Although, we do suggest sticking to the regimen you have used with previous piercings, if the regimenis adequate...



Keep in mind that no single product or cleanser works equally well for everybody, and what works for one may be disastrous for another.
The most important aspect of piercing aftercare is keeping the piercing clean, and keeping the environment in which you put the piercing in as clean as possible. Many problems arrive due to negligence - make sure whatever comes into contact with the piercing area is clean! On the other hand cleaning your piercing too many times a day will irritate it dramatically extending the healing time. The most important thing it to listen to your body! If it feels irritated, it probably is. Remember that NO amount of cleaning will prevent infections and NO amount of cleaning will treat infections!





SALT WATER SOAKS
Mild sea salt water soaks are strongly suggested at least once a day to accelerate healing and to flush the piercing.This may also help reduce the irritation in the area.
Wash your hands and dissolve a pinch (no more than 1/4 teaspoon per 8oz of water) of salt into warm or hot water into a clean cup. Distilled water is optimal and suggested. Making a stronger solution is notbetter, and will do more harm than good by burning the piercing. Invert the cup over the piercing area, the cup should form a suction and then let it soak directly for 5-15 minutes.
If the inverted cup method won't work for your particular piercing (such as a nostril or eyebrow) it may be easier to soak the piercing by saturating a piece of gauze and applying it to the piercing and letting it soak that way.If that is the case, you will need to re-saturate the gauze every time the solution gets cold, the object is to keep the gauze warm. The heat helps stimulate blood flow to the pierced area.
After the soak is completed, wash your hands again and splash warm clean water over the area to remove the salt residue.
Soaking the piercing will help remove any crust, debris and bacteria from the jewelry and piercing wound. Even if you are using a soap to clean the piercing, it is highly advised to do a sea salt soak at least once a day.

DOS AND DON'TS

Don't ever touch your piercings with unwashed hands.

Leave your piercing alone unless you are cleaning it.

Rotating the jewelry has never been proven benificial to healing, and usually causes more harm than good.

Leave the starter jewelry in for the entire minimum time, changing too soon may cause damage to the healing fistula, which can cause extended healing times, discomfort, bleeding, swelling, infection and rejection.

Change your bedding on a regular basis, especially for facial and ear piercings, change your pillow cases on a regular basis. Disinfect phone recievers, and always wear clean clothing over unhealed body piercings.

Take multi-vitamins, Vitamin C, Zinc and supplements to encourage faster healing.

Get ample sleep, eat a nutritious diet, and avoid stress and drugs and alcohol. The healthier your lifestyle, the faster your body will heal itself.

Stay out of bodies of water, this includes your own bathtub, lakes, oceans, jacuzzis, pools and rivers!. Remember no matter what someone tells you, soaking your piercing in water withmud, debris, bacteria, feces, urine, oil, sand and algae is a very stupid idea. A shower is always a good idea.

If you suspect you have an infection, LEAVE THE JEWELRY IN, and call us A.S.A.P.! Usually what people thinka re infections usually end up being irritations oralergic reactions (which can mimic an infection). In the case that it is an infection, and the jewelry is removed, the infection may become trapped and become systemic.

Don't ever take your friend's advice over a piercers. They may know their body, but a piercer deals with body piercing related issues daily, and usually can give you better advice basedon vast experience.

Using the same sea salt mixture stated above, use it as a mouthwash 2-3 times a day. After meals wash your mouth out with cold water, this will lift and removeany debris or bacteria in the mouth. If you prefer to use an anti-bacterial mouthwash, we suggest using alcohol-free. Brands that manufacture alcohol-free mouthwashesinclude, Crest, Rembrandt, Biotene, Tech-2000, Oral-B as well as many other brands.
After dilluting the mouthwas with 50% water, use it as an oral irrigator 2-3 times a day and after meals. Rinse according to botle instructions, then spit out.
For intra-oral piercings such as the Labret, or Cheeks, please combine the non-oral and oral aftercares.

DOS AND DON'TS

Buy a new toothbrush, and change it weekly during healing.

Practice good oral hygeine during healing, and hopefully everyday.

Leave your piercing alone unless you are cleaning it.

Sucking on ice helps to relieve swelling and discomfort.

Anti-inflammitories such as Ibuprofin (Advil, Motrin) will also help reduce swelling, but check with your healthcare physician before using.

Sleep with your head elevated to avoid overnight swelling.

Do NOT play with the jewelry, this will cause more swelling.

Avoid mouthwash containing alcohol (such as Listerine and Scope), these will also cause more swelling and potentially even an oral yeast infection called Thrush.

Do not overclean the piercing, this removes the mouth's resident floura, which may make it easier to get an infection or Thrush.

Do not put anything in your mouth but food, drink, any medications ou may be taking and oral care products. This includes; penicils, hair, fingers, chewing gum, and anything else you may want to chew on.

Smoking or chewing tobacco is not advised, use your brain for this one.

Do NOT share cups, plates or eating utensils.

Avoid alcohol consumption, this will encourage swelling, Thrush and will dehydrate you causing more swelling. If you must consume alcohol (I don't see why you would have to), please wash your mouth out every hour or sowith water and drink a cup of water every half hour to help rehydrate your body.

Avoid Aspirin products and large amounts of caffeine.

Keep in mind that no single product or cleanser works equally well for everybody. What works for one, may be disasrous for another. The sea salt solution method, usually works for everybody and is most natural to your body's own saline. However, if you preferyou can get Sterile Wound Wash Saline in spray form in any pharmacy.

RUBBING ALCOHOL. Alcohol is far too harsh. It irritates and dries out the skin and can delay healing. It also burns and stings, and may not be as effective on germs (when used topically) as previously thought. Commercial Witch Hazel solutions containing alcohol should also be avoided.

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE. Peroxide does kill many bacteria, but it also destroys the healthy skin around the piercing. Used long enough, it can eat away at the skin and actually keep your piercing from healing.

ANTIBIOTIC OINTMENTS. These include such products as Neosporin, Bacitracin, and Triple Antibiotic Ointments. These do not work for more than two weeks,as your body becomes tolerant to the antibiotic in that time.This makes it worthless in healing a piercing. They also have large amounts of petrolium jelly in them, this keeps oxygen out of the piercing and creates a perfect warm environment for bacteria to breed. It also creates a barrier and since it is oil based, it keeps sea salt and soaps from actually cleaning the piercing. READ THE LABEL! DO NOT USE ON PUNCTURE WOUNDS!

BETADINE/POVODONE IODINE/HIBICLENS. These products may be used for first aid or surgical wound care, but for long term use they are actually too strong and may delay healing. Betadine may also be useful to clear upan infection, but when used too often it can also kill healthy skin cells. It will alsodiscolor gold jewelry.

BENZYLKONIUM CHLORIDE (BACTINE, EAR CARE SOLUTION). While used in the past, BZK has proven to be problematic for many people. It is not as effective as cleanser as antimicrobial soaps and does not penetrate or remove oil and discharge in the piercing. Most BZK products have a very short shelf lifeof less than a month. The manufacturer of Bactine also states DO NOT USE ON BODY PIERCINGS!. This warning can be found on their website www.bactine.com, and will be put onto bottles in the future.

ALCOHOL BASED MOUTHWASH (LISTERINE, SCOPE, ETC). Listerine contains alcohol (see paragraph above about alcohol).