Proper piercing aftercare is very important especially during the healing process; this is when most infections can occur. If you do not take care of your new body modifications properly you could end up having to remove the piercing due to infection – having experienced the pain for nothing.
Oral Piercing Aftercare:
Some of the most common oral piercings are the Labret (a piercing located below the center of the lip), the more common tongue piercing, lip piercings, and the Monroe piercing (think Marilyn Monroe’s beauty mole by her upper lip). You can be pierced almost anywhere on your body that you have skin and can endure the pain required for it – there might just not be a name for it yet.
Immediately after getting a new oral piercing you should rinse with a solution consisting of half antiseptic mouthwash and half water solution every time you eat, smoke, or drink for first 3 days. Try to avoid smoking as much as possible because, this too, can create pressure on a new piercing and not allow it to begin the clotting process which is necessary in healing. Also, with tongue piercings, do not drink through straws for the first forty-eight hours because the suction could cause unnecessary pressure on the piercing, and cause excessive bleeding. Avoid drinking any alcoholic beverages for the first forty-eight hours due to a risk of thinning out the blood, which could create excessive bleeding. Please note that most oral piercings will swell; to reduce this you can take Aleve or Advil, but do not take Tylenol, Advil or Ibuprofen, because they too can thin out your blood and cause you to bleed more freely.
All other Piercing Aftercare:
All other piercings, including those known as “surface” piercings should be washed three times a day using an antibacterial soap, cotton swabs, and warm water. (Always wash your hands with an antibacterial soap before and after touching your piercing.) Place a small amount of soap on the cotton swab, dilute it slightly with warm water and create a lather. Gently remove any kind of dried blood or other dried fluids. Once the jewelry is completely clean, rotate it gently with the soap on it to clean out the inside of your piercing. Rinse completely with warm water and pat dry – do not rub. Make sure that you do not wear any tight fitting clothing over your piercing for the first week because constant movement of the piercing jewelry will lengthen the time you will take to heal.
Afterward:
You should never touch your piercing unless you are cleaning it and you should always wash you hands first. The healing times can vary from person to person, and piercing to piercing, but times are greatly affected by your overall health and how you care for your new piercing. Taking a multivitamin, especially one with Zinc will give your immune system a boost during the critical healing process. Also, a small amount of discharge is normal, so don’t worry. If you are really worried you can contact your local body piercing studio with any questions or concerns.
