Once you've finally made your piercing, you may want to heal it quickly. To speed up healing of your piercing, use mild soapy water to clean it every day. Don't irritate the skin around the piercing and don't reopen the wound as this can slow healing. Allow the tissue around the piercing to heal before changing the earrings. If you suspect an infection, call your piercer, doctor, or dermatologist to see if you need antibiotics or just need a cleaning.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Cleaning Piercings
Step 1. Wash your hands before touching them
Use mild soap and clean water to wash your hands thoroughly. After that, rinse your hands with clean water before touching the skin surface.
Don't let anyone touch your piercing, as this can spread bacteria
Step 2. Wet the piercing with saline solution for 5-10 minutes daily
To keep your piercing clean, moisten a clean gauze or kitchen paper with saline solution then place it on the surface of the piercing and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. This treatment can be done 1-2 times a day.
You can also dip your piercing directly into a cup of saline, depending on the location. For example, if you make a finger piercing, simply dip the finger in the saline solution until it is submerged
Step 3. Wash the piercing with soap and water if recommended
If the piercer recommends that you clean the piercing area with soapy water once a day, follow this advice. Wash the piercing area with fragrance-free soap and water. After that, rinse to get rid of all the soap residue.
- Avoid using soaps that contain fragrances, dyes, or triclosan as these can cause skin irritation.
- If the piercing is in the ear, remember to clean the back as well.
Step 4. Pat the piercing area dry with a paper towel or cloth
Prepare a kitchen tissue or clean cloth then pat it on the surface of the skin that has been cleaned. Do not press too hard, do not let the piercing open again. When you're done, throw away the tissue or cloth you used.
Do not use cloth towels because they can get caught in the piercing
Step 5. Limit the frequency with which you clean your piercing to 1 or 2 times a day
Cleaning your piercing more often every day may sound good, but it can actually cause skin sores. As a result, the healing period of the piercing will be longer.
Clean your piercing after bathing because it will likely get in the water too
Method 2 of 3: Treating Piercings
Step 1. Let the wound scab
Simply wetting the piercing with saline solution and cleaning it with mild soap and water is actually enough to keep the skin clean. Therefore, do not pull or peel off the layer of dry scab that has formed, as this will open the piercing and cause bleeding. Be patient, over time, this scab will come off by itself.
You do not need to twist or twist the piercing during the healing period. Twisting the piercing may actually irritate the skin and slow healing
Step 2. Avoid using antibiotics or disinfectants on the piercing
Both can irritate the piercing during healing. Antibiotic ointments can trap moisture and promote the growth of bacteria around the piercing. Meanwhile, disinfectants such as liquid alcohol or hydrogen peroxide can hinder tissue recovery.
Avoid using antibacterial soaps or disinfectants that contain benzalkonium chloride
Step 3. Keep the piercing clean and dry throughout the day
Make sure other people don't touch the area around the piercing. In addition, you should also keep sweat and dust away from the surroundings. For example, don't apply makeup or spray perfume near your piercing. Clean objects that come into contact with the piercing area so they don't carry bacteria.
Depending on the location of the piercing, also clean your phone, headphones, glasses, or hat
Step 4. Allow the piercing to heal before removing the earring
Most piercings take at least a few weeks or even months to heal. Be patient and allow the piercing to heal before removing the earrings. The following is an estimate of how long it will take for your piercing to heal based on its location:
- Earlobe: 3-9 weeks
- Ear cartilage (including tragus, earlobe, industrial, rook or orbital piercings): 6-12 months
- Nostrils: 2-4 months
- Mouth: 3-4 weeks
- Lips: 2-3 months
- Navel: 9-12 months
- Genitals: 4-10 weeks
Method 3 of 3: Caring for an Infected Piercing
Step 1. Recognize signs of infection such as redness, swelling, or fever
While pain around your piercing is normal, you should still watch for signs of infection. In addition to pain that doesn't go away or gets worse when you touch the surface of the skin around the piercing, other signs of infection include:
- Yellow, green, or bloody discharge
- High fever
- Redness, swelling, or a burning sensation
- Constant itching
- Bad smell
Step 2. Make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible
Because the infection can get more serious, make an appointment with a doctor or dermatologist as soon as possible. If it's too expensive for you, try calling a piercer.
- The doctor or dermatologist will examine your medical history, perform a physical examination, and determine the most appropriate treatment for you.
- Don't hesitate to visit the emergency room if you suspect that your cartilage piercing has a serious infection. This infection is more difficult to treat and causes more complications than other piercings.
Step 3. Ask your doctor if you have any metal allergies
If you suspect your infection is caused by an allergy to nickel, ask your doctor for an allergy test. The doctor or dermatologist will test a small area of the skin surface to determine if you have an allergy to metals. Nickel is the metal that most often causes skin allergies and triggers infections. Your doctor may recommend that you apply cortisone cream to the infected area and replace your nickel earrings with stainless steel or gold earrings.
If you have a severe allergic reaction, you may need to remove the piercing and seal the hole. Once your skin has healed, you can re-pierce it. However, be sure to wear hypoallergenic earrings afterwards
Step 4. Follow the recommended treatment plan
Your doctor may ask you to keep your piercing on while the infection heals. However, if you have a severe infection, you may need to have it removed. To cure the infection, you may have to use an antibiotic cream for a few days.
