Aftercare

• WASH: Your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning or touching your piercing for any reason.

•SALINE: Rinse as needed while healing. For certain piercings it may be easier to apply using clean gauze saturated with saline solution.

•RINSE: Site as needed to remove cleaning solution residue. Moving or rotating jewelry is not necessary during cleaning or rinsing.

• DRY: By gently patting with clean, disposable paper products. Cloth towels can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry causing injury.

Internal (inside of mouth):

• Keeping good oral hygiene practices is important in maintaining a healthy mouth and piercing. You will want to floss, brush and use mouth rinse at least twice a day. It is vital to not overuse the mouth rinse.

• Gently brush the jewelry with a clean toothbrush regularly to avoid plaque build up.

• Rinse with water (bottled or filtered) thoroughly after every time you eat, drink or smoke.

External (outside of mouth):

• Be sure to rinse your piercing thoroughly with warm water in the shower once a day. Then rinse with saline twice a day.

• Gently remove any discharge or crust that may have built up on your jewelry, then dry the area carefully with gauze.

• Avoid cleaning with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial soaps, iodine, or any harsh products: These can damage cells. Also avoid ointments as they prevent necessary air circulation.

• Avoid Bactine®: Pierced ear care solutions, and other products containing Benzalkonium Chloride (BZK). These 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, 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 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 unhygienic bodies of water: Such as lakes, pools, hot tubs, etc. Or, protect your piercing using a waterproof wound-sealant bandage. These are available at most drugstores and work best for nipple, navel, and surface piercing placements.

• Avoid all beauty and personal care products: On or around the piercing including cosmetics, lotions, and sprays, etc.

• Don’t hang charms or any objects: From your jewelry until the piercing is fully healed.

• Sleeping directly on a healing cartilage: Can cause irritation, even causing shifts in the piercing’s angle. Placing a travel pillow, on top of your pillow, and then placing your ear in the opening can be helpful to avoid this.

• Saniderm: With clean hands, gently remove bandage under warm water. Pat dry with clean paper towel.

• Saran Wrap: With clean hands, unwrap film, gently wash tattoo with unscented antibacterial soap. Pat dry with clean paper towel.

• Wash the tattoo: With clean hands first, then gently wash the tattoo with lukewarm water and mild, unscented soap. 

• Pat dry: Gently pat the tattoo dry with a clean paper towel, avoiding rubbing. 

• Apply ointment or lotion: Apply a thin layer of ointment (like Aquaphor or Bacitracin) or fragrance-free lotion. 

• Keep the area clean: Wash the tattoo when bathing daily or more often if it gets dirty. 

• Avoid tight clothing: Wear loose, breathable clothing to prevent irritation. 

• Avoid sun exposure: Wear loose clothing or temporary gauze to protect the tattoo from sun exposure. 

• Avoid perfumes and scented lotions: They may contain alcohol or other chemicals that can harm a fresh tattoo.

• Avoid over-lubricating your tattoo with ointment: The tattoo must be able to breath and dry.

• Avoid scratching or picking: Resist the urge to scratch or pick at the tattoo as it heals. 

• Avoid water: Avoid swimming, saunas, or submerging the tattoo. 

• Avoid strenuous activity: Limit exercise until the tattoo is fully healed.