean it well before each use and rinse off your piercing when you get out.
What’s Normal
Initially: some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness, and/or bruising.
During healing: some discoloration, itching, secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid (not pus) that will form some crust on the jewelry. The tissue may tighten around the jewelry as it heals.
Once healed: the jewelry may not move freely in the piercing; do not force it. If you fail to include cleaning your piercing as part of your daily hygiene routine, normal but smelly bodily secretions may accumulate.
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 remains fragile. Be patient, and keep cleaning throughout the entire initial healing period.
Even healed piercings that you have had for years can shrink or close in minutes! This varies from person to person; if you like your piercing, keep jewelry in - do not leave the hole empty
What to Avoid
Avoid cleaning with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial soaps, iodine, or any harsh products, as these can damage cells. Also avoid ointments as they prevent necessary air circulation.
Avoid Bactine®, pierced ear care solutions, and other products containing Benzalkonium Chloride (BZK). These can be irritating and are not intended for long-term wound care.
Avoid over-cleaning. This can delay your healing and irritate your piercing.
Avoid undue trauma such as friction from clothing, excessive motion of the area, playing with the jewelry, and vigorous cleaning. These activities can cause the formation of unsightly and uncomfortable scar tissue, migration, prolonged healing, and other complications.
Avoid all oral contact, rough play, and contact with others’ bodily fluids on or near your piercing during healing.
Avoid stress and recreational drug use, including excessive caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.
Avoid submerging the piercing in unhygienic bodies of water such as lakes, pools, hot tubs, etc. Or, protect your piercing using a waterproof wound-sealant bandage. These are available at most drugstores and work best for nipple, navel, and surface piercing placements.
Avoid all beauty and personal care products on or around the piercing including cosmetics, lotions, and sprays, etc.
Don’t hang charms or any object from your jewelry until the piercing is fully healed.
Sleeping directly on a healing cartilage piercing can cause irritation, even causing shifts in the piercing’s angle. Placing a travel pillow, on top of your pillow, and then placing your ear in the opening can be helpful to avoid this.
Area-Specific Guidelines
Navel Piercing
A hard, vented eye patch (sold at pharmacies) can be applied under tight clothing (such as nylon stockings) or secured using a length of elastic bandage around the body (to avoid irritation from adhesive). This can protect the area from restrictive clothing, excess irritation, and impact during physical activities such as contact sports
Ear & Facial Piercings
Use the t-shirt trick: Dress your pillow in a large, clean t-shirt and turn it nightly; one clean t-shirt provides four clean surfaces for sleeping.
Maintain cleanliness of phones, headphones, eyeglasses, helmets, hats, and anything that contacts the pierced area.
Use caution when styling your hair and advise your stylist of a new or healing piercing.
Nipple Piercing
Wear tight cotton shirts or sports bras for comfort and protection, especially at night.
Avoid trauma from activity, contact, or clothing during healing.
Genital Piercing
Expect initial bleeding, especially for Prince Alberts, Triangles, Ampallangs, and Apadravyas. Additional cleaning after urination is not necessary.
Wash your hands before touching on (or near) a healing piercing.
Clean after sexual activity with a saline rinse.
Use barrier protection (condoms, dental dams) during sex—even in long-term monogamous relationships.
Use clean, disposable barriers on sex toys.
Do not use saliva; use new, water-based lubricant only.
After sex, an additional saline rinse is suggested.
Avoid contact with bodily fluids from others while healing.
Surface Anchors
These piercings require ongoing maintenance during their entire lifetime because matter can build up underneath the threaded top causing the piercing to become irritated.
Clean buildup under threaded tops with sterile saline and shower rinses.
Avoid makeup near the site, even after healing.
Surface anchors are more prone to rejection or shorter lifespan.
Jewelry Care
Do not remove jewelry during healing unless advised by a professional.
Check threaded ends regularly for tightness (with clean hands or paper).
If removal is needed (e.g., for a medical procedure), ask your piercer for a non-metallic retainer.
Even healed piercings can close quickly. Keep jewelry in unless you're retiring the piercing.
If you choose to remove the jewelry, continue cleaning the area until the hole fully closes.
Healing Timeline & Medical Caution
Healing times vary by location and body. Ask your piercer for expected duration.
Seek medical help if you notice:
Fever or chills
Green/yellow discharge with odor
Excessive redness or swelling
Disclaimer: These aftercare guidelines are based on professional best practices and do not replace medical advice. If complications arise, consult a physician - preferably one experienced with body piercings. Your piercer may provide referrals.