Body Piercing Aftercare Instructions

Remember that a fresh piercing is an open wound and you should treat it as such! ALWAYS wash your hands before touching your piercing in any way.

We only suggest using an isotonic saline (0.9% sodium chloride solution) for the care of a healing body or ear piercing.

NeilMed Fine Mist Piercing Aftercare (Available at Rabbits Den Tattoo & Piercing Parlor)
Sea Salt solution, please see below for instructions
Wound Wash Saline Solution (Available at most pharmacies)

DO NOT use products such as Neosporin, bacitracin, A&D ointment, vaseline, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, and Bactine. The manufacturers of these products state that they are not for use on puncture wounds. We also do not suggest the use of antibacterial or antimicrobial soaps, "ear piercing solutions" from other studios, or medicated soaps like Hibicleanse or Provon.

Using products other than isotonic saline may result in complications and/or delayed healing.

Cleaning instructions:

Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Two to three times daily apply saline to piercing by spraying or submerging for 5-10 minutes. Rinse wtih cool water and air dry. Do NOT use qtips.
After physical or sexual activity, or if your piercing has come in contact with debris, use your saline to spray the piercing, then water to rinse. You may GENTLY wash the surrounding area of your piercing with a fragrance free, liquid hand soap. Rinse with water and air dry.

Healing Hints:

Wash hands before cleaning or touching the piercing area.
Keep bedding and clothing that will contact the area clean and changed.
Take showers, not baths, during the healing process.
Wear a waterproof bandage if you have to briefly enter any body of water and clean the piercing immediately after.
Carefully check jewelry ends for tightness if suggested by your piercer.
Do not over-clean your piercing, this may cause irritation or delayed healing.
Do not remove or change your jewelry. For sports or medical reasons, please contact your piercer.
Do not wear tight clothing over the healing piercing.
Absolutely no spinning, sliding, picking at or playing with the jewelry. This may cause irritation, migration, or rejection.
Avoid health and beauty products, as well as contact with others' bodily fluids.
Change or downsize your jewelry when your piercer suggests, not before or after. Check with your piercer to confirm your piercing is ready.

Oral Piercings:

Rinse with an alcohol-free antiseptic mouthwash (ei Biotene) between meals, drinks and smoking or at least 4-5x a day, while continuing your regular dental hygiene routine.
Use a new toothbrush to avoid bacterial transfers.
Avoid: tongue kissing, sharing food/drinks, oral sex, hot/spicy foods, non-food items (pen caps, nail biting, etc).

What can you expect as normal for a healing piercing?

Localized tenderness, swelling, bruising and/or discoloration.
Some mild on and off bleeding for the first several days.
Some secretions or white to yellowish fluid which then dries into crusty material around the piercing site.
Piercings are considered long-term wound care. Your piercing may look or feel healed, and may not yet be.
Keep in mind that a piercing can shrink or even close within seconds of the jewelry being removed, even if you have had the piercing for a long time.
If your piercing is showing signs of infection please contact your physician immediately. If you are unsure if your piercing is infected please contact your piercer immediately for assistance.

Making your own saline solution at home:

The best way to care for your healing piercing is always to just pick up a bottle of Wound Wash at the shop, but in case of emergency, here is how to make your own safe saline solution.

Please do not adjust the ratios of salt or water, as they are relatively specific for the use of wound care. Too salty of a solution or not salty enough may result in a delayed heal or other complications.

You will need the following for a small/ single batch of saline (discard unused portion):

8oz of warm, purified or distilled water (some choose to bring water to a boil and then allow it to cool until it is a safe temperature). If your tap water is safe to drink you can use cold tap and microwave it to a warm but safe temperature.
ONE- 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon (not a tablespoon!) of non-iodized, additive-free sea salt

You will need the following for a large batch of saline:

**1 gallon of distilled water

**4 LEVELED teaspoons of additive free, non-iodized sea salt

Carefully add the 4 leveled teaspoons of sea salt to the gallon of distilled water. Close the cap tightly and shake well. Please mix your solution at least 12 hours prior to use so the salt has the opportunity to fully dissolve. Shake well each time before using. This solution must be stored in the refrigerator during any period of non-use to inhibit the growth of mildew and mold. Please write on your gallon of home made saline solution "Do Not Drink" and the date you made it. The saline is only good for 30 days, any unused portion should be discarded. A new gallon should be made the day before your first batch expires.

Some piercing placements such as nostril and septum can be submerged in saline solution using a small cup. If you are using a reusable cup, you must wash it with hot soapy water before each use. If you are making a large batch of saline, you can pour your saline into a cup and hold it over the sink before submerging your piercing in it.

Body Piercing Aftercare Instructions

Remember that a fresh piercing is an open wound and you should treat it as such! ALWAYS wash your hands before touching your piercing in any way.

​

We only suggest using an isotonic saline (0.9% sodium chloride solution) for the care of a healing body or ear piercing.

NeilMed Fine Mist Piercing Aftercare (Available at Rabbits Den Tattoo & Piercing Parlor)

Sea Salt solution, please see below for instructions

Wound Wash Saline Solution (Available at most pharmacies)

​

Using products other than isotonic saline may result in complications and/or delayed healing.

​

Cleaning instructions:

Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.

Two to three times daily apply saline to piercing by spraying or submerging for 5-10 minutes. Rinse wtih cool water and air dry. Do NOT use qtips.

After physical or sexual activity, or if your piercing has come in contact with debris, use your saline to spray the piercing, then water to rinse. You may GENTLY wash the surrounding area of your piercing with a fragrance free, liquid hand soap. Rinse with water and air dry.

​

Healing Hints:

Wash hands before cleaning or touching the piercing area.

Keep bedding and clothing that will contact the area clean and changed.

Take showers, not baths, during the healing process.

Wear a waterproof bandage if you have to briefly enter any body of water and clean the piercing immediately after.

Carefully check jewelry ends for tightness if suggested by your piercer.

Do not over-clean your piercing, this may cause irritation or delayed healing.

Do not remove or change your jewelry. For sports or medical reasons, please contact your piercer.

Do not wear tight clothing over the healing piercing.

Absolutely no spinning, sliding, picking at or playing with the jewelry. This may cause irritation, migration, or rejection.

Avoid health and beauty products, as well as contact with others' bodily fluids.

Change or downsize your jewelry when your piercer suggests, not before or after. Check with your piercer to confirm your piercing is ready.

​

Oral Piercings:

Rinse with an alcohol-free antiseptic mouthwash (ei Biotene) between meals, drinks and smoking or at least 4-5x a day, while continuing your regular dental hygiene routine.

Use a new toothbrush to avoid bacterial transfers.

Avoid: tongue kissing, sharing food/drinks, oral sex, hot/spicy foods, non-food items (pen caps, nail biting, etc).

​

What can you expect as normal for a healing piercing?

Localized tenderness, swelling, bruising and/or discoloration.

Some mild on and off bleeding for the first several days.

Some secretions or white to yellowish fluid which then dries into crusty material around the piercing site.

Piercings are considered long-term wound care. Your piercing may look or feel healed, and may not yet be.

Keep in mind that a piercing can shrink or even close within seconds of the jewelry being removed, even if you have had the piercing for a long time.

If your piercing is showing signs of infection please contact your physician immediately. If you are unsure if your piercing is infected please contact your piercer immediately for assistance.

​

​

Making your own saline solution at home:

The best way to care for your healing piercing is always to just pick up a bottle of Wound Wash at the shop, but in case of emergency, here is how to make your own safe saline solution.

Please do not adjust the ratios of salt or water, as they are relatively specific for the use of wound care. Too salty of a solution or not salty enough may result in a delayed heal or other complications.

​

You will need the following for a small/ single batch of saline (discard unused portion):

​

You will need the following for a large batch of saline:

**1 gallon of distilled water

**4 LEVELED teaspoons of additive free, non-iodized sea salt

​