Aftercare

During the whole healing time period you should NOT:

• touch the piercing with your fingers (unless you are cleaning or washing it)
• play with piercing, turn it around or pull it
• remove and put back the jewelry
• sleep on piercing
• use any cosmetics near the pierced area (crèmes, powders, shower gels)
• swim in swimming pools, rivers, lakes or take a bath in a tub (sea is allowed)
• wear tight clothes around pierced area (e.g. seam of trousers over the belly button)
• expose piercing in touch with bodily fluids of other people (sexual intercourse, contact sports)

During the healing time period do not clean piercing more than two-three times per day because it can irritate the wound and make healing process slower. For the first few months (depending on the part of the body where piercing is placed) the piercing spot is the wound and it needs air to heal. Covering it with sticking plaster or gauze would prevent skin to breathe and harden healing. After healing period continue with gentle care and keep yourself from situations that might end with hitting or pushing the piercing spot because it may cause the problems even when healing process is over.

(valid for all piercings except those additionally explained later) Buy yourself an aftercare spray in our studio.

First two to four weeks you should:

• clean piercing every day in the morning, afternoon and in the evening
• do not clean it more than two to three times a day because it can additionally irritate the wound

Cleaning procedure:

• carefully rinse piercing with warm water
• if some crusts appeared around the hole and on the jewelry, gently remove it with the cotton ear sticks
• dry up the piercing area with the paper tissue (do not use regular towel as it gathers bacteria)
• disinfect the piercing with aftercare spray (it is enough to spray it once) and leave the area to dry by itself
• for places which cannot be sprayed (e.g. septum) use ear stick soaked with aftercare spray

By the end of the healing period you should:

• use aftercare spray 2-3-5 times a week if needed

1-2 weeks after piercing:

• small bleeding and swelling
• pain and tingling
• bruises
• redness
• crusts
• excretions of lymph

During healing time period:

• smaller redness and yellowish crusts
• itching
• dry skin around piercing

Piercing may look as it healed completely much before the end of the healing period stated because the healing process starts from the outside to the inside of the tubule. Young tissue in the middle is still sensitive although it all looks fine. Because of that, we do not recommend the change of initial jewelry until at least half of the healing period is over.

If the jewelry drops out or for some reason you have to take it out before piercing is healed, the tubule will probably very soon get smaller and it may cause problem to return the jewelry. If you cannot return the jewelry gently, do not try to push it forcefully as it may cause damage to the young tissue inside the tubule.

In that case, as soon as possible, visit our studio for the jewelry to be returned to prevent complete closing of the tubule.

Cleaning according to the general cleaning procedure.

It is needed to change the pillow bedding more often, wash your hair disinfect mp3 earplugs, mobile phone, glasses or anything else that makes contact with piercing. Be careful not to get stucked while changing clothes, whipping with towel, brushing hair, etc.

NOSE

Outer part is cleaned according to the general cleaning procedure. Inside of the nostril can only occasionally be cleaned with the ear stick soaked in warm water. Be careful not to pull out the jewelry while using towel on your face or while blowing your nose. The inner side of the nose is covered with mucosal so the tubule closes very quickly if it is without the jewelry.

If the jewelry eventually comes out and you cannot put it back, to our studio as soon as possible. While blowing your nose, do not press the piercing spot as it can cause keloid scar.

LIPS

Outer part is cleaned according to the general cleaning procedure.

The inner side you should rinse with cool water after eating crisps, chocolate, cakes or after smoking a cigarette. After big meals like breakfast, lunch and dinner you should wash out your mouth with Listerine. Be careful not to pull or damage the piercing with toothbrush.

If you are using mouth wash dilute it with water (half & half) as it could be irritable for the fresh piercing. For the first seven days after piercing avoid chewing gums and gummy candies as the constant chewing may irritate fresh piercing. Pulling, playing with the piercing or hitting may hurt gums, which can lead to bleeding or lowering the gums. Swelling and eventual bleeding may be eased with some ice.

If you have labret as your jewelry, be careful not to bite it while eating as for the initial piercing we put longer jewelry in order to enable the lip to swell. The jewelry may be replaced with shorter one minimum one month after the piercing.

EAR CARTILAGE

Cartilage has weaker circulation from the rest of the body and it is more likely to develop keloid scars around piercing. If you notice any kind of new lump around jewelry, come to our studio as soon as possible. Sleeping on piercing may encourage growth of keloid scars!

EYEBROW

Piercing on the eyebrow is very keen of rejection, which means that the skin which keeps the jewelry may become thinner and the body might reject the jewelry. If you notice that except the balls you see stud of the jewelry more and more, please visit us in our studio as soon as possible.

TONGUE

General cleaning procedure is not valid for the tongue

Brushing your teeth regularly after meals and rinsing with solutions such as Listerine after drinking or smoking is enough hygiene wise. If you use a mouthwash, dilute it with water (half & half) as it may be irritating for fresh piercing. A tongue piercing inevitably causes swelling and pain in the tongue. The pain decreases after 3-4 days, and pain disappears after 8-10 days. You may take painkillers such as Alvedon or Ibuprofen. For the first ten days tongue will be white on the surface. Do not try to clean it with the tooth brush but wait for it to disappear by itself.

During first two weeks it is usual to feel hardness around piercing, lymph discharge (transparent whitish mucus) and sometimes loss of taste. All stated eventually comes back to normal. Warm food and warm beverages increase swelling and pain. Also avoid spicy food, chewing gums and gummy candies for the first two weeks.

Eat slower and chew carefully trying not to bite the jewelry as it may damage your teeth. The tongue swells more during the night, so check the upper and lower ball each morning. If you notice that more than half of the ball is inside the tongue, push the ball out until you can see it completely. On the lower ball you will occasionally notice some scales which need to be cleaned with toothbrush or carefully removed with toothpick.

The jewelry we insert during piercing procedure is much bigger due to the swelling. It can be replaced by a smaller one a month and a half after the piercing. This change is not necessary as the jewelry is made of implantation materials but if you assess that the length of the stud does not fit you, you may take the shorter one.

It is recommended to wear clean, cotton and comfortable clothes which won't make pressure on piercing. Cleaning according general cleaning procedure.

NIPPLES

Sleeping on the stomach may cause jewelry migration. If you notice that the jewelry moved from the starting piercing spot, it is necessary to come to our studio.

With female nipples piercing it is recommended wearing cotton bras that do not tighten the piercing. Inner side of the bra may be covered with a piece of gauze or paper tissue to avoid direct contact with piercing.

NAVEL

Small folds of the skin inside the navel are suitable for collection of lymph and ichors after piercing and it is suitable for development of bacteria. While cleaning, it is necessary to use ear sticks for complete, successful and detailed cleaning of the area under lower ball. Sleeping on the stomach may cause migration or rejection of the jewelry.

Wearing too big or too heavy jewelry can also encourage rejection. If you notice that your skin that keeps jewelry is thinner and you can't only see the ball but the stud as well, it is necessary to come to our studio. If the skin becomes thinner than 5mm it is necessary to take the jewelry out to prevent breaking as it causes quite a big scar. Redness around navel piercing is usual in the first few weeks. Try to sit straight in order not to make pressure on the jewelry and thus irritate the fresh piercing.

If piercing passes through the urethra, you should urinate after the cleaning and rinsing in order to remove the soap and disinfectant residues, and thus avoid irritations. Use preservatives and avoid oral contact for at least two months after the piercing. After sexual intercourse wash a wider area around piercing.

For vaginal piercing we recommend you to wear cotton pads every day. For male genital piercing we recommend slip underwear, rather than boxer shorts. Prince Albert, Ampallang and Apadravya may bleed in the beginning so you should always have paper tissues at hand. Ice helps to stop bleeding.

Cleaning according to general cleaning procedure.

If you notice that the skin around holes is dry or irritated after two weeks use of aftercare spray, you may continue to clean piercing with physiological solution bought at the pharmacy. Surface piercing is placed on the strait skin so is much keener to rejection than standard piercing placed always at some fold of skin.

Very often, even after longer wearing, you will have a migration or growth out of piercing without any visible reason. Sleeping on the piercing or getting stud on the jewelry additionally increase possibility for complications. If you notice that the jewelry stick is more and more visible or that the skin color between balls has changed the color (from dark red to brown) it is necessary to come to our studio as soon as possible.

When cleaning the surface piercing with jewelry longer than 14mm it is good to handle the skin on the side with your fingers so that the jewelry protrudes out and then gently move it so that the middle part of the tubule disinfects. If it is hard to move the jewelry if it is impossible, wait for another seven days with this procedure and clean the piercing only around the holes.

If you notice changes on the piercing which make you uncertain if they are usual or not, please visit the studio as soon as possible for an inspection. Inspection and help (removing and replacement of jewelry) are free of charge!

Before you start using any of the stated products, it is necessary to consult us. Wrong treatment of an infected piercing or keloid scar may increase the problem. Do not in any case combine usage of several products at the same time as it may lead to greater irritation of piercing and harder and slower healing.

INFECTIONS

You will notice them by whitish, yellowish or greenish secret from the hole. Transparent whitish ichors that sometimes leak out of fresh piercing is probably only lymph but if you are worried, please come to our studio. In the case of infection, do not take the jewelry out to prevent the holes around infection from closing and thus disabling drainage and prolonging healing.

Drainage of the infection is enhanced with usage of warm compress. Put gauze soaked with warm physiological solution on infected piercing. It will take out more secretion while cleaning.

With weak white secretion, clean the piercing with aftercare spray. If the infection does not disappear after seven days visit us.

With abundant white or yellow secretion, you need to gently press out all the pos from the piercing tubule while taking a shower in the morning and in the evening.

KELOID SCAR

Wild flesh (keloid scar) growth around the hole is consequence of:

• irritation by clothes that presses piercing
• playing with piercing
• sleeping on the jewelry
• wearing too tight clothes that makes pressure
• cracking after hits
• overstretching the pierced skin
• use of cosmetics (sun tanning creams, scented soaps and shampoos)
• fungus etc.

Keloid cannot heal until the source of irritation is removed. On most of piercings keloid scar looks like under skin pimple – lump in skin color or red bubble sometimes leaking with whitish pus. On the inner side of lips and on tongue, keloid is a white lump of wild flesh around the hole.

Treating keloid scars:

1. Zync paste – twice a day apply with ear stick and leave.
2. Aspirin paste – just for tongue and lip (grind ¼ of aspirin into a fine powder, add 1-2 drops of water and make a paste. Apply on the keloid once a day, keep for 5 minutes and then rinse)

WRONG HEALING AND JEWELRY MIGRATION

Migration of piercing on a side or outside the primary position of piercing is caused by:

• sleeping on the piercing
• getting stuck
• hitting
• stretching the skin due to gained weight or pregnancy
• clothes pressure
• wearing too big or too heavy jewelry.

Most often, it is accompanied by other complications such as keloid scar or infections. The growing out and migration process will be noticed when the skin that keeps piercing changes color, becomes thinner and dries, as well as when the stud of the jewelry is more visible or the whole jewelry is moved on a side from the insertion position. In the case that you notice any of these issues, as soon as possible visit our studio for evaluation if the jewelry need to be replaced with appropriate size or completely removed. If we do not do it soon enough, the skin will break and leave a scar.

The time needed for full healing of piercing varies depending on the body position, your anatomy, immune system and number of other circumstances so healing might last longer or shorter than stated period.

• Eye Brow  2-3 months
• Nostril  2-3 months
• Bridge  3-6 months
• Septum  4-6 weeks
• Lip  6-8 weeks
• Cheek  2-3 months
• Tongue   4-6 weeks
• Smiley  4-6 weeks
• Nipple  4-6 months
• Navel  6-9 months
• Surface  4-5 months
• Clit Hood  4-6 weeks
• Inner Labia  4-6 weeks
• Outer Labia  2-3 months
• Christina  6-9 months
• Tongue Web  4-6 weeks
• Tragus  2-3 months
• Ear lobe  6-8 weeks
• Ear cartilage  4-6 months
• Industrial  6-12 months
• Stretch  1-2 months
• Prince Albert  4-6 weeks
• Ampallang  4-6 months
• Apadravya  4-6 months
• Frenum  2-3 months
• Guiche  2-3 months