:: HELPFUL HINTS & COMMON SENSE ::

STAY HEALTHY

The healthier your lifestyle, the more quickly you can heal. This includes eating well, easing stress and getting enough sleep. A good multivitamin, especially one containing zinc and vitamin C, can help your body rebuild itself. Avoid getting pierced while you are sick, as your immune system is already strained and healing will be harder. Also, avoid getting pierced while pregnant; your body’s energies are focused elsewhere. Reduce smoking and avoid recreational drug use.

KEEP HANDS OFF

Dirty fingers are an excellent way to get a piercing infected. Wash your hands with an antibacterial soap before handling your piercing or jewelry. Contrary to popular rumor, dirty rings do not need to be turned through all day. This only pulls germs into the hole. Unless you are cleaning your piercing, keep your hands off!

CHECK JEWELRY

Any jewelry with screw-on balls, discs, etc. should be checked occasionally to make sure the ends are on tight (especially tongues, labrets and navels).

DO NOT CONSTRICT YOUR PIERCINGS

Your piercing will not heal properly if the jewelry is held in an unnatural position. Therefore, avoid wearing tight clothing over a healing piercing. This is especially true of navel piercings. For these, the waistline of the clothing must be low enough that it will not hit the piercing when you stand, bend over or sit down. Beware of large belts, stockings and body suits, sit up straight, and do not sleep on your stomach. Remember that once the ring begins to heal crooked, it will not go straight again.

Bras may be problematic for some women healing nipple piercings. If your rings are being twisted under or are getting irritated, try cotton tank tops or sports bras instead. Or fold a clean piece of cotton gauze or paper towel into a pad and place it inside your bra, under the bottom part of the ring (so the ring is supported parallel to the body).

AVOID ORAL CONTACT

Mouths harbor lots of bacteria and germs. Putting them on your piercing is one of the fastest ways to get an infection. Avoid unprotected oral sex while healing genital piercings, especially in the first two weeks. Keep others' mouths off tasty ear piercings, navels and nipples until healed, and avoid wet kissing with fresh oral piercings. Don’t share drinks, forks, etc.

AVOID OTHER PEOPLE'S BODILY FLUIDS

Remember, this is an open wound and should be treated accordingly. Even if you are monogamous, you and your partner have different bacteria and can give each other infections. And if you aren't monogamous, you could be sharing more than just the moment. Pay close attention with new oral and genital piercings.

KEEP MAKE-UP AND HAIR PRODUCTS AWAY

Dirty hair should be kept off fresh ear and facial piercings. Clean piercings after applying hair products and make-up, as they contain irritants and may harbor bacteria. Also consider that telephones and eyeglasses can come into contact facial and ear piercings. Wipe them down with antiseptic and keep them away from piercings.

CUT DOWN ON SMOKING

Not just for oral piercings, but also for facial piercings. Besides leaving smoke residue in your piercings, smoking can increase risks and lengthen healing time. They don't call it a "dirty little habit" for nothing. Cut down or quit if possible.

WEAR NATURAL FIBERS

Natural fibers (cotton, silk, etc.) allow your piercing to breathe; synthetics do not. Piercings that are continually "sweaty" may be slower to heal. Be particularly aware of bras (padding!) on nipple piercings and undergarments over genital piercings.

WEAR CLEAN CLOTHES

The clothes over a fresh piercing can harbor bacteria and other infectious matter. Make sure your sheets and bedding are clean as well.

KEEP PETS AWAY FROM FRESH PIERCINGS

Fluffy may be cute, but she also sheds and walks around in her litterbox, and who knows where Spot's mouth has been? This also means keeping pets out of your bed during healing.

BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU SWIM

Sea salt and chlorine may accelerate healing, but the bacteria and pollution in water do not. If possible, avoid swimming for the first few weeks of a new piercing, and always clean your piercing when you get out of the water (EarCare or saline comes in handy here). Public pools, lakes and hot tubs are especially nasty germ breeding zones. If you must swim during healing, consider using a water-tight wound covering such as Tegaderm or Clean Seals, available at your pharmacy.

USE COMMON SENSE

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for your healing. PAY ATTENTION to your body. It will tell you if you are doing something wrong. LISTEN to it.

©Infinite Body Piercing, Inc.
Information contained herein cannot be reproduced without the express permission of
Infinite Body Piercing, Inc.