How to Take Care of Your Piercing as it Heals

You have been planning to get your piercing for ages, and when you finally have it, you owe it to yourself to take care of it. Once you have your piercing done while planning your next set of earrings, ear weights or making like Nikkie Tutorials and getting more piercings - you need to keep them clean. 

How to Take Care of Your Piercing as it Heals
[image by Jen Theodore on Unsplash ]

You might have a lot of questions. 

Some of the most searched questions about fresh piercings are: 

● Are piercings permanents?

● What is the most painful piercing to get?

● How do you take care of a piercing as it heals? 

So let’s dive into how you can take care of your piercing as it heals and answer the rest as we go.

How to look after a piercing as it heals

Each piercing and each person will ultimately find their own way. However, some basic care methods can be applied to most piercings. 

Your piercer will give you all of the critical information for your specific piercing.

Cleaning your piercing

1. Wash your hands (always wash your hands before touching a piercing)

2. If you have been given a saline spray, you should apply as directed - this is usually a spray

3. Wait for this to dry down

4. Repeat step two

5. This should remove any discharge. If there are any hardened discharges, you can continue step two.

6. Use a gauze or paper towel to pat the area dry. 

Cotton buds, cotton pads, and toilet paper have small particles that can become lodged in the piercing.

How often should I clean my piercing?

Your piercing is an open wound until it has healed. During this healing, it is susceptible to infections. 

Make-up, scabbing, dust, dirt, and fibres can stick to the piercing wound and on the stud or hoop. 

Cleaning your piercing twice a day, as directed by your piercer, will remove and reduce any issues. Overcleaning can also irritate.

Extra cleaning

In the case of ear piercings, headphones, other earrings, hats, pillowcases, and scarves all need to have extra cleaning. Other facial piercings need care when it comes to makeup, sweat and regular clothing.

How long does my piercing take to heal?

Almost all piercings will take between 6 weeks to 2 months. If you have a cartilage piercing, it may take longer to heal. 

The first week is the most uncomfortable. 

One of the key things is that you do not try to remove or change your piercing while it isn’t healed. 

In most cases, the piercing can close within seconds until it has healed. 

Some areas of the body heal much quicker, like a tongue piercing, for example. 

What is the most painful piercing? This might come as no surprise, but any piercings in the genital area are rated as some of the most painful. However, like all piercings, the peak of the pain is momentary.

Have your jewellery ready

Your healing period will be over before you know it. In the weeks that you are healing, make sure that you have purchased the correct jewellery. 

Most piercings will swell, and as they heal, they will return to normal. A fresh piercing will have a longer bar on the jewellery to allow for swelling. 

Once the swelling is reduced, a newer, regular-sized bar can be put in. You can head to your piercing to have your jewellery changed.

Regular checks

Make sure that you check the fastening on your jewellery at regular intervals. A regular check will ensure that your piercing is never too tight or too loose.

Is a piercing permanent?

Yes… and no. While you can remove any of the jewellery that you wear, there will usually be a mark. 

The piercing, as the name suggests, pierces the flesh. 

Cheek piercings, eyebrows, lips and nose will usually leave a visible mark once the body jewellery is removed. 

The mark or scar is relatively small so long as there was no infection or keloids.

What to do if you think you have an infected piercing?

There are some signs that you can look out for if you have an infection piercing: 

● Feeling unwell

● You have a temperate

● There is a throbbing or increased pain in the area

● The area of the piercing is red

● Discharge from the piercings that are green or smelly 

You mustn’t remove the piercing. If you think you have an infection, the first point of contact is your piercing studio, and the second is to book an appointment with your doctor. 

Acting quickly can save the piercing, reduce damage, and remove any infections. 

Piercings are a great way to change your look, add something interesting, and allow you to express your personality outwardly.