Piercing Aftercare (EN)

Piercing Aftercare & Advice

Cleaning  

• Always wash your hands before touching your piercing. 
• Use: A premade sterile saline solution, for example: Aliamare® Spray (available in most  pharmacies in Switzerland). 
• Gently cleanse the entry and exit points of the jewellery, gently removing any discharge or  dried fluids. 
• Do not turn or rotate the jewellery. 
• Pat dry with a clean paper towel (avoid cloth towels). 
• Repeat 2-3 times a day for 4-6 weeks or until fully healed. 

For oral piercings (tongue, lip, cheek, etc.): 

• Rinse with a sterile saline solution 2-3 times a day. 
• Use an alcohol-free, antibacterial mouthwash after eating, smoking, or drinking anything  other than water. 
• Avoid dairy products throughout the healing process (at least 2-3 weeks). 

Infection Prevention  

• A new piercing is an open wound and will heal quickly if kept clean and dry.
• Signs of infection: redness, excessive swelling, heat, pain, or pus. 
• If you suspect an infection, consult your piercer or doctor for treatment.
• Severe infections may require antibiotics. 

Migration & Rejection  

• Some piercings may move slightly over time. In certain cases, the jewellery may be pushed  out of the body completely. 
• Piercings prone to rejection: eyebrow, navel, surface piercings, etc. 
• If migration occurs, remove the jewellery before full rejection to reduce scarring.
• Apply a hot sea salt compress (2-3 times a day) to assist healing and prevent scarring. 

Swelling  

• Swelling is normal, and your initial jewellery will have extra length to allow for this. 
• If swelling becomes excessive or the jewellery feels too tight, visit your piercer to have a  longer bar fitted. 
• Severe swelling may cause the jewellery to embed into the skin—if this happens, remove it  immediately and seek advice. 

For oral piercings: 

• A long bar is used initially and can be replaced with a shorter one after 6 weeks.
• Sucking on ice may help reduce swelling. 
• Avoid dairy to prevent irritation or infection. 

Jewellery Tightness  

• Check the tightness of threaded balls every 2-3 days. 
• Balls may become loose due to movement, rubbing against clothing, or friction.
• Incorporate a quick check into your daily cleaning routine to prevent jewellery loss. 

Bumps, Marks & Scarring  

• To reduce bumps or improve slow healing, use a sea salt soak:  
• Dissolve 6 teaspoons of sea salt in 100 ml of boiling hot water. Let it cool down a little bit.
• Soak a cotton ball or paper towel in the solution. 
• Apply a hot compress to the piercing for a few minutes (or until it cools down).
• Repeat 2-3 times daily for 4-6 weeks or until the bump disappears. 

Important: The solution should be hot and very salty—the heat softens the skin, and the salt dries out  the bump. 

General Advice  

• Avoid trauma (e.g., pulling, catching, or sleeping on the piercing – you can buy a piercing  pillow). 
• Wear loose-fitting clothing to prevent rubbing (especially for navel piercings). 
• Navel, nipple, and cartilage piercings may produce discharge for up to a year this is normal.
• Cartilage piercings heal slowly and may develop bumps. 
• Keep hair products, makeup, and lotions away from your piercing.

Proper aftercare is essential for a smooth healing process. If you have concerns, consult Pharma Ink  Studio or a medical professional.