Piercing aftercare
Like any wound, your piercing will heal naturally but you must also help this process. A healthy lifestyle, good sleep, a well balanced diet and avoiding recreational drugs that can affect your immune system are just as important as the following care guidelines. They are simple rules that help ensure perfect hygiene conditions during the healing process which is generally long and varies in time from one person to another. A little redness or a slight irritation in the week following the piercing should not worry you. It is up to you now, to do everything possible to help the healing process and avoid infections.
How to take care?
Every morning and evening for the first month:
Wash your hands
Wash your hands carefully before touching the piercing (dirty hands are the first cause of infection)
PH neutral soap
After showering using a PH neutral soap, delicately clean the jewellery (without removing it) to eliminate any dirt or secretion.
Cleaning
Apply one drop of a mild disinfectant on each side of the piercing. You can use products such as Cedium, Dermaspray, or Diaseptil, all on sale at your chemist without prescription.
Jewel cleaning
After the first month you can start using an anti-bacterial soap to clean the jewellery and the piercing. Do not forget to rinse thoroughly and to dry the piercing carefully with a clean cotton bud after you have showered or bathed.
Irritations
For the first two weeks, before the evening treatment, it is recommended to bathe the piercing for ten minutes with lukewarm water mixed with a tea spoon of sea salt. Use a clean small glass, fill it half way, and turn it over the piercing (like a bell). If this system is not convenient use a cotton ball dipped in the warm salt water solution. ¤ Later, if you see any redness or experience a slight pain, simply bathe the piercing with warm salt water, twice a day, for 3 to 4 days. The symptoms should disappear rapidly.
Infection
If the symptoms last, get worse or if you see a severe redness, a large swelling, an abnormally high temperature, or even a secretion of pus around the piercing you may have the start of an infection. This is not the end of your piercing. Do not remove the jewellery, in fact it helps to drain the fluids out. An antibiotic cream correctly applied (instead of the mild disinfectants mentioned above) should get rid of the infection easily within 10 days.
Allergy
To prevent any risks of allergy we only use specific body piercing material. Allergic reactions are often due to the products used in the post-piercing care. Very rarely, an allergy to surgical steel can occur, in this case you should choose jewellery made from titanium or Teflon.
Rejection
Very rarely the piercing may be rejected by the body even if you have taken all precautions and care.
¤ Your skin should keep the same suppleness and texture as before the piercing. Try not to irritate or even burn the skin by using a strong disinfectant like medicinal alcohol or peroxide. Do not use any disinfectant for a long period of time or use it more than twice a day. Very heavy or very large jewels should not be worn for more than a few days consecutively.
Avoid bumping or catching the piercing when undressing or while playing sport.
¤ Specifically for navel piercing: avoid restricting the area with belts, tight pants (jeans, leather, or any heavy fabric).
Please note
- For the first 2 weeks, shower instead of taking a bath. If this is not possible, make sure the bath tub is kept perfectly clean.
- Clean bed sheets are also recommended (especially if you have pets), and of course same thing for any clothes in contact with your piercing.
- During the first month, avoid bathing in public swimming pools, Jacuzzis, lakes or any dirty or murky water, e.g. in ports or marinas.
If this cannot be avoided, ask your chemist for water-proof bandages. Sea water is normally safe but watch out for the sand. It can penetrate and irritate the piercing easily.
- Your piercing needs air to heal well, try not to cover it with bandages, make up or oily unguents and sun cream.
- Keep the initial jewellery in place as long as possible, your piercing should not be removed for a couple of months. (2 months minimum, 3 months even better!).
- Apart from changing the jewellery, it should not be removed, even for a short period of time, or the piercing might close up rapidly (within a few hours sometimes) If you have to remove temporarily the piercing (e.g. : X-ray,...)contact us.
¤ For facial piercings, if you notice an excessive swelling in the morning, remember to keep your head higher then your heart when sleeping.
- Check from time to time that the jewellery is not partially unscrewed. (to screw it tight, turn to the right!)
- And last, but not least, be very careful with the so called "good" advice from friends. What works for them might not work for you at all.
If you have any doubts, please just ask us, there is no such thing as a stupid question. And it's free !!!
Oral piercing aftercare
Like any wound, your piercing will heal naturally but you must also help this process. A healthy lifestyle, good sleep, a well balanced diet and avoiding recreational drugs that can affect your immune system are just as important as the following care guidelines. They are simple rules that help ensure perfect hygiene conditions during the healing process. This can take 6 weeks for a tongue piercing and from 10 to 12 weeks for other oral piercings. It is up to you now, to do everything possible to help the healing process and avoid infections.
Caring for new tongue piercings
Every morning and evening, rinse your mouth for 30 seconds with an undiluted solution of regular Lysterine or a similar product. For the rest of the day, prepare a small bottle of the above product diluted half and half with water and carry it with you. Rinse your mouth every time you consume anything other than water (e.g. after eating, after smoking, after drinking a cola...). Take care because using the undiluted product too much can cause the tongue to burn and also strip away natural bacteria (white tongue)
Your tongue will begin to swell considerably a couple of hours after the piercing procedure. This can last up to 3 and 5 days. This inflammatory reaction is perfectly normal. The lymphatic ganglia may become sore and give a vague sensation similar to an angina. Take a painkiller, like Dafalgan, if the pain seems excessive to you. Taking painkillers should be done in moderation and only if you have no allergies to them.
Do try and eat properly even though it might seem difficult. Very hot food, spicy dishes and acidic drinks should all be avoided. Try eating simple food like mashed potato, minced burgers, soup, rice or pasta...
To help reduce swelling of the tongue in the first 36 hours after getting your piercing we recommend that you place ice cubes on your tongue and allow them to melt completely and try eating very cold food (e.g. ice cream) as much as possible.
Try not to talk too much for the first 48 hours – this helps prevent irritating your new piercing. Under no circumstances should you play with the piercing. To prevent excessive swelling of the tongue you should avoid taking any alcohol or drugs for the first 8 days. It is for this reason too that you should reduce your intake of nicotine, coffee or strong tea.
During the first month, you must avoid kissing (where there is an exchange of saliva) as well as oral sex to help you remain in good health.
Finally, to avoid infection caused by harmful bacteria: use a new toothbrush, don’t bite your nails, chew pens or drink from cans.
For your comfort, after a month, you can replace the barbell with a shorter one, or if you like, something a little more elaborate. We will be very happy to show you how to proceed.
Aftercare (E.G Labret, madonna, lipring)
Inside part of piercing: For 2 weeks, rinse your mouth with regular Lysterine three times a day after eating.
Outside part of piercing: For 3 weeks, apply a drop of a mild disinfectant twice a day. Use a product like Cédium, Dermaspray or Diaseptil - all available from your chemist without prescription.
Tattoo aftercare
Remove the bandage when arriving at home. Clean with pH-neutral soap and rince with water to take off the leftovers of Vaseline. The first month you do the following:
• Use a pH-neutral soap to clean your tattoo in the morning and the evening (do not desinfect your tattoo). Dry the area by gently dabbing with a clean towel. Apply Bépanthol cream in a thin layer, 3 times a day, on the entire tattoo and don’t forget to wash your hands well before applying the cream.
• Don’t put a bandage on the tattoo anymore. Avoid tightfitting clothes on the tattoo.
• Don’t scratch the tattoo when crusts form, don’t tear them loose, don’t expose the tattoo to the sun, don’t bathe (bath, swim, spa, beach etc...). Your tattoo will peel off and feel itchy the following days, but don’t worry, it’s a normal reaction.