Body piercing is a popular trend that has been around since ancient times. In ancient times, people used it to adorn women with jewelry and men with earrings.
But it wasn’t until the 20th century when body piercings became more common among people of all ages. Today, there are many body piercings available in the market.
These including nose rings, belly button rings, tongue studs, and even nipple clamps. So let’s have a look at how to make sure you’re using the right piercing care for your body.
Piercing Aftercare for Common Piercings
Many common piercings share the same aftercare processes and general good practices. So let’s take a look at some of the factors you’ll need to consider when looking after your body piercings.
Know Symptoms of Infection and Poor Healing
You should know what to look out for should anything go wrong with your piercing. Even the best knowledge and diligence in caring for the area won’t help here. If you fail to spot a potential infection or injury, you can cause permanent damage to your skin.
Yet, some injury is normal in the healing process. Typical things to expect include:
- Bleeding
Bruising
Swelling
Tenderness
Discomfort
Discoloration
Minor Leakage
In all these cases, it’s normal for a few days to weeks afterward. But should symptoms persist beyond, then stop. Get yourself booked in with a doctor right away. A good doctor checks for infection for treatment. They might tell you to have surgery to rectify the issue.
Know Your Healing Times
Depending on the body part, healing can take anywhere between 4 weeks to 4 months. As a rule of thumb, skin healing is much quicker than cartilage piercings. So it’s useful to note how long it takes for your specific piercing to heal.
That way, you can get stuck into the specifics of caring for that particular piercing. But suppose you’re having your body pierced by a qualified specialist. They will be able to tell you about the best practices in looking after your specific piercing.
Also when you buy jewelry from companies such as https://www.bodypiercejewelry.com/, you’ll be able to get advice on how to look after your new piercing and make sure you don’t reinfect the area.
During Piercing Healing
You should avoid touching or pulling on your new piercing during its healing process. It could cause discomfort as well as damage to the tissue surrounding the hole. Suppose you notice signs of infection such as swelling, pain, fever, and pus discharge. In that case, you should always seek medical attention immediately.
Keep It Clean
Make sure you’re following the correct cleaning procedures. You don’t want to use harsh chemicals like bleach or alcohol. These will only irritate the tissues and delay recovery. Instead, opt for milder products like water-based solutions. Also, be careful not to scrub too hard as this can also lead to irritation.
It would help if you used a saline solution two to three times a day to clean the piercing. This combination of salt and water is chemical-free and allows the body to heal and cleanse itself. Follow this every day for several weeks, and you’re on your way to a successful recovery.
Avoid using aftercare products as well during this time. These contain chemicals that work great on keeping skin in good condition. They also aren’t designed for the open wound that a piercing creates. So make sure you wait until healed before using these.
Avoid Contact With Other Fluids
Ensure you don’t go swimming and try not to get shampoos and body soaps in the wound while showering or bathing. These can all cause flare-ups and injury to the infected area making matters worse.
The same goes for make-up, as well. Avoid using make-up for several weeks after the piercing has taken place. That way, you can make sure you don’t contaminate the area. And, when you are okay to apply it, follow correct application techniques to make sure you don’t aggravate the area.
And, as tempting as it may be, try not to overclean the area either, as this can also slow down the process.
Healed Piercing Care
Once the piercing area heals, you’ll still need to look after the area to prevent any long-term damage. And knowing what you need to do and look out for is vital if you want a successful, scar-free healed piercing.
You may want to use an antibacterial cream like Neosporin. This kind of cream helps keep bacteria away while also soothing irritated skin. Remember only to do this once the area has healed, though. And remember not to pick at the healed piercing site because this can lead to scarring.
Also, make sure you apply sunscreen daily to protect against UV rays from damaging the fresh skin. Finally, wear loose-fitting clothing outdoors. Loose-fitting clothes help wick moisture away from the piercing if it’s not in an exposed skin area.
Less-Common Body Piercings
Suppose you’re getting an unusual body piercing such as genitalia piercings. Then you’ll have extra considerations to make about their care. For example, these piercings need specialized cleaning products and techniques.
And less common piercings aren’t only focused around those areas. Suppose you have other less common types of body piercings, such as stretch piercings. Then you might find them more difficult to care for as well.
Ensure that you follow strict procedures by your piercer for any specialist areas. Doing so will avoid the risk of infection and surgery.
Piercing Care Is Vital
Whatever body piercing you choose to get, know that by following the correct piercing care practices, you’re making the most of your new piercing. That way, you’ll make sure you enjoy your piercing for what it is—a true expression of your identity and not a wound that won’t heal.
For more expert advice, keep checking our articles and see what you can find today!
