What To Do
♦ Wash your hands prior to touching the piercing; leave it alone except when cleaning. It is not necessary to rotate the jewelry while healing except possibly during cleaning.
♦ Make sure that your jewelry and skin is free from any discharge before you attempt to move the jewelry. Irritation can occur when crusty matter is accidentally forced into the piercing.
♦ Stay healthy! Eat a nutritious diet. The healthier your lifestyle, the easier it will be for your piercing to heal. Exercise during healing is fine, just “listen” to your body.
♦ Make sure your bedding is kept clean and changed regularly. Wear clean, comfortable, breathable clothing that protects your piercing while sleeping.
♦ Showering is safer than taking a bath, because bathtubs tend to harbor bacteria. If you would like to take a bath, clean the tub well before each use.
What To Avoid
♦ Avoid undue trauma such as friction from clothing, excessive motion of the area, playing with the jewelry and vigorous cleaning. These activities can cause the formation of unsightly and uncomfortable scar tissue, migration, prolonged healing and other complications.
♦ Avoid the use of alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Betadine, Hibiclens or ointment.
♦ Avoid over cleaning. This can delay your healing and irritate your piercing.
♦ Avoid all oral contact, rough play, and contact with others’ bodily fluids on or near your piercing during healing.
♦ Avoid stress and recreational drug use including excessive caffeine, nicotine and alcohol.
♦ Avoid submerging the piercing in bodies of water such as lakes, pools, jacuzzis, etc. Or
protect your piercing using a special waterproof bandage such as Tegaderm, which is available at drug stores.
♦ Avoid all beauty and personal care products on or around the piercing including cosmetics, lotions, sprays, etc.
♦ Don’t hang charms or any other object from your jewelry until the piercing is fully healed.
