Piercing After Care Guide
Guidelines up-to-date with Association of Professional Piercer's Recommendations
Piercing by Maggie, LLC. Licensed and Insured 619-363-5664

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Congratulations on your new piercing!

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While I want you to enjoy your new piercing, it is very important to follow these
guidelines recommended by the Association of Professional Piercers and I.

 

• During healing: some discoloration, itching, secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid that will

form some crust on the jewelry. The tissue may tighten around the jewelry as it heals.

• Make sure you have clean sheets/pillowcase to sleep on for the first few weeks, as those accumulate germs and can risk infecting your new piercing

• Do not remove or change the jewelry from the new piercing for 6 months or more.

Removing your starter jewelry too early may cause the piercings to close, cause infection,
or restart the healing process.

• Although not ideal, if you need to change the jewelry, go to a piercer to change it out and

use high quality jewelry. (Preferably Implant Grade Titanium) Changing earlier than 6-12
months may cause irritation.

• Do not submerge the new piercing in water for 6-8 weeks. This includes baths, pools, and

the ocean.

• Make sure your bedding is washed and changed regularly. Wear clean, comfortable,

breathable clothing that protects your piercing while you are sleeping.

• If possible, do not touch the new piercing at all; however, if you must touch it, always

wash and sanitize your hands first.

• Avoid cleaning your piercing with hydrogen peroxide or antibacterial soaps regularly, which can

damage your healing skin.

• It is important to keep the new piercing dry as often as possible. It is not necessary to

intentionally wash the new piercing with soap or water, unless there is visible dirt on the
area.

• Use a sterile saline Spray twice a day, in the morning and night. Keep the piercing clear of any crusties (secretions) to allow your piercing to breathe. You can use a Q-tip with Sterile Saline Spray to wipe them off if the spray doesn't clear them off initially

• It is very important not to touch, twist, push, or pull the piercing while it is healing

because slows down the healing process and may cause redness and bumps.

• Once healed: the jewelry may not move freely in the piercing; do not force it. Cleaning

your piercings as part of your normal hygiene routine can help them stay clean and avoid
having normal, possibly smelly, secretions accumulate.

• A piercing may seem healed before the healing process is actually complete. This is

because this type of wound will heal from the outside to the inside. Although it may feel
fine on the outside, the interior could still be fragile. Be patient, and keep the piercing clean
throughout the entire healing period.

• With clean hands, be sure to regularly check threadless ends on your

jewelry for tightness.

• Should you decide you no longer want the piercing, simply remove the jewelry (or have a

professional piercer remove it for you) and continue cleaning the piercing until the hole
closes. Body piercings create a permanent change to the body, while most scarring is
minimal, piercings will leave scars in their absence.

• In the event an infection is suspected, discuss with your physician if you should leave

quality jewelry or an appropriate substitute in place

• TIP: Piercings, even healed ones, can shrink or close in minutes, even after having been

there for years! This varies from person to person; if you like your piercing, keep jewelry in—
do not leave it empty.

• Keep an eye on your piercing. If the skin around your piercing gets sore, increased

redness, abnormal swelling, and the hole oozes yellowish liquid, you may have an
infection. Immediately contact a piercer and/or a doctor.

• Check the jewelry every day to ensure it is not coming loose! You can do this by gentle

pulling apart the stud to make sure the tension in strong.

• If an earring falls out, do not place any new earring unless you clean and sterilize the

earring first!
For piercings on children:

• It is your responsibility as a guardian to keep your child’s hands clean and prevent too

much contact with the new piercing.

• Small jewelry may be a choking hazard for children under the age of 4. Please supervise

your child at all times and ensure the piercing is always completely intact.

• When bathing your child after their piercing, keep the bath water shallow so the (germy) bath water does not splash on the new piercing. Use clean water, directly from the faucet, to wash their head/shoulders rather than scooping the bath water with a cup and pouring it on their heads.