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Body piercing aftercare is the set of practises advised after a new body piercing. There is a healing period after a new piercing which can sometimes last a long time (up a year, depending on the piercing). During this period, care must be taken to allow the body to heal around the new jewelry, and to discourage infection.
After a new piercing
Body piercings are generally performed with sterile instruments and products. A new piercing will be sore, tender or red for several days up to three weeks. The following instructions are the recommended cleaning procedures for each type of piercing along with a list of do's and don'ts for new piercings.
Use sea salt soaks or saline wound wash to clean the piercing. Sea salt soaks can be made using 1/4 tsp sea salt (or table salt which is actually purer than sea salt) to 8 oz. hot water. Soak your piercing with this 2x a day for 10 minutes minimum (some say less than 5 minutes works well). Do NOT rotate body jewelry (most piercers tell to rotate it, but only after cleaning the jewelry carefully). Bactine is NOT recommended.
Listerine should NOT be used (debatable - some swear by it). Use a non-alcoholic mouthwash such as Oral-B Non-Alcoholic or Biotene after eating, smoking, or putting anything other than water in your mouth. Do not kiss or engage in oral sex for 4-6 weeks. Avoid excessively cold or hot foods as they may cause pain. Gargling with a dilute salt water is a less irritating and quite effective alternative to mouthwash.
Clean with a salt water solution. Avoid tight clothing which may irritate your new piercing. Genital intimacy and oral sex should be avoided for 4-6 weeks, and longer if it still feels sore. Your own Urine is sterile to yourself: it will not infect your piercing.
Promoting Healing
Engage in genital intimacy and/or oral sex, smoke, touch with unwashed hands, wear restrictive clothing, allow the piercing to come into contact with bodily fluids or apply anything which may be perfumed or cosmetic. Also avoid public swimming pools, lakes, oceans, streams, as they may be too harsh to promote skin cell healing.
Revisit your piercer and ask for an evaluation at any time, if needed. Practice good hygiene and follow the recommended aftercare guidelines.
Apply a hot compress: soak a paper towel in very hot water (do not use a cloth towel, they can harbor bacteria and collect dust) and hold it over the piercing for 10 minutes. These can be used to get rid of a hypertrophic scar or boil, or just to soothe a sore piercing.
See also
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