Piercing Aftercare and Advice:
The success of your new piercing really comes down to the aftercare. Look after it as outlined here and your piercing will heal quickly without issues. I can’t stress this enough, it really is as simple as that!
So 3 quick top tips…..
1. Don’t touch it, (or sleep on it!)
2. Clean it twice a day
3. Keep it dry
Please read and follow the below instructions and it will heal quickly without issues.
Don’t touch it!
The less you touch it the better it will heal…..I know it’s tempting BUT DONT! Also avoid sleeping on your piercing for the first few weeks at least, not only will this aggravate the piercing but it might also distort the channel and cause a piercing bump. You might consider a travel pillow further down the line as a way of sleeping on that side without putting pressure on your piercing.
Cleaning:
Always wash your hands before touching your piercing for cleaning. Only use a specialist piercing aftercare wound wash, or a solution of rock/sea salt, boiled water (cooled down) and fresh Kitchen roll (kitchen roll doesn’t have any tiny fibres to cling onto the piercing unlike cotton wool or loo roll) to clean the surrounding area of the jewellery and the entry and exit points. It’s quite normal for crusties to form (don’t pick them off with your fingers!!) around the jewellery which can be gently washed/wiped away while cleaning, but DO NOT turn or rotate. Lightly pat dry, repeat 1-2 times a day.
Keep it dry
Moisture is the enemy of any healing piercing and when left can lead to a bumps developing. A cool setting on a hairdryer is a good way to dry it after a bath or shower, or patting with kitchen roll works too.
Infection:
A piercing is a fresh wound. If kept clean and dry at all times, it will heal quickly and completely. If however, it gets dirty or is not cleaned regularly it may become infected. If you are in any doubt, your piercer or doctor can advise you on what treatment is suitable.Serious infections should be treated with antibiotics.
Migration/Rejection:
Some piercings can migrate to some degree. In extreme cases this can lead to jewellery ‘growing out’ of the body altogether. Some piercings, (eyebrow, navel, surface etc.) are more prone to migration than others. It is not dangerous or painful, but it may leave a small scar. If you notice any migration it is usually recommended to remove the jewellery before it has a chance to fully reject, and use a hot sea salt compress 2-3 times a day, to help/prevent any scarring.
Swelling:
Most piercings will swell, and we always allow space on your jewellery to compensate for this. Occasionally, a piercing may swell more than usual and can be painful. If your piercing swells more than 2 – 3mm, or if there seems to be a possibility that your jewellery is too short to accommodate the swelling, please return so that we can fit longer jewellery and avoid any complications. If it is beginning to embed into your skin, it is typically recommended to remove it completely, and if possible exchange it for a longer piece of jewellery.
General Advice:
Trauma is caused by pulling, catching or sleeping on your piercing during the healing process, and also by chaffing of clothes by movement etc. Do not apply make-up to the surrounding area.
Cartilage generally has a prolonged healing process and bumps can form on these and nose piercings.
Changing of Jewellery
Your jewellery should not be changed for at least 6 weeks for lobes and 3 months for cartilate piercing. Its generally advised to get your piercer to change the jewellery for you, especially if you’d like to downsize the original labret which is often a little longer than needed once healed. Just message Alice to make an appointment to downside your jewellery.
