T.L.C. stands for tender loving care, and that is exactly what your new piercing is going to need. Disregarding your aftercare or using harmful products will only prolong your discomfort and the healing process.

Most piercers will provde you with aftercare instructions, but in general more than 60% of all customers this information simply goes in 1 ear and out the other. Also,almost 50% of all piercing clients forget where they put their aftercare instructions and try to `wing it` and contrive their own. And then there is the other percentage that go to a mall kiosk and get pierced with a gun, and then come here to learn they shouldn`t have done that. For those of you in any of those groups, or if your piercer really didn`t tell you how to care for your new piercing, here are my recommendations.

*Disclaimer* I do not claim to be a professional piercer, nor do I claim to be the `best resource` for piercing aftercare instructions. The piercing aftercare instructions I provide have been assembled based on experience with personal piercings, talking to piercers that I sell jewelry to, and based on other articles found searching for further information. Not all aftercare methods are appropriate for all people, but I am recommending aftercare tips that are generally accepted for most piercings.

General Piercing Aftercare

What You May Require:

• Sea Salt
• Anti-Bacterial or Antimicrobial Liquid Soap/Wash (Like Provon or Satin)
• Cotton Balls
• Cotton-tipped Swabs
• Small disposable cups
• Paper towels

Cleaning Your Piercing:
1. First, wash your hands thoroughly. Never touch your piercing or jewerly with dirty hands.
2. Saturate a cotton ball with warm water, and gently wipe away any "crusties" that have gathered around the piercing site. Throw the cotton ball away.
3. Apply a generous amount of liquid soap to your hand, and apply to the piercing site and jewerly. Make sure you get the soap everywhere, but rotating the jewelry is not really necessary unless you notice it trying to "stick" to your skin.
4. Rinse the piercing and jewelry several times with warm water, ensuring that all soap has been removed.
5. Dry your piercing with a clean paper towel, and throw the towel away.

Cleaning Tips

• Many piercers will tell you to rotate your jewelry. This is not wrong, but I have found that in many cases, this causes more problems than it solves. If you are using a non-medical grade plastic (IE - metal, stainless steel, titanium) you`re more likely to get `crusting` which will bind the pierced flesh to the jewelry. Rumor has it from some piercers that rotating will tear the `crust` from the flesh and gouge the wound even more. If you want to rotate your jewelry, go right ahead. If it becomes a problem or is painful, try not rotating it for a couple days.
• Cloth towels, especially those that have been already used, can harbor germs and bacteria. This is why it is safest to use a disposable paper towel. Other one-use products such as gauze, napkins, etc. can also be used.

Sea Salt Soaks
1. Wash your hands thoroughly with liquid antibacterial or antimicrobial soap (Satin and Provon are best).
2. Place a pinch of sea salt in the bottom of a small disposable cup. About 1/8 teaspoon.
3. Add hot tap water - as hot as you can stand - to the salt. Use about 3 ounces of water - which is just over half-full in a 5 ounce cup.
4. If possible, invert the cup right over the piercing and allow it to stay there for 5 minutes. This usually works well for nipple and navel piercings. If you can`t create a sufficient seal against the skin with the cup, then soak a cotton ball in the salt water solution and apply the cotton ball to the piercing. When it cools down, throw it away and place a newly saturated cotton ball on the piercing. Do this for 5 minutes. 5. Rinse the piercing with warm water and dry with a clean paper towel.

 

Soaking Tips

• Only sea salt is to be used. Table salt is not acceptable. Sea salt can be found in many grocery stores and almost all health food stores. Sea salt is also available for purchase on our website here.
• If you are not sure about the solution strength, put a dab on your finger and taste it with the tip of your tongue. It should be no saltier than a potato chip.

This is not to be considered a substitute for medical advice from a doctor. If you suspect an infection, seek medical attention. Keep in mind that the removal of jewelry can lead to further complications. Be aware that many doctors have not received specific training regarding piercing. Your local piercer may be able to refer you to a piercing friendly medical professional