Make sure you wash your hands before handling your new piercings.

The best thing you can clean your piercing with is sterile saline solution (0.9 sodium chloride and purified water). Brands such as: Nelimed, Piercemed, Steripierce.

The other thing you can use is, honestly, just water. Our bodies naturally produce salt which aids in the healing process. our bodies know how to heal wounds without aid.

No unnecessary additives. No chemicals. Natural healing.

Healing isn’t always straightforward. You should expect some swelling, redness and tenderness.

It is part of the healing process that you will get some crusting. THIS IS NORMAL. It is your bodies way of healing this new wound and it is important that you let it. Avoid picking at the crust as you are stripping that protective layer and opening that wound up to bacteria which can lead to infection.

A bump around a piercing does not automatically mean it’s infected. Irritation bumps and hypertrophic scars are quite common, particularly if the piercing is being knocked, rubbed, slept on, or exposed to unsuitable aftercare products or that your jewellery needs downsizing.

Don’t squeeze or pop the bump, as this can further irritate the area. Continue gentle aftercare with sterile saline and avoid twisting or unnecessarily touching the jewellery.

If you have spreading redness, severe swelling/pain, fever, or feel unwell, seek medical advice promptly. If you suspect an infection, don't remove the jewellery unless a healthcare professional advises you to, as the channel can close and potentially trap infection.

Don't rush to change your jewellery. A piercing can look fully healed on the outside but could still be healing internally. Changing the jewellery can damage the new tissue, irritate the piercing and set your piercing back. Healing times vary from piercing to piercing and person to person.

There is no set length of time for piercings as there are so many factors that aid in the process such as how well the piercing has been looked after, how well the body is able to heal the piercing and the location of the piercing itself.

If you are unsure, DON’T CHANGE IT. Come in and see us and we can best advise you on next steps.

The initial piercing will have been done with a slightly longer bar to allow for swelling. Once the swelling has settled down your piercing may benefit from a smaller bar. This lessens the amount of knocking and movement, allowing your piercing to continue healing.

We recommend coming in and seeing us and we can professionally downsize your jewellery for you instead of doing it yourself.