• Some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness or bruising may initially occur.

• You may notice discolouration, itching and a whitish-yellow fluid (lymph fluid) that forms a crust around the jewellery.  

• The jewellery doesn't always move freely in the piercing, please do not forcefully move it.  

• Failing to clean your new piercing as part of your daily routine may cause a normal but smelly bodily secretion to accumulate. 

• Piercings may seem healed before the healing process is complete. This is due to the tissue healing from the outside in. Although it feels fine, the inside of the piercings remains fragile. Be patient and keep cleaning throughout the entire healing period.

• Even healed piercings can shrink or close within minutes after having been there for years! This varies from person to person; if you like your piercing, keep the jewellery in—do not leave it empty. 

Things to avoid:

• Products such as alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial soaps, iodine, or any other harsh products, as these can damage the healing cells produced by your body.

• Avoid piercing aftercare from popular high street shops, and other products containing Benzalkonium Chloride (BZK). These can be an irritant and are not intended for long-term wound care.

• Over-cleaning! This can delay your healing and irritate your piercing; more cleaning won’t mean quicker healing.

• Trauma such as friction from clothing, playing with the jewellery, and vigorous cleaning. These and other activities can be the cause of “piercing bumps”, uncomfortable scar tissue, migration, prolonged healing, and other complications.

• Avoid contact with others’ bodily fluids on or near your piercing during healing. Beauty and personal care products (foundations) need to be kept off and away from the piercing including all cosmetics, lotions, and hairsprays, etc.

• Don’t hang charms or any object from your jewellery until the piercing is fully healed.

How to clean your oral piercing

1. Wash and dry your hands thoroughly

2. For the outside of any oral piercings such as a labret start by using your sterile saline (We recommend PierceMed) and begin by soaking a cotton pad.

3. Hold the soaked pad over your new piercing for approximately 3 to 5 minutes to soften any crust or build-up.

4. Using the edge of the cotton pad clean around the jewellery including behind the attachment and back of the piercing.

5. Be sure to clean in and around all areas, especially with more ornate and decorative pieces.

6. Pat dry with a dry cotton pad and make sure that the area is dry and free of moisture.

7. For the inside of labret piercings and tongue piercings you need to keep up with your normal oral healthcare. This means a new toothbrush or top if electric and then brushing twice daily along with regular mouth washing using an alcohol-free mouthwash (such as corsodyl) to rinse out after meals when you can.

8. Repeat twice daily however fits with your day. For example, if you do a sport or go to the gym please wait and clean your piercings after you’ve gone.

9. Refrain from knocking or catching your new piercing as much as possible.

• Make sure you are cleaning your phones, headphones, glasses and any headgear such as hats & helmets. 

• When visiting the hairdresser/ stylist please make sure your hairdresser/ stylist is aware of your new piercing to keep them from knocking or catching it. 

• Be sure to wash your hands before touching your piercing. But please leave your piercing alone except for when cleaning. Do not twist, turn or rotate your jewellery 

• Make sure you are washing your bedding and changing it regularly.  

• The t-shirt trick: Pop a clean T-shirt over your pillow, a clean t-shirt provides four clean surfaces for sleeping. 

• Placing a travel pillow, on top of your pillow, and then placing your ear in the opening can be helpful to avoid pressure on your new piercing.

What you can do to help your piercing heal:

 How to clean your ear/facial piercing:

1. Wash and dry your hands thoroughly

2. Using sterile saline (we recommend PierceMed), soak a cotton pad.

3. Hold the damp cotton pad over your new piercing for approximately 3 to 5 minutes to soften any crust or build-up.

4. Using the edge of the cotton pad, clean around the jewellery (including behind the attachment and back of the piercing).

5. Be sure to clean in and around all areas, especially with more ornate and decorative pieces.

6. Using a fresh cotton pad, gently pat dry to ensure the area is dry and free of moisture.

7. Repeat twice daily however fits with your day. For example, if you do a sport or go to the gym please wait to clean your piercings until after you’ve gone.

8. Refrain from knocking or catching your new piercing as much as possible.

How to clean your tongue piercing

• Refrain from smoking, this includes but is not limited to tobacco products, vapes and illegal substances. These all will prevent your body from healing normally and potentially draw out the swelling making it last longer.

• Up your water intake, the more hydrated you are the quicker the swelling is likely to subside.

• Eat as you would normally but cut food items up smaller than you would usually.

• Please do not play with the barbell in your tongue by running it across your teeth as this will cause damage to the enamel and your new piercing.

• Sucking on small pieces of ice until they dissolve in the mouth may help with swelling.

• Feel free to take an over-the-counter, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen according to package instructions.

• Don’t move your jewellery more than necessary.

• Sleep with your head elevated above your heart during the first few nights.

• Avoid oral sexual contact including French kissing or oral sex during healing.

• Avoid chewing gum, fingernails, pencils, sunglasses, etc.