4. DRY

 with disposable paper products such as gauze or tissues, because cloth towels can

harbor bacteria and catch on new piercings causing injury. Pat gently to avoid trauma.

♦ Avoid undue trauma such as friction from clothing, excessive motion of the area, playing

with the jewelry and vigorous cleaning. These activities can cause the formation of

unsightly and uncomfortable scar tissue, migration, prolonged healing and other

complications.

♦ Avoid the use of alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Betadine, Hibiclens or ointment.

♦ Avoid over cleaning. This can delay your healing and irritate your piercing.

♦ Avoid all oral contact, rough play, and contact with others’ bodily fluids on or near your

piercing during healing.

♦ Avoid stress and recreational drug use including excessive caffeine, nicotine and alcohol.

♦ Avoid submerging the piercing in bodies of water such as lakes, pools, jacuzzis, etc. Or

protect your piercing using a special water-proof bandage such as Tegaderm, which is

available at drug stores.

♦ Avoid all beauty and personal care products on or around the piercing including

cosmetics, lotions, sprays, etc.

♦ Don’t hang charms or any other object from your jewelry until the piercing is fully

healed.

♦ Unless there is a problem with the size, style, or material of the initial jewelry, leave it in

place for the entire healing period. A qualified piercer should perform any necessary

jewelry change that occurs during healing.

♦ Contact your piercer if your jewelry must be temporarily removed (such as for a medical

proceedure). There are non-metallic jewelry alternatives.

♦ Leave jewelry in at all times. Even old, well healed piercings can shrink and close in

minutes after having been there for years! If removed re-insertion can be difficult or

impossible.

♦ With clean hands or paper product, be sure to regularly check the threaded ends on your

jewelry for tightness. (“Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey”)

♦ Carry a clean spare ball in case of loss or breakage.

♦ Should you decide you no longer want the piercing, seek professional help in the

removal of the jewelry and continue cleaning the piercing until the hole closes. In most

cases only a small indentation will remain.

♦ A hard, vented eye patch (sold at pharmacies) can be applied under tight clothing (such

as nylon stockings) or secured using a length of ace bandage around the body (to avoid

irritation from adhesive). This can protect the area from restrictive clothing, excess

irritation, and impact during physical activities such as contact sports.

♦ Use the t-shirt trick: dress your pillow in a large, clean t-shirt and turn it nightly; one

clean t-shirt provides four clean surfaces for sleeping.

♦ Maintain cleanliness of telephones, headphones, eyeglasses, helmets, hats and anything

that contacts the pierced area.

♦ Use caution when styling your hair and advise your stylist of a new or healing piercing.

♦ The support of a tight cotton shirt or sports bra may provide protection and feel

comfortable, especially for sleeping.

♦ In most cases you can engage in sexual activity as soon as you feel ready. Comfort andHygiene are vital. 

♦ During healing all sexual activities must be gentle.

♦ To increase comfort and decrease trauma, soak in warm saline solution or plain water to

remove any crusty matter prior to sexual activity.

♦ Use barriers such as condoms, dental dams, and Tegaderm, etc. to avoid contact with a

partner’s bodily fluids, even in long-term relationships.

♦ Use clean, disposable barriers on sex toys.

♦ Wash hands before touching on or near the piercing.

♦ Use a new container of water based lubricant. Do not use your own saliva.

♦ After sex, an additional saline soak or clean water rinse is suggested.

♦ Prince Albert and Apadravya piercings can bleed freely for the first few days.

♦ If using soap, urinate after cleaning any piercing that is near the urethra.

♦ Swelling will normally occur within the first 72 hours. It is important to drink lots of

cold liquids and gently suck on ice to help minimize the swelling. Use ice 30 minutes

on, 30 minutes off to help keep maximum blood flow.

♦ Don’t share plates, cups, or eating utensils with others. Replace your toothbrush and

keep it clean during the healing period. Keep dirty fingers, pencils, sunglasses etc. out

of your mouth.

♦ Avoid excessive talking, playing with the jewelry and all oral sexual contact (including

wet kissing) during the healing time.

♦ Check that the threaded ends of the jewelry are on securely. Tighten them each day to

ensure the jewelry stays in place.

♦ Those with tongue piercings should be cautioned that playing with the jewelry excessively

is frequently the cause of reported tooth and gum damage and should be avoided.Each body

is unique and healing times vary conciderably. If you have any questions,

please contact your piercer.