REGULAR PIERCINGS 

Your new piercing has involved breaking the surface of your skin and there is a possibility that, if not cared for properly, your piercing may become infected.  By following the advice provided below you will be reducing the chance of anything going wrong with your piercing.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR PIERCING

It is normal for most piercings to bleed slightly at first, but this should last no more than a few minutes - this may happen a few times over the first few days but should not be continuous and should not be heavy – if this happens you should seek medical advice immediately.

Everyone heals at different rates and some piercings take longer than others to heal. The following list gives an idea of the estimated healing times for different piercings but yours may take more or less time to heal completely.

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Ear lobe, eyebrow, nasal septum - 6 to 8 weeks

Ear cartilage, nostril - 2 months to 1 year

Tongue - 4 to 8 weeks

Lip, cheek - 6 to 12 weeks

Genital - 4 to 12 weeks

Nipple, scrotum, outer labia - 2 to 6 months

Navel - 4 months to 1 year

Your new piercing may be itchy, tender and slightly red for some time – in some cases a clear, odourless fluid may come from the site and form a crust.  This is part of the natural healing process.

SOME GENERAL RULES ABOUT YOUR PIERCING

Minimise the chance of germs getting into your piercing:

-  don’t touch your piercing for at least a couple of days

-  don’t pick at, or play with, your piercing

-  don’t allow anyone else to touch your piercing

-  when you have to handle either the site or jewellery, wash

   and dry your hands thoroughly first

-  don’t use your fingernails to move the jewellery

 Try not to aggravate your piercing:

-  avoid wearing tight clothing around your piercing

-  keep waistbands away from navel piercings

-  try to avoid rigorous exercise until your piercing heals

 For tongue piercings:

-  try to eat soft foods for the first few days

-  gradually work your way up to tougher foods

-  try to avoid hot spicy foods for the first few days

-  sucking on ice, or drinking iced water, might help reduce

   swelling of tongue piercings

-  use a new toothbrush to ensure that any bacteria that may

   be in your old one don’t get into your piercing and infect it.

KEEPING YOUR PIERCING CLEAN

Where possible, you should aim to clean your piercing twice a day.  Most piercings can be cleaned with warm pre-boiled tap water or sterile saline solution – this can be bought from most pharmacies in individual packs – use a fresh pack and a clean fresh cotton bud every time you clean the site.  Always make sure your hands are clean.

Turn your piercing once or twice a day when you are cleaning it – soak off any crust that may have formed before you start to turn the jewellery – if possible, use a tissue to handle the jewellery rather than your hands – always make sure your hands are clean.  Other than when you are cleaning the site, don’t pick off any crust that forms as this acts as a barrier to stop your site becoming infected.

After cleaning, pat the piercing dry with a clean tissue - always keep your piercing as dry as possible – try to avoid using towels, and definitely don’t use towels that other people have been using.

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR WITH YOUR NEW PIERCING

As your piercer will already have advised you, there are a number of things that could go wrong with your new piercing if it is not cared for properly.

Localised Infection

If aftercare advice is not followed correctly, infection may occur at the site of your piercing.  If you suffer from any of the following after having your piercing you should speak to your piercer, or seek medical assistance in an emergency:

-  Swelling and redness that increases or lasts more than a week or so after the piercing  -

-  A burning or throbbing sensation at the site  -

-  Increased tenderness, painful to touch  -

-  An unusual discharge (yellow or green) with an offensive smell  -

Migration of Jewellery

If jewellery is too thin, or the jewellery is agitated before it heals completely, it is possible that the jewellery may move outwards through your skin.  This problem is more common in navel and eyebrow piercings but could happen with a piercing at any site.  If you think this may be happening to your piercing then return to your piercer and seek their advice.

Embedding of Jewellery

Sometimes, if an infection occurs at a piercing site, or if an inappropriate piece of jewellery has been used for a piercing, the jewellery may try to make its way completely under the surface of the skin.  This is known as embedding.  If you think this may be happening to your piercing then return to your piercer and seek their advice.

Allergic Reaction

Your piercer will already have asked you about any allergies that you may have.  However, if you should notice an allergic response to your jewellery (or any other product used during the piercing) at any time then seek medical advice.

If you have any problems or questions at any time then you should contact your piercer – to ask their advice in the first instance.  It may be the case that they may refer you to your GP, or reassure you that what you are seeing is part of the natural healing process.