What To Know About Piercing Aftercare
A quick guide to post-piercing care
When people claim a piercing doesn’t hurt, they’re sugarcoating the truth you’re going to feel it but during the aftercare. For most of us, there comes a phase when we give nose piercing or ear piercing a serious thought. For some it is the end of the story. The tale is limited to the feeble thought and streak of abrupt imagination.
While others do carry it out of rebellion, comfort, or out of sheer confidence and liking for it. Getting a piercing can be an exciting way to express yourself, but proper aftercare is crucial to avoid infection, irritation, or prolonged healing. Often men face unique challenges due to facial hair, active lifestyles, or sweat. This guide covers everything you need to know to keep your piercing healthy and looking good.
If you are someone who is oscillating between getting one and avoid one, know that depending on where you get a piercing swelling, tenderness, and mild redness come with the bling. But prolonged pain, pus, or unusual discharge is a warning sign of infection and need medical attention.
Piercing Aftercare Guide
1. Understanding the Healing Process
First and foremost is understanding that different piercings have different healing times:
Ear lobes: 6–8 weeks
Cartilage: 3–12 months
Eyebrow: 6–8 weeks
Nose (nostril): 2–4 months
Tongue: 4–6 weeks
Lip or labret: 6–8 weeks
Navel: 6–12 months
2. Cleaning Your Piercing
Proper cleaning prevents infection and ensures faster healing. Do not mix your own sea salt solution. The Association of Professional Piercers (APP) no longer recommends homemade solutions because they are often too strong, which can over-dry and irritate the piercing
Use a sterile saline wound wash instead. Look for:
Ingredients: Only 0.9 per cent sodium chloride (sometimes with purified water).
Avoid additives such as moisturizers, antibacterials, or similar products like contact lens solution, nasal spray, or eye drops.
3. Don’ts During Healing
Avoid alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial soaps, iodine, ointments, and harsh products and those containing Benzalkonium Chloride (BZK)
Don’t over-clean—it can delay healing.
Avoid trauma: friction, pressure, excessive movement, playing with jewellery, or vigorous cleaning. These can cause scar tissue, migration, and prolonged healing.
Avoid oral contact, rough play, or exposure to others’ bodily fluids near the piercing.
Limit stress, nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, and recreational drugs, as they can slow healing.
Avoid submerging the piercing in pools, lakes, oceans, or hot tubs. For certain placements (navel, nipple, surface piercings), a waterproof transparent film dressing can help.
Avoid all cosmetics, lotions, sprays, or beauty products near the piercing.
Don’t hang charms or other objects from jewelry until fully healed.
4. Do’s During Healing
Wash hands before touching the piercing and otherwise leave it alone.
Avoid twisting, spinning, or moving jewelry.
Exercise and sweating are okay, but protect the piercing from gym equipment or mats.
Keep bedding clean and wear breathable, comfortable clothing.
Prefer showers over baths to reduce exposure to bacteria. If using a bathtub, clean it thoroughly first and rinse the piercing afterward.