Skin Piercing Aftercare
Ear-Piercing Aftercare
- Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching your piercing. Do not allow anyone else to touch your piercing during the healing process.
- Use warm salty water to soak and clean your piercing up to three times a day. Do not use products containing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide as they slow up the healing process.
- Gently wash the area surrounding and including the piercing to remove any crusting.
- Work the ring / stud back and forth through the piercing several times.
- Gently dry the area using cotton swabs or kitchen roll (not cotton wool).
- Avoid prolonged pressure to the ear(s) where possible.
- Some soreness, mild bleeding and redness may be experienced at the start. However, signs of infection include redness around the piercing and burning pain or pain when touching the ring / stud itself. If you develop signs of infection, see your GP.
Genital Piercing Aftercare
- Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching your piercing. Do not allow anyone else to touch your piercing during the healing process.
- Use warm salty water to soak and clean your piercing up to three times a day. Do not use products containing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide as they slow up the healing process.
- Gently wash the area surrounding and including the piercing to remove any crusting.
- Work the jewellery back and forth through the piercing several times.
- Gently dry the area using clean cotton swabs or kitchen roll (not cotton wool).
- Tight clothing may increase the amount of time the piercing will take to heal. Try to wear loose clothing as much as possible.
- Always wear clean underwear and change the bed linen frequently.
- During sexual contact use condoms to keep saliva and other bodily fluids out of your piercing.
- Some clear, pink or slightly bloody discharge is normal for several days after genital piercing.
- Some soreness, mild bleeding and redness may be experienced at the start. However, signs of infection include redness around the piercing and burning pain or pain when touching the jewellery. If you develop signs of infection, contact your GP.
Naval Piercing Aftercare
- Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching your piercing. Do not allow anyone else to touch your piercing during the healing process.
- Use warm salty water to soak and clean your piercing up to three times a day. Do not use products containing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide as they slow up the healing process.
- Gently wash the area surrounding and including the piercing to remove any crusting.
- Work the jewellery back and forth through the piercing several times.
- Gently dry the area using clean cotton swabs or kitchen roll (not cotton wool).
- Tight clothing around the waist may increase the amount of time the piercing will take to heal, as well as feeling uncomfortable. Try to wear loose clothing as much as possible.
- Some clear, pink or slightly bloody discharge is normal for several days after the piercing.
- Some soreness, mild bleeding and redness may be experienced at the start. However, signs of infection include redness around the piercing and burning pain or pain when touching the jewellery. If you develop signs of infection, contact your GP.
Nipple Piercing Aftercare
- Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching your piercing. Do not allow anyone else to touch your piercing during the healing process.
- Use warm salty water to soak and clean your piercing up to three times a day. Do not use products containing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide as they slow up the healing process.
- Gently wash the area surrounding and including the piercing to remove any crusting.
- Gently dry the area using clean cotton swabs or kitchen roll (not cotton wool).
- Tight clothing may increase the amount of time the piercing will take to heal, as well as feeling uncomfortable. Try to wear loose clothing as much as possible.
- Some clear, pink or slightly bloody discharge is normal for several days after the piercing.
- Some soreness, mild bleeding and redness may be experienced at the start. However, signs of infection include redness around the piercing and burning pain or pain when touching the jewellery. If you develop signs of infection, contact your GP.
Tongue Piercing Aftercare
- Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching your piercing. Do not allow anyone else to touch your piercing during the healing process.
- Your tongue can swell up to twice the normal size for about 24 hours after piercing. Suck on ice for 24 to 48 hours to minimise pain and swelling.
- Reduce the intake of warm beverages, hot or spicy foods, tobacco, alcohol, or anything irritating to the mouth.
- Rinse the mouth for 30 to 60 seconds after consuming anything other than water.
- Oral sex or wet kissing without a barrier should be avoided for 6 weeks.
- Hydrogen peroxide may be used as mouthwash but this must only be used if diluted with water according to the product information sheet. (Do not swallow this solution as it is a powerful laxative).
- Some soreness, mild bleeding and redness may be experienced at the start. However, signs of infection include redness around the piercing and burning pain or pain when touching the jewellery. If you develop signs of infection, contact your GP.
- Return to your piercer after 7 to 10 days when your tongue has returned to its normal size in order to have a shorter bar fitted. If you fail to do this, damage to teeth and gums could occur.
- Regularly check the bar end is screwed on tight. If it comes loose, the ball or the bar could cause choking.
Tattoo Aftercare
- If tattoo’s need to be covered, a sterile, non-adhesive dressing should be used and left in place for the first 24 hours. It takes about 24 hours for broken skin to begin to heal and if the wound is not covered with a sterile dressing during this time, micro-organisms may enter the skin and cause infection.
- After the dressing is removed, gently wash your tattoo with liquid soap and warm water and then rinse thoroughly.
- Leave your tattoo to air dry.
- While healing keep your tattoo away from the sun, chlorinated water, dirt or other irritants. Five minutes of direct sunlight on a healing tattoo may trigger an allergic reaction. A strong waterproof sunscreen is recommended for all tattooed areas. Always keep your tattoos covered when using a tanning bed.
- A scab may form when healing – do not pick or scratch it.
- Some soreness, mild bleeding and redness may be experienced initially. However, signs of infection include redness, swelling and pain around the tattoo. If you develop any signs of infection, see your GP.


