Piercings

NON-ORAL PIERCING AFTERCARE

CLEANING SOLUTIONS

• Packaged sterile saline is a gentle choice for piercing aftercare. Mixing your own sea salt solution is not a suggested practice. We strongly encourage you to use a sterile saline labeled for use as a wound wash. Contact lens saline, eye drops, and other saline products should never be used on a body piercing. Your saline ingredients should list 0.09% sodium chloride as the only ingredient. Mixing your own sea salt solution will commonly result in the product being far too salty and strong, this can over dry the piercing and interfere with healing.

CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS FOR BODY PIERCINGS

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

• SALINE rinse as needed during healing. For certain placements it may be easier to apply using a Q-tip (or clean gauze for larger areas) saturated with saline solution. A brief rinse afterward will remove any residue.

• If your piercer suggests using soap, gently lather around the piercing and rinse as needed. Avoid using harsh soaps, or soaps with dyes, fragrances.

• RINSE thoroughly to remove all traces of the soap from the piercing. It is not necessary to rotate the jewellery through the piercing.

• DRY by gently patting with clean, disposable paper products because cloth towels can harbour bacteria and snag on jewellery, causing issues.

• In the event an infection is suspected, please contact us by emailing info@grannys-attic-tattoo.net and put the word URGENT in the subject line, with a description of your symptoms and photos where possible and we will get back to you as soon as possible with advice.

WHAT IS NORMAL?

• Initially: some bleeding, localised swelling, tenderness, or bruising.

• During healing: some discolouration, itching, secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid (not pus) that will form some crust on the jewellery. The tissue may tighten around the jewellery as it heals.

• Once healed: the jewellery 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 may 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 healing period.

• Even healed piercings can shrink or close in minutes after having been there for years! This varies from person to person; if you like your piercing, keep jewellery in—do not leave it empty. 

WHAT TO DO

• Wash your hands prior to touching the piercing; leave it alone except when cleaning. During healing it is not necessary to rotate your jewellery

• Exercise during healing is fine; but listen to your body and use common sense.

• 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 harbour bacteria. If you bathe in a tub, clean it well before each use and rinse off your piercing when you get out.

WHAT TO AVOID

• Avoid cleaning with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial soaps, iodine, or any harsh products, as these can cause damage. Also avoid ointments as they prevent necessary air circulation.

• Avoid Bactine®, pierced ear care solutions, and other products containing lidocaine. 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 jewellery, 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.

• 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 jewellery 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

HINTS AND TIPS

Jewellery

• Unless there is a problem with the size, style, or material of the initial jewellery, leave it in the place for the entire healing period. See a qualified piercer to perform any jewellery change that becomes necessary during healing.

• Contact us for a non-metallic jewellery alternative if your metal jewellery must be temporarily removed (such as for a medical procedure).

• Leave jewellery in at all times. Even healed piercings that you have had for years can shrink or close in minutes! If removed, reinsertion can be difficult or impossible.

• With clean hands or paper products, be sure to regularly check threaded and threadless ends on your jewellery for tightness.

• Should you decide you no longer want the piercing, simply remove the jewellery (or have a professional piercer remove it) and continue cleaning the piercing until the hole closes. In most cases only a small mark should remain.

AREA SPECIFIC ADVICE:

NAVEL:

• 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/EAR CARTILAGE AND FACIAL:

• Ensure a clean surface for sleeping (i.e. a clean pillow case)

• Maintain cleanliness of telephones, 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.

NIPPLES:

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

WE HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR NEW PIERCING - YOU LOOK GORGEOUS <3 

If you have ANY concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact us on 07496 889 299 or on info@grannys-attic-tattoo.net.