Aftercare & FAQ's

  Over the years we have learnt a lot about piercing aftercare, here are our recommendations:
Stay Healthy.

 The healthier you are, the more quickly you can heal. This includes eating well and getting enough sleep. Avoid getting pierced while you are sick, as it will be much harder to heal. 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 jewellery. When you are not cleaning your piercing, don't touch it.

 Wear Clean Clothes.

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

 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 harbour bacteria. Also consider that telephones and glasses can come into contact with facial and ear piercings. Wipe them down with a disinfectant or keep them away from piercings.

 Do not Constrict Your Piercings.

 Your piercing will not heal properly if the jewellery is held in an unnatural position. Therefore, avoid wearing tight clothing over a healing piercing. This is especially true of naval 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, and do not sleep on your stomach.

 Wear Natural Fibres.

 Natural fibres allow your piercing to breathe; synthetics do not. Piercings that are continually sweaty may be slower to heal.

 Avoid Oral Contact.

 Other people's mouths harbour lots of bacteria and germs. Putting them on your piercing is one of the fastest ways of getting an infection.

 Avoid Other People's Bodily Fluids.

 Remember, this is an open wound, and you could be exchanging more than just bacteria.

 Keep Pets Away from Fresh Plercings.

 Animals can carry some very harmful bacteria. Be Careful Where You Swim.

 While sea salt and chlorine can accelerate healing, the bacteria and pollution in the water does not. If possible, avoid swimming for the first few weeks of a new piercing, and always clean a healing piercing when you get out of the water. Avoid public pools, and clean your bath before bathing.

 Check Jewellery.

 Any jewellery with screw-on balls (especially in nave] piercings) should be checked occasionally to make sure the balls are on tight.

 Use Common Sense.

 Pay attention to your body. It will tell you if you are doing something wrong. Listen to it.

 Basic Piercing Aftercare New Piercings should be cleaned at least twice daily. The following products are recommended:

 Warm Salt Water

 Warm salt water soaks can work wonders in healing piercings. You can use them both for healing and to treat minor infections. Sea Salt (available from most health food stores) and Epsom salts work best, but table salt may also be used.

 Either add one quarter cup salt to a hot bath and soak or put one teaspoon salt in a glass of hot water. Tip the glass and hold it over your piercing, pressing the opening against the skin to form a seal for 1 to 15 minutes. Soak piercing at least twice a week during healing or several times daily to treat infection. If salt water soaks do not clear up any signs of infection within several days, consult your physician.

 Antibacterial Soap.

 This works especially well for piercings below the neck. Any brand can be used. Liquid soaps are recommended over bar soaps, as they are not as easily contaminated by handling, soap dishes, etc.

 To clean the piercing, first wash your hands with the antibacterial soap. Then, lather up the piercing and surrounding area. Take care to remove any scabbing or discharge on the jewellery. Once the jewellery is clean, soap it up and work it through the skin so that the lather is pulled all the way through the piercing. Rinse well again moving the jewellery through the piercing while rinsing.

 The information contained within this document is based upon our experience as piercers and upon current industry standards. We are not doctors, and our suggestions are not meant to be taken as medical advice. In the event of a serious infection or other problem, consult your physician. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at www.barsandbras.co.uk.