• Avoid cleaning your piercing with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or harsh soaps with fragrances, as these can damage cells. Also avoid ointments as they can harbor bacteria and prevent necessary air circulation.

• Avoid Bactine and any type of pierced ear care solutions. Products containing Benzalkonium Chloride can be irritating and are not intended for long term wound care.

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

• Avoid undue trauma such as friction from clothing, excessive motion of the area and playing with the jewelry. These activities can cause the formation of unsightly and uncomfortable scar tissue, migration, prolonged healing and other complications.

• Avoid all oral contact, rough play and contact with others bodily fluids on or near your new piercing during the healing period.

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

• Avoid submerging the piercing in unhygienic bodies of water such as pools and hot tubs.

• Avoid all beauty and personal care products on and around the piercing, including cosmetics, lotions and body sprays.

• Avoid hanging charms or any object from your jewelry until the piercing is fully healed.

• Unless there is a problem with the initial jewelry leave it in place for the entire healing period. Even old and well healed piercings can shrink and close in minutes even after having been there for years. If removed, re-insertion can be difficult or impossible. Contact me to perform any jewelry change that becomes necessary during the healing period If your jewelry must be removed (such as for a medical procedure) check out my Non-Metallic Jewelry alternatives.

• In the event of an infection an inert alternative should be left in place to allow for drainage. If the jewelry is removed the surface cells can close up which can seal the infection inside the piercing channel and result in an abscess. Do not remove jewelry unless instructed to by a medical professional.

• Slight bleeding, discoloration of the skin around the piercing, a little bruising, itching and some swelling which will subside as the healing begins, all these are natural outcomes of a new piercing.

• During healing, you might see a whitish yellow fluid (not puss) coming out from around the piercing. This is also absolutely normal because when the piercing is made, the body finds a way to push out the dead cells in the area. The tissue may tighten around the jewelry as it heals.

• Once healed, the jewelry may not move freely in the piercing; do not force it. If you fail to include cleaning your new piercing as part of your daily hygiene routine, normal but smelly bodily secretions may accumulate.

USE ANYONE OF THE FOLLOWING SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR NEW BODY PIERCING

Rinse mouth at least 2 to 3 times daily for 30 seconds. Rinse mouth as soon as you wake up, after meals and before going to sleep for the entire healing period. If you smoke rinse mouth right after you finish smoking.

• Alcohol-Free Antimicrobial mouth rinse or H2Ocean Mouthwash Aftercare.

• A Non-Iodized Sea Salt mixture. Dissolve 1 table spoon of Non-Iodized Sea Salt into a cup of warm water. A stronger mixture is not better!

• Avoid changing jewelry for at least 3 to 4 weeks.

• Avoid oral/bodily fluid contact of piercing during healing. Each body is unique and healing times vary considerably.

• Significant swelling, light bleeding, bruising, tenderness and light secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid (not pus) for the first 3 to 5 days.

• Use ice crushed to reduce swelling.

• Avoid using a washcloth or bathing towels as these are breeding grounds for bacteria and snag on jewelry causing injury.

• Avoid rubbing your new piercing, pat it dry with a clean dry paper towel.

• Avoid using any type of ointments, creams, lotions or astringents on your new genital piercing.

• Avoid your piercing to come in contact with any bodily fluids for the first few weeks while it is healing. This includes saliva as well as semen. You are not restricted from sexual activity but a condom or dental guard must be used for any sexual contact or you are putting yourself at risk for infection.

• Genital Piercings especially Prince Alberts and Ampallangs can bleed freely for the first few days so be prepared.

• Most piercings will almost always swell to a mild degree; the swelling is usually short lived lasting no more than a week or two. Swelling is usually concentrated around the openings of the hole and a mild pinkness will be present.

• On the edges of the piercing and on the jewelry there might be a buildup of dried lymph fluid.

• Sometimes during the healing process you may notice the piercing will go from looking healed to looking mildly infected, it’s completely normal to have a piercing change appearance like this, Sometimes when people don't take care of the piercing and sometimes even when they do, the piercing can get inflamed on the edges.

• Irritations usually occur because someone either didn't follow their aftercare instructions and occasionally the problems outlined above occurs from over cleaning the piercing.

These aftercare guidelines are based upon my experience and current industry standards that have been derived from other professional experiences, common sense, research and clinical practice. I am not a medical professional and my suggestions, whether written, verbal, stated or implied, should not be construed as medical advice or considered as a substitute. Each body is unique and healing times vary considerably. If you suspect an infection or other serious problem, seek medical attention. Please keep in mind that many doctors have not received specific training regarding piercing and the removal of jewelry may lead to further complications.