After Care Guidelines
Congratulations on Your New Piercing!
The next few weeks are essential to ensuring your piercing heals properly. Your body is equipped with remarkable natural abilities to repair itself—and your new piercing is no exception! Our aftercare method is designed to work with your body’s healing process, following established medical guidelines for puncture wounds. This simple yet effective approach relies on sterile saline solution (0.9% sodium chloride) and minimal interference with the piercing.
What You Can Expect:
As your piercing heals, you may notice a clear fluid (this isn’t pus!) that dries into a crust around the jewelry. This is a normal part of the healing process, signaling that your body is hard at work. Avoid the urge to pick at these crusts; they will naturally come off over time. A daily rinse in the shower and 2–3 daily sprays of sterile saline solution will help keep the area clean.
How to Clean Piercings with Saline Spray: Step-by-Step Guide
Rinse with Water & Sterile Saline Spray as needed.
Rinse your piercing with lukewarm water daily while showering. Allow the water to gently cleanse the piercing for 30-60+ seconds at the end of your shower routine.
Apply sterile saline spray afterward as needed to soften and remove remaining dried crusts and exudation. Never use hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, or contact solution—these damage healing tissue.
If you plan on skipping your daily shower, please apply sterile saline spray 2-3 times daily to spot clean any residual crust from the surrounding area.
Aftercare Tips:
Sleep Carefully & Avoid pressure on the piercing. It could be your hat, headphones, or maybe your helmet. Always avoid sleeping on the pierced area, even if there is no pain, as pressure can lead to migration, angle shift, irritation and delayed healing.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eating nutritious foods, staying hydrated, and getting sufficient rest will promote faster healing.
Schedule Jewelry Downsizing. Around 4-6 weeks after getting your piercing, it’s important to downsize your jewelry. This prevents issues like bumps, irritation, or improper healing caused by longer jewelry posts.
Best Saline Solution for Piercings: What to Buy & Avoid
Where to Buy Saline Solution for Piercings:
Purchase medical-grade sterile saline spray at pharmacies like your local Mom&Pop Pharmacy, as well as CVS or Walgreens. Feel free to purchase sterile saline through Clementine -available both in-person and online delivery. Browse our recommended product [here] (link to product page). Always avoid DIY saltwater mixes—they often irritate piercings as they don’t create a neutral, isotonic saline solution,
What to Avoid:
Avoid touching or twisting the jewelry. Handling poses an unnecessary risk which can introduce infection-causing bacteria, create extreme irritation and major delays the the healing process.
Skip harsh products and chemicals. Don’t use hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, ointments, or any other topical products. These can harm the tissue and interfere with healing.
Keep your phone away from the piercing. Phones carry bacteria that can easily transfer to your piercing, so try to keep them off the affected area.
Stay out of pools, hot tubs, and natural bodies of water. Submerging your piercing under any body of water, directly exposes it to bacteria, which greatly increases the risk of infection. Stick to showers and sterile saline rinses.
Jewelry Downsizing:
Getting your jewelry downsized is a key step in your healing process. Initially, a longer post is used to accommodate swelling, but after about 4-6 weeks, switching to a shorter post is crucial for proper healing and comfort.
Neglecting this step can lead to complications such as angled healing, migration, or irritation bumps. If you didn’t book a downsizing appointment at the time of your piercing, be sure to schedule one soon.
Living outside NYC? No worries! Contact us at Info@clementinepiercing.com and we’ll gladly help you find a reputable APP member in your area to assist with downsizing. Or visit The Association of Professional Piercers and utilize their “Find A Member” feature to located a trusted piercing professional near you!
We’re here to guide you through your healing journey. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out—we’re always happy to help. Happy healing!
When to See a Professional
Contact your APP-certified piercer if you experience:
Severe swelling lasting over 1 week.
Pus, fever, or throbbing pain.
Jewelry embedding into skin.
If this is an emergency, please do not hesitate to contact your healthcare professional or nearest urgent care center. Our professional opinion does not substitute for medical advice or medical intervention.