Sea salt is not iodized, so it's safe for piercings (as long as you get the water to salt ratio right as too much of any kind of salt can be harmful to your skin). So, this is a safe alternative to using table salt on a piercing.
Use pure sea salt (non-iodized) and not table salt, which contains extra chemicals that can irritate your piercing and dextrose (sugar) that can cause yeast infections.
If you over salt the mixture, you will not only dehydrate the bacteria but also dry out the upper dermis around the piercing, which can lead to microscopic cracks in your skin. This can then provide a better environment for bacteria to grow, despite you cleaning the piercing with saline solution.
Saline Aftercare
Allow the saline to sit for up to 30 seconds, then rinse away with clean water, and thoroughly dry with a clean paper towel or gauze. To avoid drying out your piercing, do not leave the saline on your skin without rinsing and drying.
Non-Oral Piercings. Saline/Salt Water Soaks: The best thing you can do for your piercing is a saline soak 2-4 times a day, completely submerging your piercing in the solution for 7-10 minutes.
Your piercing might be infected if: the area around it is swollen, painful, hot, very red or dark (depending on your skin colour) there's blood or pus coming out of it – pus can be white, green or yellow. you feel hot or shivery or generally unwell.
If a new piercing is infected, it is best not to remove the earring. Removing the piercing can allow the wound to close, trapping the infection within the skin. For this reason, it is advisable not to remove an earring from an infected ear unless advised by a doctor or professional piercer.
Make sure the water is warm enough to completely dissolve the salt. Keep in mind that the water must be cooled off before using the salt solution. Fill a longdrink glass / mug / bowl with 250 ml of warm water. Then add 1/4 to 1/2 a teaspoon sea salt and stir until the salt is dissolved.
We suggest cleaning no more than once a day. On average, most piercings will need to be cleaned over the next 3-4 months (unless otherwise stated by your piercer). It is vital that you do not over-clean the piercing. If it has been longer than four months, do not clean the piercing anymore.
Distilled water method
You can also use distilled water for the ultimate sterile (and longer-lasting) saline solution. You can find distilled water at most drug or grocery stores. This method is the easiest by far.
An infected piercing can be serious. The area around your piercing may be painful, swollen, red, and hot. You may see red streaks or pus at the piercing site. You may have a fever or swollen or tender lymph nodes.
Excessive rubbing or friction can irritate your skin and delay healing. Keep the jewelry in place. Most piercings heal within about six weeks, but some might take several months or longer to heal. To maintain the piercing, leave the jewelry in place during this time, even at night, to keep the hole from closing.
Minor pierced ear infections can be treated at home. With proper care, most will clear up in 1 to 2 weeks.
Redness or changes in skin color. Dry patches of skin that may resemble a burn. Blisters and draining fluid in severe cases.
For an early or minor infection, you may notice changes to the skin around the piercing: Turns red or darker than your normal skin color. Feels warm. Is swelling.
DO NOT pick the crusties off—that's just introducing your dirty hands to a healing piercing and can increase your risk of infection. The best way to clean them is to soak the piercing in warm saline solution, softening the crusties which then come off easily.
Pierced areas, especially sensitive areas like the navel, can get infected months and even years after they were pierced, though infections most often occur very shortly after the time of piercing, as that is when the portal door is wide open.
Rinse your piercing daily with fresh warm water in the shower to clean away any excess crusty discharge. Keep yourself healthy! Healthy bodies heal piercings best.