Taking care of your new body piercing properly is crucial for smooth healing and preventing infections or complications. Whether you’ve just gotten a simple earlobe piercing or a more complex body piercing, following aftercare instructions will help ensure a healthy and long-lasting result. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about aftercare for body piercings: what to expect, cleaning routines, and best practices to promote healing and long-term health.
What to Expect During Healing
Each body piercing heals differently, but there are some common experiences you may encounter:
Swelling and Tenderness: It’s normal for a fresh piercing to be slightly swollen, red, or tender for the first 1-3 weeks. Oral piercings may swell for up to two weeks. Applying ice to the area can help reduce swelling and discomfort.
Minor Bleeding and Crust Formation: Small amounts of blood or clear fluid that hardens into a crust around the jewelry is a normal part of the healing process. Do not pick at it—gently clean it instead.
Soreness and Sensitivity: The piercing site may feel sore when touched or if it comes into contact with clothing, pillows, or other surfaces.
Discoloration or Itching: Some piercings may look slightly bruised, pink, or feel itchy as they heal. These are common signs of skin regeneration. It is important to avoid excessive scratching, as it could lead to an open wound, increasing the risk of infection.
Scar Formation: In some cases, long-term temporary piercings, such as dermal piercings, may leave minor scars once removed. Proper aftercare can help minimize their appearance. If you’re concerned about scarring, consult a professional piercer for advice on prevention
General Piercing Aftercare Guidelines
At Inked Miami, we follow best practices recommended by the Association of Professional Piercers (APP) to ensure optimal healing and safety. But to ensure a successful healing process, at-home aftercare is essential. Here are some steps you can take:
Clean Twice Daily: Use a saline solution or a dedicated body piercing cleaner to clean the area. Avoid harsh soaps, benzalkonium chloride, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, or rubbing alcohol as they can dry out the skin and delay healing.
Avoid Touching: Do not rotate, twist, or frequently touch your piercing with unclean hands. This introduces bacteria and slows healing. Always wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap before handling your piercing (though you should avoid handling it as much as possible).
Keep it Dry: Avoid submerging fresh piercings in pools, hot tubs, or natural bodies of water to prevent infections.
Choose Clothing Wisely: For body piercings like navel piercings, opt for loose-fitting clothing to avoid irritation from fabric rubbing.
Monitor for Healing Progress: Some mild redness, swelling, or clear discharge is normal, but excessive pain, warmth, or thick yellow-green discharge may indicate an infection. If unsure, consult a professional piercer.
Injury Prevention: Be mindful of accidental bumps or snags that could cause injury to the piercing site, leading to prolonged healing or additional irritation. Avoid sleeping on fresh piercings or engaging in activities that put pressure on the area.
Want to learn more about what to do after a new body piercing? Stay tuned for more care tips and industry insights on the Inked Miami blog.
Oral Piercing Aftercare
Proper care is essential for oral piercings to heal without complications. Follow these steps:
What to Expect During Healing
- Swelling is common for the first 3-7 days, with some cases lasting up to two weeks.
- Increased saliva production, minor bleeding, or slight bruising can occur.
- The area may be sore when eating or speaking, and some tenderness is normal.
- A whitish or clear discharge is expected—it is not pus but part of the healing process.
How to Care for Your Oral Piercing
Rinse Regularly: Use an alcohol-free, antibacterial mouthwash after eating or drinking anything besides water. You can also rinse with a sea salt solution (¼ teaspoon of non-iodized salt in 8 oz of warm distilled water) 2-3 times daily.
Maintain Oral Hygiene: Brush your teeth gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush twice a day. Replace your toothbrush frequently.
Avoid Spicy, Acidic, or Hot Foods: These can cause irritation. Avoid smoking or drinking alcohol, as they can slow healing and increase swelling.
Minimize Movement: Try not to click the jewelry against your teeth, and avoid chewing gum or biting nails to prevent irritation.
Ear & Facial Piercing Aftercare
Clean with Saline: Use a saline solution twice daily with a clean cotton swab, gauze, or paper towel.
Do Not Sleep on the Piercing: Sleeping on a fresh ear or facial piercing can cause irritation, swelling, and longer healing times. Try using a travel pillow to keep pressure off the piercing.
Avoid Contact With Hair Care Products: Keep shampoos, conditioners, and sprays away from fresh piercings, as these can cause buildup or irritation.
Be Mindful of Makeup: Avoid applying cosmetics directly on or around healing piercings, as makeup products can introduce bacteria and clog the area, leading to irritation or delayed healing.
Handle with Care: Be cautious when brushing hair or putting on clothing to avoid snagging your piercing.
Navel & Body Piercing Aftercare
Clean with Saline: Apply a saline solution twice daily using a clean cotton pad.
Avoid Tight Clothing: Clothing that rubs against a navel piercing or nipple piercing can cause irritation and prolong healing. Opt for loose, breathable fabrics.
Be Mindful of Exercise: Avoid excessive stretching, bending, or contact sports that could put pressure on the piercing.
Keep the Area Dry: Do not soak in bathtubs or hot tubs while your body piercing heals.
What to Avoid During Healing
Twisting or Rotating Jewelry: This can introduce bacteria and delay healing.
Using Alcohol or Hydrogen Peroxide: These can dry out and damage healing tissue.
Swimming in Public Pools or Oceans: Bacteria in water sources can increase infection risks.
Sleeping on Your Piercing: This can cause irritation and prolong healing.
Changing Jewelry Too Soon: Always wait until the piercing is fully healed before changing jewelry.
Using Petroleum-Based Products: Petroleum jelly can clog the piercing and trap bacteria.
Using Antibacterial Soap: While cleanliness is important, antibacterial soap can be too harsh and lead to irritation. Use it for hand washing, but stick to a simple saline solution when cleaning your piercing.
Signs of Infection & When to Seek Help
- Excessive Redness & Swelling that worsens instead of improving.
- Thick Yellow or Green Discharge with a foul odor.
- Severe Pain or Heat Around the Piercing, which can indicate a potential infection.
- Unusual Bumps or Lumps forming around the piercing site.
If you experience any of these symptoms with your new body piercing, contact a professional piercer or physician for guidance.
Long-Term Piercing Care
Once your piercing has fully healed, you can maintain it with proper long-term care:
Regular Cleaning: Even after healing, using a saline solution or mild soap and water can help keep your piercing clean and free from buildup.
Use High-Quality Jewelry: Titanium, gold, and stainless steel are best for long-term wear.
Downsize Jewelry: Some piercings may require smaller jewelry after swelling subsides to avoid movement and irritation.
Avoid Cheap or Low-Quality Metals: These can cause irritation, reactions, or migration of the piercing.
Piercing Healing Time Estimates
Everyone’s body heals differently, but here are some general estimates.
- Earlobe piercing: 6-8 weeks
- Cartilage & tragus piercing: 4-12 months
- Nostril & lip piercing: 2-3 months
- Navel piercing: 6-12 months
- Tongue piercing: 4-8 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Caring for Your Piercing the Right Way
Taking care of your body piercing is key to keeping it healthy and looking great. Whether it’s an ear piercing, tongue piercing, nostril piercing, or navel piercing, following these aftercare steps will help ensure a smooth healing process. If you have any concerns, don’t hesitate to stop by the studio or reach out to us at (305) 697-6914 or miami@inkedtattooshops.com.
Interested in more than just body piercings? Check out our tattoo services at Inked Miami to complete your body art experience.