AFTER CARE

1 CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS

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

· SALINE rinse as needed while healing. For certain piercings, it may be easier to apply using clean gauze saturated with saline solution. If your piercer suggests using soap, gently lather around the piercing and rinse as needed. Avoid using harsh soaps or soaps with dyes or fragrances.

· 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.

2 WHAT IS 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.

3 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 jewelry.

· Exercise during healing is fine; listen to your body.

· 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.

4 STAY HEALTHY

· The healthier your lifestyle, the easier it will be for your piercing to heal.

· Get enough sleep.

· To help heal and bolster your ability to fight infection, eat a nutritious diet. If you don’t, consider taking nutritional supplements daily. Avoid picking or scratching. It's important not to pick, scratch, or peel the scabs or flakes that form on your tattoo. Let them naturally slough off during the healing process to prevent scarring or color loss.

5 WHAT TO AVOID

· Avoid cleaning with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Dial®, or other soaps containing triclosan,2 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 other 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 (such as 3M™ Nexcare™ Clean Seals or Tegaderm). These are available at most drugstores.

· 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.