Cleaning Instructions for Body Piercings

• WASH your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning or touching your piercing for any reason.

• SPRAY with sterile saline wound wash while healing. Moving or rotating jewelry is not necessary during cleaning/rinsing and may actually irritate the piercing.

• DRY with clean, disposable products like gauze or cotton swabs, gently removing any crusty debris or build up. Cloth towels should be avoided as they can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry.Your tattoo should heal within 2-4 weeks. Proper care will help keep your new ink vibrant and healthy for years to come!

  HINTS AND TIPS

• Unless there is a problem with the size, style, or material of the initial jewelry, leave it in place for the entire healing process. Many piercings require a downsize before the piercing is healed. See a qualified piercer to perform downsizes or any jewelry changes during healing. Visit our member locator to find an APP member near you, or to request a copy of our Picking Your Piercer brochure.

• Leave jewelry in at all times. Even well-healed piercings can shrink or close in minutes! If removed, reinsertion can be difficult or impossible. Contact your piercer for a non-metallic jewelry alternative if your metal jewelry must be temporarily removed (such as for a medical procedure).

• With clean hands or paper products, be sure to regularly check threaded and 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

  For further questions refer to https://safepiercing.org/aftercare/ to read more.