Aftercare

Wash your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning or touching your piercing for any reason.

Spray with sterile saline wound wash while healing. Moving or rotating jewelry is not necessary during cleaning/rinsing and may actually irritate the piercing.

Dry with clean, disposable products like gauze or cotton swabs, gently removing any crusty debris or build up. Cloth towels should be avoided as they can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry.

Clean bedding and pillow cases are important. You can use the t-shirt trick: slip your pillow in a large, clean t-shirt. You can get up to four clean surfaces for sleeping by rotating the pillow and turning the t-shirt inside out.

You can protect your piercing from excess irritation, physical trauma from activities like sports, or tight clothing with a hard, vented eye patch (sold at pharmacies). To avoid irritation from adhesive/medical tape, you can secure it over your piercing using tights/stockings or by using a length of elastic/ace-type bandage around your body. 

The support of a tight cotton shirt or sports bra may provide protection and make you feel comfortable, especially when sleeping.

Genital Piercings – especially Triangles, Prince Alberts, Ampallangs, and Apadravyas – can bleed freely for the first few days. Be prepared. Additional cleaning after urination is not necessary.

Wash your hands before touching (directly or near-by) a healing piercing.

In most cases, you can engage in sexual activity as soon as you feel ready, but maintaining hygiene and avoiding trauma are vital; all sexual activities should be gentle during the healing period.

Use barriers such as condoms, dental dams, waterproof bandages, etc. to avoid contact with your partners’ body fluids, even in long-term monogamous relationships.

Use protection on sex toys, too.

Use a new container of water-based lubricant; do not use saliva.

Showering after intercourse is suggested.

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 and pressure 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.

Avoiding things like excessive stress, drug use, excessive caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol is suggested, as they can prolong the healing process.

Avoid submerging the piercing in bodies of water such as lakes, pools, oceans, hot tubs, etc. Or, protect your piercing using a waterproof transparent film dressing. These are available at most pharmacies and are ideal for nipple, navel, and surface piercing placements.

Avoid all beauty and personal care products on or around the piercing, including cosmetics, lotions, sprays, etc.

Don’t hang charms or any object from your jewelry until the piercing is fully healed.