:: Basic Piercing Care ::

The purpose of cleaning a healing piercing is to remove any dead cells and discharge excreted by your body, as well as any external dirt and bacteria picked up during the day. You are not treating the wound with medicine or making it heal, but rather keeping the area clean while your body is healing itself. Basic hygiene and common sense, with particular attention to the specific area, are all that are required. You will be the best judge of what works for you. Pay attention to your body. It will tell you if you are doing something wrong. Listen to it.

New piercings should be cleaned once or twice daily, depending on your skin sensitivity, activities and environment. Continue cleaning every day for entire healing period. Bear in mind that over-cleaning or using too many products can also irritate your piercing. You wouldn’t wash your hands three times in a row with different kinds of soap, so why do it to your piercing?

:: USE ONE OF THESE PRODUCTS::

LIQUID ANTIMICROBIAL / GERMICIDAL SOAP

These products not only kill germs but also remove residue build-up from smoking, cosmetics and natural healing discharge. Medicated products such as Provon and Satin Soap are most effective and least irritating, and are available from your piercer or pharmacy. Liquid tea tree oil soap (from a health food store) is a natural and cruelty-free alternative ­ check the label. Other possibilities include Almay Clearly Natural, Hypocare, NutriBiotic, and other mild fragrance and color-free antibacterial soaps. Keep in mind commercial antibacterial soaps may be less effective and more irritating, especially over time.

TO CLEAN THE PIERCING, first wash your hands with the above soap. Never touch your piercing with dirty hands! That is the easiest way to get an infection. Then let warm water run over your piercing for a minute, or do a presoak with warm or salt water to loosen dried discharge. This crusty discharge is a secreted lymph, blood plasma and dead cells, and is a normal part of a healing piercing. You can use a cotton swab to help remove it, but don't pick at it with dirty fingernails. Next, lather the piercing and surrounding area, making sure to remove any discharge on the jewelry. Once the jewelry is clean, soap it up and move it through the piercing several times so the lather is pulled all the way through the skin. Leave the cleanser to work for a minute or two, then rinse well, again moving the jewelry through the piercing while rinsing.

WARM SALT WATER ::

Warm salt water soaks can work wonders in healing piercings. They help draw out discharge, soothe irritations and may prevent infection. They also stimulate circulation which encourages speedy healing. You can use soaks for general healing, to remove dried discharge before cleaning or activity, and to treat minor infections and irritations. We strongly suggest soaking your piercing for several minutes at least once a day, more often if you are having trouble with healing. Quick one minute soaks can also provide a soothing bath between normal cleanings

Sea salt (non-iodized; available from health food stores and some grocery stores) works best as it is most pure. Most table salt contains extra chemicals (aluminum, magnesium, iodide, etc.) which can irritate and sting, and dextrose (sugar) which can cause yeast infections Many non-iodized salts and kosher salts are natural sea salt. Read the label: if it contains only sodium chloride (salt) and maybe a form of calcium (-phosphate or -silicate to minimize clumping), it’s good. Epsom salts are really too strong and are not meant for surface wound soaking. Don’t use them.

To soak: Dissolve a pinch (1/4 teaspoon) of sea salt into one cup (8 oz.) of hot water (distilled if possible), or 1/4 cup of sea salt in a hot bath (in a clean tub!). A stronger solution is not better and may actually be harmful to your piercing. Tip the glass and hold it over your piercing for 5-15 minutes (until water cools), pressing the glass against the skin to form a seal. For facial or ear piercings you can pour some of the mixture into a shot glass, medicine cup or similar small container. For nostrils try the clear plastic caps from squirt water bottles. With smaller cups, change the solution as it cools to be sure it is still working well. A less effective option is to saturate several cotton balls in the solution and pack them around the piercing. After soaking, rinse with clear water and pat dry with clean cloth or paper towels.

:: THE FOLLOWING SHOULD NOT BE USED ::

DO NOT USE Rubbing Alcohol

Alcohol is far too harsh. It irritates and dries out the skin and can delay healing. It also burns and stings, and may not be as effective on germs (when used topically) as previously thought. Commercial witch hazel solutions containing alcohol should be avoided.

DO NOT USE Hydrogen Peroxide

Peroxide does kill many bacteria, but it also destroys the healthy skin around the piercing. Used long enough, it can eat away at the skin and actually keep your piercing from healing. Stay away from it!

DO NOT USE Antibiotic Ointments

These include such products as Neosporin, Bacitracin and triple antibiotic ointments. These do not work for more than two weeks, as your body becomes tolerant to the antibiotic in that time. This makes them worthless for healing piercings. They also have large amounts of petroleum jelly in them, which keeps oxygen out of the piercing and creates the perfect warm moist environment for bacteria to breed. The greasy barrier also keeps water and cleaning solutions from effectively reaching your piercing, making it impossible to clean. Read the label: "Do not use on puncture wounds."

DO NOT USE Betadine (Povidone Iodine)/Hibiclens

These solutions may be used for first aid or surgical wound care, but for long term care they are actually too strong and may delay healing. Betadine may be useful to clear up an infection, but when used too often it can actually kill healthy skin cells. It will also discolor gold jewelry. Many people also develop sensitivity to these solutions over time. For everyday cleaning, try one of the milder solutions mentioned above.

DO NOT USE Benzylkonium Chloride (Pierced Ear Solution)

While sometimes used in the past, Benzylkonium Chloride has proven to be problematic for many people. It is not as effective a cleanser as antimicrobial soaps and does not penetrate or remove oil and discharge in the piercing. Most BZK products have a very short shelf life of a month or less. Additionally, there has been some confusion over ingredients and it seems some manufacturers may be using formulas which are not compatible with human tissue. If you need a quick rinse on the go, try individually wrapped saline pads instead (from the pharmacy first aid aisle).

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Infinite Body Piercing, Inc.