So you got your lovely new piercing and took away your aftercare advice sheet. What now?Aftercare is really important to give you a healthy healed piercing!
We’ve been contacted a lot during lockdown with various piercing problems- the majority of which have been done at other piercing establishments but there is no one available to talk to. If you’ve any concerns, here are some identifiers and solutions which may help.
Piercings take time to heal. In any cartilage piercing, you can expect it to be a good 12 months before it fully heals and you are able to fiddle with it without any soreness. Any knocks / bumps can set you back for months, for example lying on it in bed. It doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with your piercing.
For cleaning, we only recommend a very mild antiseptic spray eg. Savlon Wound Wash, or a Sea Salt solution (not table salt). Products like Tea Tree Oil, TCP, Surgical Spirit are too harsh and will dry out your piercing too quickly; and may irritate or burn your skin.
What's your problem?
Issue / Appearance Soreness
What is it? General healing side effect
Causes Catching/bumping your piercing
Solution Take care getting dressed/sleeping and clean twice a day for 2 weeks
Issue / Appearance Lump which looks like a spot
What is it? Piercing Pimple
Causes Poor Hygiene, touching
Solution Clean twice a day for 2 weeks with a sea salt solution or mild antiseptic spray eg Savlon Woundwash
Issue / Appearance Skin is growing outwards, with the shape of the jewellery.
What is it?Hyper granulation. Your skin is confused where to grow. These can appear several months after piercing
Causes Irritating your piercing eg knocking it.
Solution Clean twice a day with a sea salt solution or mild antiseptic spray eg Savlon Woundwash. A Chamomile teabag can be boiled and then held wet as a compress for 10 mins 2x per day. The skin will go back to normal after a few of months, once it’s happy and knows where to regenerate.
Issue / Appearance Jewellery is coming towards the edge of my ear / up through the skin
What is it? Rejection
Causes If the body does not like your piercing, it will try to swallow it or push it out.
Solution Remove the piercing and let it heal. It can be re pierced at a slightly different angle/position
Issue / Appearance Swelling
What is it? General healing side effect
Causes This is the body’s natural response to trauma
Solution Keep it clean and be careful not to touch/bump it. If Jewellery becomes too tight, see your piercer to change it for an alternativ piece, or remove it. If you have symptoms of infection (below), seek medical advice
Issue / Appearance Hot, red, shiny and tight skin around piercing site, smell coming from piercing, painful to touch the whole ear
What is it? Likely Infection
Causes Poor Hygiene
Solution Consult your GP- antibiotics will be required. Leave the piercing in to drain away any infection. Clean twice a day with salt solution/antiseptic spray.
Issue / Appearance
I’ve lost the ball off my earring
What is it? Client aftercare
Causes Un tightening in general / during cleaning
Solution Check periodically that it is nice and tight on the thread. Remember Leftie Loosie, Righty Tighty! Contact your piercer to purchase a replacement ball. We recommend buying a few spares!
I hope that you've found this useful!
For new piercing bookings, contact us at esteticapermanentcosmetics@outlook.com or on 07714 433257.
Need some inspiration? Follow us on Facebook or Instagram estetica_piercing_boutique
We have a beautiful retail range of high quality piercing and lobe jewellery to purchase in clinic or by post. For treatment prices, visit our website www.esteticapermanentcosmetics.co.uk