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.
If you are DIY-ing your sea salt mixture, combine a pinch of non-iodized fine-grain sea salt (about 1/8 teaspoon) and about 1/2 cup of very warm water in a small bowl. Soak the piercing in the mixture for five minutes.
The single best thing you can do for your piercing is to keep up a regular regimen of salt water soaks. These flush out the piercing, help to draw out discharge, stimulate blood circulation, and soothe irritations. We strongly suggest soaking your piercing at least twice a day—more often if healing is difficult.
Too much salt will “burn” your piercing, leaving it very red, sore, dry and itchy and nobody wants that. Over cleaning is also just as bad as under cleaning. If you over clean you will remove any good bacteria trying to help your new piercing heal. Also, don't play with or touch your new piercing!
When you are finished using the salt solution, it is very important to rinse with plain water afterwards. You can do this the same way as done with the salt solution, but make sure to use clean water this time. If you re-use the same glass or cup, it is important that it is clean and there is no salt left in the cup.
But make sure you don't use too much salt or not enough water. 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.
Keep bad bacteria away. Aside from your daily soap and water cleanse, you'll also want to further clean the area 2 to 3 times daily for the first 6 or 12 weeks (again, depending on whether it's an earlobe or cartilage piercing) using an antibacterial solution to reduce your chances of infection.
No. Use sterile saline wound wash bought from your piercing artist or at any pharmacy. Table salt isn't sterile and neither is tap water. You can introduce irritants and microbes into your piercings and cause infection.
FAQs on dos and don'ts after getting your ears pierced
A common belief is that you should rotate the studs. But it's not advisable as it can push the bacteria into the wound. Only touch the stud while cleaning.
Clean Your Piercing Regularly
“The key to fast and proper healing is to keep the area clean,” Kim says. For an easy-to-follow cleaning regimen, Doig suggests light irrigation with sterile saline a few times a day—there's no need to follow things up with a cleanser or disinfectant.
First wash your hands with soap and water. Then prepare a saltwater solution of 1 cup (0.24 liters) water with about 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Stir until the salt dissolves. Leaving the piercing jewelry in place, soak a cotton ball in the solution and place it on the affected area.
How do I prepare saline solution? Wash your hands well and rinse them with warm water. Pour 1000 mL (4 cups) of warm water • Add 2 teaspoons of table salt into your container.
After showering gently dry the piercing, front and back, using a hair dryer or gently pat dry with sterile packaged gauze.
If the piercing is removed, the lump will almost always disappear. They can be sore, itchy and bleed easily. While it is possible that you have a keloid, they are incredibly rare. Unless you have a family history of keloids, you can generally assume that you do not have a keloid.
If you want to use a water/salt mixture to clean your piercings it's important that you only use sea salt and not table salt. This is because table salt, and other salts like kosher salt or Epsom salts contain iodine.
You can clean with sea salt solution. Use a cotton bud to clean the piercing. Rinse the cotton bud in sea salt solution and wipe gently , without applying much pressure.
Your sweat is sterile to you, so shower like you normally do and clean the piercing afterwards with saline or sterile wound wash. Do not swim in rivers, lakes, hot tubs, pools, or oceans until your piercing is healed.
If you don't clean your piercing regularly, you could develop complications like infection, scarring, and inflammation, our experts explain. Additionally, the piercing could potentially take longer to heal. Keep in mind that some types of piercings are more likely to become infected than others.
Signs of an infection
It is important to note that your piercing may be tender or painful for up to 3-5 days after the procedure was performed. This is normal.
Most piercings will take at least a few weeks or even months to heal. Be patient and give the piercing a chance to heal before you take out the jewelry.
Nose piercings are notoriously hard healers, as they are a very sensitive area due to the nerves that run though. They take at least 12 weeks before being able to be changed, and even then, may need more time.