Cleaning and Care

You must take care of your dermal piercing properly for it to last.

When healing takes place, do the following:

• For a few days, make sure the area is bandaged.
• Hands should be washed with antibacterial soap before handling the area.
• You should use a brand new paper towel every time you clean a piercing.
• You should clean your teeth twice daily with a sea salt solution or a saline solution.
• Any crust that has formed between cleansings should be gently wiped away.
• You should cover the piercing if you will be showering to avoid it getting wet.
• Whenever you wash the area or take a shower, pat it dry after each use.

However, you should not:

• You should wear tight clothing around the piercing.
• Let your hair get tangled in the jewelry.
• Play high-impact sports or engage in other activities where collisions may occur.
• Take a bath, swim, or drown the area that has been pierced.
• To clean the piercing, use antiseptics or antibacterial soap.
• The surrounding area should be rubbed with a towel. Use a patting technique instead.
• Pick off any crust that develops around the piercing.
• After three months or until your piercing has healed, change the jewelry.
• Taking the jewelry off or playing with it is not recommended.

Symptoms to look out for

Although minor swelling and crustiness may be expected with any new piercing, other symptoms may indicate a more severe health issue. The following signs of rejection or infection should be reported to your piercer:

• The pain is severe
• Heavily swollen
• To the touch, the skin is hot
• Discharges of yellow or green color
• Odor of foulness
• Rashes

You might also experience the following with rejection:

• Displacement of jewelry
• Hanging or drooping jewelry instead of sitting flat on the skin
• The jewelry top may be transparent or calloused
• Dislodgement of the anchors completely

How Long Will A Healed Piercing Last?