Looking After Yourself After a Piercing

The time after a piercing can be crucial to avoid infection inflammation and allow it to heal properly. Once it has healed, you can then decide on what to insert. But this time can be tricky. So, from avoiding soaps to being careful how you dress, here are some useful suggestions.

Keep An Eye On It

The easiest thing to do is to keep an eye on your piercing. Check it every morning to see if it is healing as it should. Some areas, like your nose and belly button, are prone to infections. So if you are looking for a men’s nose ring, for example, you won’t be able to do anything until the piercing is fully healed. If you notice any redness or leakage from a piercing and it is causing a lot of pain, it could be an indication that something is wrong. Go to a hospital in these cases.

Check-In with Your Technician

The artist who does your piercing will be very knowledgeable about caring for it afterward, or at least they should be. If you go to a reputable and reliable piercing technician – such as one working with Clementine Piercing – they will tell you how to care for the piercing after you receive it. But if you have any concerns, they will be all too happy to check it for you. Some will also offer to professionally clean it as well. And it can be a good idea to check in, even if it’s just for your own peace of mind about whether it is healing. While aftercare is a big part of the process, your preparation starts much earlier. You should research the specific type of piercing you want to get so you know what to expect. Some spots take longer to heal than others. Understanding these details before your piercing helps you prepare for the commitment. It also gives you a chance to ask your artist better questions about the procedure. Being ready for the pain level and the long-term care makes the whole experience easier.

Avoid Soaps and Cleansers After a Piercing

Keeping a piercing or tattoo clean is vital. But you can do it the wrong way. Standard off-the-shelf soaps and body washes will hurt and can make things worse because of the ingredients. To clean a piercing correctly, use sterile alcohol wipes and saline solution. These both have antibacterial properties that clean the wound without adding anything to it. Both of these are widely available in stores and are pretty cheap, too. Never use a washcloth.

Be Careful with Clothing

Touching a new piercing is a big no-no. When you touch it, you risk adding bacteria that can slow the healing process and cause infection. This is pretty easy for your nose. But of course, it can be hard for other body parts like the belly button, private areas, and your ears. The reason is that you will pull clothing over these areas, and this can rub. If possible, put your clothing in another way. And if you must cover the area with clothing, wear looser garments than usual.

Don’t Do Anything Until You are Healed

When you get a piercing, you just want to get something nice and shiny put in there. But it will take around 2 to 3 weeks for a piercing to fully heal. So you will have to wait on your hands before you can decide on your new nose stud or earrings. Inserting these before it has healed increases the risk of infection. However, you can have a lot of fun browsing jewelry magazines and piercing websites and deciding on the beautiful rings and other pieces you can buy.

Summary

Keeping an eye on it is the best thing to do after a piercing. However, you can check in with your artist to check it for you if you are concerned. And don’t insert anything until it is fully healed.