Post-Piercing Care

Aftercare Guide

Your piercing journey doesn't end when you leave the studio. Proper care ensures a beautiful, healthy heal.

Daily Care Routine

  • Clean your piercing twice daily using a sterile saline solution (0.9% sodium chloride)
  • Spray or apply with a clean cotton pad — do not use cotton wool as fibres can catch on jewellery
  • Do not rotate or twist your jewellery — this is an outdated myth that causes damage and delays healing
  • Do not touch your piercing with unwashed hands
  • Pat dry gently with a clean piece of kitchen roll — avoid towels which harbour bacteria
  • Clean after exercise, swimming, or any activity that causes sweating

What to Avoid

  • Swimming pools, hot tubs, and open water for the first 4–6 weeks
  • Makeup, perfume, or hair products near the piercing site
  • Sleeping directly on a new ear piercing — use a travel pillow or pillow protector
  • Removing your jewellery until fully healed — even briefly can cause the channel to close
  • Antiseptic products such as TCP, Dettol, or hydrogen peroxide — these are too harsh
  • Over-cleaning — twice daily is sufficient; more can irritate the piercing

Signs of Normal Healing

  • Slight redness and swelling in the first few days — this is normal
  • Clear or white/yellow crust forming around the jewellery — this is lymph fluid, not infection
  • Mild tenderness when touched, especially in the first 1–2 weeks
  • Occasional itching as the tissue heals — resist the urge to scratch
  • The piercing may appear healed before it fully is — always wait the full healing time

Diet & Lifestyle

  • Stay hydrated — good hydration supports tissue healing
  • Maintain a balanced diet rich in vitamins C and zinc to support healing
  • Avoid alcohol in excess during the initial healing period
  • Avoid smoking near oral piercings
  • Wear loose, breathable clothing over body piercings to avoid snagging
  • Be mindful during sport and exercise — protect the piercing from impact

Healing Times by Piercing

Piercing Estimated Healing Time
Ear Lobe6–8 weeks
Helix / Cartilage6–12 months
Tragus6–12 months
Daith6–12 months
Conch6–12 months
Rook6–12 months
Nostril4–6 months
Septum6–8 weeks
Eyebrow6–9 months
Labret / Lip6–8 weeks
Navel6–12 months
Nipple6–12 months

When to Seek Advice

  • Excessive swelling, heat, or throbbing pain after the first week
  • Green or yellow discharge with a foul odour
  • Jewellery sinking into or embedding in the skin
  • Rash or allergic reaction around the piercing site
  • Fever or flu-like symptoms following a piercing

If you have any concerns, contact us before removing the jewellery — removing it can trap infection inside the tissue. Email: l.fabian@bradfordpiercingatelier.co.uk