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PIERCING AFTERCARE
HEALING TIMES will vary based on the service provided. Your piercer will provide you with your piercing healing time.
***Always wait at least 6-8 weeks+ before downsizing your jewelry to ensure safe healing. And at least 3-4 months+ before switching to a ring or downsizing the diameter.
Please see your piercer for assistance or information regarding your first change out.
The first 6-8 weeks of any piercing is always the most crucial. This is the time when the piercing is consider an open wound and the cells are at their most active. Always be sure to handle your fresh piercing with utmost care and delicacy, particularly during this time frame. Bumping, banging, snagging, or unknowingly putting pressure on your fresh piercing can significantly increase the chances of experiencing excessive swelling, bleeding, or piercing drift. Piercing drift occurs when the healing process causes the jewelry to embed itself at an awkward angle, potentially leading to complications down the line. Be cautious and mindful of your new piercing to ensure a smooth healing journey. Submerging your piercing under any body of water, such as swimming pools, lakes, or oceans, carries the risk of introducing bacteria or pathogens into your open wound. This can significantly increase the likelihood of developing infections, which may lead to complications and prolong the healing process. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your piercer if you notice any unusual changes or have any questions about your healing journey. Your piercer is there to support you every step of the way, so feel free to contact them promptly for guidance or assistance.
• ORAL PIERCING CARE
Rinse mouth with antibacterial or antimicrobial mouthwash for 30 – 60 seconds, preferably with Biotène Oral Rinse [1] (available for purchase at Lucky Bird Tattoo). Rinse up to 5 times a day: after meals and before bed. Gently brush your teeth, tongue & JEWELRY to avoid plaque buildup. Smoking is extremely inadvisable during the healing process as it inhibits oxygen circulation in the blood and negatively impacts healing ability.
- Eating isn’t going to be easy at first. Eat slowly and take small bites.
- Smoothies, shakes, energy drinks, ice cream, soups, etc. are great menu items.
- Cold or frozen foods will help minimize any swelling and are soothing to your new piercing.
- Avoid foods like mashed potatoes or oatmeal; they may be soft, but they will stick to your mouth and jewelry causing discomfort while ingesting.
- Avoid chewing gum, sucking on hard candy, salty, spicy, acidic or hot foods and beverages, as they may be irritating or injurious during healing.
- For tongue piercings – let your tongue rest as much as possible in order to minimize irritation or swelling, which includes speaking or moving your jewelry.
• SURFACE PIERCING CARE
Use ONE of the 2 recommended aftercare products below: (both products available for purchase at Lucky Bird Tattoo)
Naked Soap [2] – Clean your piercing 1-2 times a day for the duration of the estimated healing time using warm water and Naked Soap. Use sterile Q-Tips OR clean fingers to gently clean the foamy soap around the piercing and rinse thoroughly with water. Do not over clean your piercing as this may damage or dry out your skin and prolong the healing process.
Briotech Topical Spray [3] – Spray directly on your piercing 3-5 times per day and blot or air dry. No rinsing needed. Gently clean your piercing once per day in the shower with warm water to remove any crust build-up around the jewelry.
- Do not rotate your jewelry unless it is being soaked with warm water and soap during cleaning. Rotating your jewelry can cause irritation or tear tissue around the piercing and is not recommended.
- DO NOT TOUCH YOUR PIERCING WITH DIRTY HANDS!
- Properly wash your hands before AND after handling your jewelry and the surrounding areas.
- Change your bedding and towels at least once a week.
- Keep all pets away from your piercings especially when sleeping.
- Regularly disinfect objects that come in contact with your piercing, i.e., Telephones, earphones or eyeglasses.
- Do not allow personal care products, i.e., sprays, makeup and lotions, to get into your piercing.
- Always use disposable paper products for drying new piercings after cleaning.
- Do not go SWIMMING or submerge your piercing underwater for at least 6-8 weeks.
DO NOT USE:
- Alcohol: too strong, kills cells essential for healing and dries out skin.
- Hydrogen Peroxide: also, too strong and dries out skin.
- Bactine: numbing agents such as lidocaine can irritate your piercing and are not recommended for use on puncture wounds.
- Neosporin, Bacitracin and other Antibiotic Ointments: always advise against use on puncture wounds. These petroleum-based products smother the piercing and prevent oxygen from reaching it.
- Dial or Antibacterial Soap: also, too strong and dries out skin. Use more gentle soaps such as Naked Soap.
Piercings are deeper wounds and the cells healing around the piercing are more fragile healing from the inside outward. The products listed above are designed primarily for surface wounds, ie. cuts and scrapes, where the cells are more durable and heal faster from the outside. Always use gentile products to help soothe the wound and our skin carefully removing any crust build-up around the jewelry.
QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS:
Always contact Lucky Bird Tattoo for a free consultation if you have any questions or concerns regarding your piercing.
Most problems are NOT infections. Do not hesitate to contact us first!
Free consultations are available for scheduling with our online booking services.
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[1] Biotène Oral Rinse – Even if you aren’t suffering from dry mouth symptoms, Biotène’s Dry Mouth Oral Rinse is ideal for new piercing aftercare. It is alcohol and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) free with an improved neutral pH. It also contains humectants and lubricants to soothe irritation and provide relief. Gentle for everyday use with a new piercing, use Biotène to clean and refresh your mouth.
[2] Naked Soap - a certified organic, handmade soap specially formulated to keep skin healthy without unnecessary chemicals that strip the skin of its natural ability to heal. Naked Soap is made with a blend of tea tree and lavender, which are a mild antiseptic and natural anti-inflammatory. DO NOT USE IF YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO TEA TREE OR LAVENDER!
[3] Briotech Topical Skin Spray – the perfect cosmetic solution to soothe and support your skin. Based on the science of Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl), this all-natural, highly effective, electrically charged signaling solution mimics the essence of your body's natural defense system.
All products listed are available for purchase at Lucky Bird Tattoo.
LUCKY BIRD TATTOO | 2521 Riva Rd U2, Annapolis, MD 21401 | 443-949-0305
www.luckybirdtattoo.com