PIERCING AFTERCARE INFORMATION

More information about the healing of your new piercing:

 

A piercing behaves much like any other wound; the body will begin healing immediately.

 

Your piercing should look and feel good as soon as the initial soreness and swelling subsides.

 

Extreme pain, redness, continued swelling, a sensation of heat or discoloured discharge are not normal and are a sign something is not quite right.

 

If you feel something is not quite right please don’t hesitate to contact us via our website, Instagram page, Facebook page or visit during opening hours.

 

For many years, the accepted routine of piercing aftercare was like waging a small scale chemical warfare on healing wounds. Most doctors recommend to follow a similar care regimen for wounds as we do.

 

PLEASE FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS:

 NO TOUCHY TOUCHY! Don’t twist it, don’t turn it, don’t touch it with your hands, don’t touch it with your towel, do not rub all over it with cotton buds, don’t sleep on it, don’t wear

tight clothes on it, do not rub it into kitty cats. I’M SERIOUS! Anything that causes movement pressure or friction on your piercing will not help it.

 

AVOID BIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION. Again, NO TOUCHY TOUCHY! Dirty hands are the #1 source of healing problems. Keep other people’s bodily fluids away from it. Unclean

water is not nice either (lakes, rivers, pools, hot tubs.) Keep your area hygienic and change your sheets ;)

 

AVOID CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION. There is a gargantuan list of chemicals, solutions and materials that will irritate your piercing. However, there is a simple way to remember. I call it “the eye test” when unsure simply ask yourself “hmm…. Would I put this in my eyeball?” If the answer is no, it becomes quite clear that it is not for internal use. I do not care what your Auntie Jean says, tea tree oil is no good, rubbing alcohol is no good, iodine is no good PEROXIDE IS NO GOOD. On the same note, try to avoid more mild things like soap, makeup and shampoo also.

 

DO NOT REMOVE YOUR JEWELLERY. In the early stages of healing the skin can begin to fuse in seconds!

 

IF SOMETHING DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT PLEASE CONTACT US

 

What about cleaning?

When it comes to cleaning, all we are doing is cleaning off the exudates (the yellowish crusty bits) that form on the outside of the piercing without causing physical or chemical irritation.

 

Lucky for us in Adelaide we have very clean tap water so the majority of this will be taken care of by allowing the shower pressure to run directly on the piercing for a good few minutes. This will cause the exudate to soften and simultaneously remove the majority of the material.

 

For the remainder, the preferred method is by using sterile saline, many studios around the world will offer this in the form of a spray bottle. However, due to the desert climate of SA we suggest something that delivers a full stream.

 

Neilmed Piercing aftercare is the industry standard but unfortunately the full stream version is exceedingly difficult to get in Australia so we recommend Crystawash from AFT Pharmaceuticals. Both use a bag on valve technology that keep the saline inside completely sterile.

 

 

If neither are available to you a standard squeeze bottle of normal saline without additives will suffice. They are available under many brand names at any pharmacy within Australia.

 

If in doubt, please contact us an we will assist you.

Phase One: (typically 7-14 days):

I understand, it’s natural to want to investigate but please resist the urge.

 

The new piercing will weep lymphatic fluid. It is a clear, yellowish discharge that would come out of any wound. THIS IS NOT A SIGN OF INFECTION AND IS NOT PUS. In actuality, it’s a good sign, it shows your body is doing what it should and fighting the good fight. It generally will form a scab like cover on the piercing which will keep out foreign bodies and bacteria so it’s a good idea to leave it intact. However, if it is stuck to the jewellery or if you have an unusually large amount of build-up it is recommended you remove it by the sea salt soak method as outlined on this page.

 

Allow it to breathe as much as permitted.

 

Limit exposure to tap water.

 

Even in a monogamous relationship, avoid unprotected sexual or oral contact.

 

If it’s wet, dry it by dabbing it with a sterile disposable tissue/gauze or by using a hair dryer on the cool setting.

 

If it’s dirty, gently wash around the piercing with a mild anti-bacterial soap and rinse with distilled water or saline.

Phase Two: (typically within 30 days):

If you’ve been caring for your piercing properly, you’ll notice shedding of your “crusties” this is normal.

 

This is usually the point where it is safe to change the jewellery to a smaller size and it is highly recommended that you do to help facilitate further healing. However, it is easy to damage it by doing so. We have the tools and expertise to do this for you safely and will not charge for changing jewellery purchased through our studio.

 

Keep up with the same care regimen until no more matter is secreted by the piercing.

 

Phase Three: (Typically 30-90 days):

By now you should have a nice, new tunnel of flesh we like to call a fistula. CONGRATULATIONS you’re almost in the clear. However, it is still delicate so ease back into your regular activities.

SEA SALT SOAKS

Bathing wounds in a sea salt bath is by far the most gentle and effective method of cleaning and draining out excess fluid, we recommend doing them twice daily but a minimum of 4 times per week, beginning a few days after the initial piercing.

 

What you will need:

  • Distilled Water

  • Non-iodised Sea Salt
  • A glass cup or ceramic bowl

Add one heaped teaspoon of sea salt per litre of distilled water to an empty bottle and shake vigorously then allow the mixture to dissolve overnight.

 

Pour enough of this solution into your glass or bowl to submerge your pierced body part in

 

Microwave for approximately 15 seconds. This should bring it slightly above internal body temperature. Otherwise, microwave for longer and allow to cool.

 

Submerge the piercing in the solution for 5-7 minutes then allow to air dry, or gently dab dry with a sterile tissue/gauze or use a hair dryer on the cool setting.