Clean your piercing once per day using the following instructions:
- Rinse it under warm water for at least a minute every day. This step helps to ensure that any dried plasma or lymphatic fluid is being rinsed away from the piercing, and helps to stimulate blood flow to the wound. This can be achieved at the end of your shower each day, or by rinsing under the tap.
- Spray with sterile saline solution (available at Facet, or most drug stores). Immediately after your warm water rinse, spray your piercing with sterile saline and allow it to absorb. If there are any remaining “crusties” around the piercing, they can be gently wiped away with a tissue or paper towel (avoid cotton swabs and towels/wash cloths).
Cartilage piercings are particularly sensitive to snagging or pressure, so it is important to treat them delicately while they are healing. Avoid excess pressure on your piercing (sleeping, headphones, tight fitting clothes, telephones etc) during the entire healing process, which is typically several months to a year. These things can cause excess scar tissue formation, irritation bumps and shifting of the position of your piercing.
Downsizing will be an important part of the healing process for your cartilage piercing. Longer jewelry will be used initially to accommodate for any swelling, but once that subsides (4-8 weeks) you should return to the studio to have a shorter post inserted. This prevents excess snagging and movement while your piercing is healing and can be an integral step in healing your piercing successfully.
THINGS TO AVOID:
Touching your piercing! Our hands can carry a lot of bacteria, and moving your jewelry will cause excess irritation. Avoid touching your piercing as much as possible, and if you must, make sure you wash your hands first.
Standing water should be avoided for the first 8-12 weeks of healing. This includes submerging your piercing in lakes, pools, bathtubs, rivers, hot tubs or ocean water for that minimum period. Failure to do so drastically increases your risk of infection and irritation.
Harsh chemicals should be avoided during the entire healing process of your piercing. Things like alcohol, peroxide, bactine, ear care solution, ointments and antibacterial soaps can cause undue irritation for a puncture wound, and they are not intended for this purpose.
Changing your jewelry before healing is complete! Piercings often feel healed long before they actually are, and changing your jewelry too soon can cause irritation, bumps and delayed healing. If you aren’t sure if it’s ready, please reach out, I’m always happy to assess it for you.
THINGS TO DO:
Take care of your overall health. Eat well, rest well, drink water, avoid stress and take your vitamins! We often overlook our general health when it comes to our piercings, but a healthy body means a healthy immune system, and a happy healing piercing.
Keep clothing, bedding and anything that may come into contact with your piercing clean.
Schedule a check up if you are ever unsure about how your piercing is healing or reach out if you have questions. I want your piercing to heal perfectly just as much as you do and I’m happy to help you any time. No question is dumb, and no worry should be left to google or your friends to answer for you. I am here to help you through the entire healing process!
Reach out if your piercing needs to be removed during the healing process for any reason. Retainers can be inserted for medical testing or procedures, and while changing should be kept to a minimum, there are solutions if necessary.
If your piercing suddenly becomes very swollen, hot to the touch, very painful or has excessive fluid draining from it, schedule a checkup. These can be signs of infection, and a visit to the doctor may be necessary.
