Facial & Ear Piercing Aftercare

Congratulations on your new piercing! Proper aftercare is crucial for a healthy and beautiful piercing. Please follow these instructions carefully.

Keep it Clean!

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching your piercing for any reason. This is the most important step in preventing infection.

• Clean your piercing 1-2 times daily. Use a mild, fragrance-free liquid antibacterial soap.

  • Gently lather a small amount of soap in your clean hands.

  • Carefully cleanse the piercing and the surrounding skin, ensuring you remove any crust or debris.

  • Rinse thoroughly with clean running water to remove all traces of soap. Soap residue can be irritating.

  • Gently pat the area dry with clean, disposable paper towels or allow it to air dry. Cloth towels can harbor bacteria.

Things to Avoid:

• Touching your piercing unnecessarily. The less you touch it, the lower the risk of introducing bacteria.

• Twisting, turning, or sliding the jewelry unless specifically instructed to do so by your piercer for a very specific reason (this is generally discouraged for new piercings). This can irritate the healing tissue and introduce bacteria.

• Picking at crust or scabs. Allow them to come off naturally during cleaning. Forcing them off can damage the healing tissue and lead to scarring.

• Using harsh chemicals, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or iodine. These can damage healthy cells and delay healing.

• Over-cleaning. Cleaning more than twice a day can irritate the piercing and dry out the skin.

• Submerging your piercing in bodies of water such as pools, hot tubs, lakes, or oceans until it is fully healed. These environments can harbor bacteria. If you must swim, use a waterproof bandage.

• Applying makeup, lotions, sprays, or other cosmetic products directly on or around the piercing until it is fully healed. These products can clog the piercing channel and cause irritation.

• Sleeping on your new ear piercing. This can cause irritation, swelling, and migration of the jewelry. Try to sleep on your back or the opposite side.

• Wearing tight headwear or anything that puts pressure on your facial piercing.

• Removing your jewelry prematurely. Even if the piercing looks and feels healed, the tissue inside is still delicate. Consult your piercer before attempting to remove or change your jewelry.

What to Expect:

• Initial tenderness, swelling, redness, and mild bruising are normal for the first few days to a week.

• You may see a small amount of clear or whitish-yellow fluid (lymph) being secreted. This is a normal part of the healing process and not pus.

When to Seek Professional Advice:

Contact your piercer or a doctor if you experience any of the following:

• Signs of infection: Increased redness, swelling, pain, heat, or thick, discolored discharge (green, yellow, or gray).

• A persistent rash or irritation around the piercing.

• Fever or chills.

• The jewelry becomes embedded in the skin.

Healing Times (approximate and vary by individual and piercing location):

• Earlobes: 6-8 weeks

• Ear Cartilage (helix, tragus, etc.): 4-12 months

• Nostril: 2-4 months

• Septum: 6-8 months

• Eyebrow: 6-8 weeks

Important Note: Healing times are estimates. Be patient and continue your aftercare routine consistently for the entire recommended time frame, even if your piercing seems healed.

Avoid overpriced "piercing aftercare solutions." A mild antibacterial soap and consistent cleaning are usually all that is needed for successful healing.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact your professional piercer. They are your best resource for ensuring a happy and healthy piercing!