Piercing Aftercare
Treat your piercing like a fresh wound.
Expect some soreness, tenderness, and secretion of a clear to white or pale-yellow fluid throughout the healing process. (This is called lymphatic fluid - and is a completely normal part of healing!) It is normal for your piercing to be sore/ tender/ swollen/bruised for the first few days or weeks.
Proper healing takes time, please don't be tempted to rush the process by applying tea tree oil or rubbing alcohol which long term causes an unhappy piercing. Be careful to avoid knocks, bumps, tears, or uneven pressure (sleeping on your jewellery, ill-fitting jewellery, headphones, etc.), as this can cause complications.
In summary:
- No touching/ twisting / turning /picking
- No aftercare alternate to sterile saline solution/NeilMed
- No sleeping on your fresh piercing
How do I clean my piercing?
General aftercare should involve a gentle clean twice a day using a sterile saline solution only which can be purchased from your piercer. We do not recommend anything other than a 0.9% sterile saline spray - especially 'three week' rapid healing solutions. These often contain chemicals such as alcohol or peroxide which can cause drying and cracking.
Step by step:
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Clean your hands with soap and water
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Apply sterile saline to soften dried secretions / 'crusties'
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Use a piece of gauze to remove dried secretions / 'crusties'
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Gently pat dry piercing with disposable paper towel.
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Do not neglect downsize instructions
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Do not sleep on your piercing during healing
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Tighten your jewellery!!
How long do I need to clean my piercing for?
Sterile saline must be used for the whole healing time. Once your piercing is healed, it needs to be cleaned the same way you'd clean every part of your body - regularly! (Though take care not to use any harsh or scented products as these can build up in around your jewellery and cause issues!)
When can I change my jewellery?
You can change your jewellery by yourself once your piercing is fully healed. Changing jewellery too soon can undo all the hard work. We do however insist on checking in regularly to have your jewellery downsized by a professional as eliminating excess length is an important part of keeping your piercing healing well. ​
Your piercing will require a minimum of one to two downsizes to ensure the jewellery is an appropriate length for the current stage of healing.
How long will my piercing take to fully heal? How do I know?
Healing times can vary due to a variety of factors. These times are based on the averages, don't worry if you take a little longer - if you're unsure as to whether or not your piercing is healed, book in for a check-up.
It's also important to note that these averages are based on having downsized jewellery at appropriate timing.
How do I take care of my oral piercing?
Oral piercing are a little different to other body piercings when it comes to aftercare. You need to avoid smoking, alcohol and spicy/sour/salty foods for a while until your piercing has the time to settle. Keep a reasonable dental routine , however please avoid harsh/alcohol based mouth washes. Please avoid kissing and intimate contact until the piercing is settled.
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Lobes – 6-8 weeks
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Forward Helix/ Helix 6-8 months
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Tragus/ Anti Tragus/ Daith – 6-8 months
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​Rook – 6-8 months
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Snug – 6-12 months
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Nostril 4-6 months
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High Nostril - 6+ months
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Eyebrow – 3-4 months
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Industrial/scaffold 6-12 months
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Septum – 8-12 weeks
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Tongue/ Smiley/ Lips/ Web 4-8 weeks
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Nipple/Navel 8-12 months