Aftercare
What to Expect
❋ Swelling
Swelling is a normal and expected part of the healing process for a fresh piercing. It’s most noticeable in the first few days and can come and go during the early stages of healing. Proper jewelry sizing allows room for this swelling, and it should gradually decrease as your body adjusts.
❋ Crusties
As your piercing heals, you may notice small crusts forming around the jewelry. This is dried lymph fluid, not pus, and is a normal sign of healing. Regular cleaning will help soften and remove buildup without disrupting the piercing.
❋ Minor Bleeding
Some minor bleeding can occur immediately after a piercing or within the first day or two. This is normal and typically short-lived.
❋ Tenderness
Fresh piercings are often tender to the touch, especially during the first week. This sensitivity is your body’s natural response to healing and should lessen over time. Avoid unnecessary touching or movement to help minimize irritation.
What to avoid while healing
❋ Do not touch
Your’e going to be rinsing or irrigating the area, there will be no need to touch your piercing. Hands introduce bacteria and unnecessary movement can irritate the tissue.
❋ Do not pick crusties
As your piercing heals, you may notice small crusts forming around the jewelry. This is dried lymph fluid, not pus, and is a normal sign of healing. Regular cleaning will help soften and remove buildup without disrupting the piercing.
❋ Do not sleep with wet hair
Damp hair creates a moist environment around the piercing, which can encourage bacteria growth and prolong healing. This issue is more typical with earlobe piercing. Use a hair dryer, on a cool setting to dry the ear/hair around the ear. You could also tie the hair back for bedtime to avoid wet hair contact for extended periods.
❋ Do not sleep on your piercing
Sleeping on a fresh piercing places continuous pressure on the area, which can slow healing and cause irritation or migration. Use a piercing or travel pillow to keep pressure off the area while sleeping.
❋ Do not use soap or any product to clean or care for your piercing
Aftercare consists of gently rinsing or irrigating the piercing area with water, while showering, or sterile saline wound wash only. Do not use soap, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, ointments, or any other products. These can disrupt the healing process and cause irritation.
❋Avoid using Q-tips to clean your piercing
Cotton swabs often apply unnecessary pressure to a healing piercing when pressed against the area in an attempt to remove buildup, which can cause irritation and disrupt the healing process. They also tend to leave behind loose fibers that can wrap around the jewelry, increasing the risk of inflammation and irritation.
How to clean your piercing
Rinsing your piercing twice a day is the only aftercare required and plays a key role in healthy healing. The goal is to gently flush away debris and buildup without disturbing the jewelry or the piercing itself.
❋ In the shower:
Allow warm water to run over the piercing for a few minutes. Let the water do the work—there is no need to touch, scrub, twist, or move the jewelry. The gentle flow helps loosen and rinse away lymph fluid and debris naturally.
❋ Using sterile saline spray:
If you’re not showering twice a day, use a sterile saline spray to irrigate the piercing. Spray the area thoroughly from both the front and back, top and bottom twice daily. Again, avoid touching the jewelry or piercing site while rinsing.
Need extra help?
Some piercings can be difficult to reach or see clearly. If you’re having trouble keeping an area clean, feel free to reach out or stop by the shop. I’m always happy to help give hard-to-reach areas a proper rinse and check on your healing.
Downsizing
❋ Why Longer Jewelry Is Used Initially
Downsizing your jewelry is an important part of the healing process for many piercings. When a piercing is first done, a longer post is used to safely accommodate initial swelling. This extra length allows room for the tissue to expand without putting pressure on the piercing, which helps prevent embedding and excessive irritation during the early stages of healing.
❋ Why Leaving Jewelry Too Long Can Cause Problems
As swelling decreases, that original longer post is no longer necessary. Leaving jewelry that is too long in place can cause movement, snagging, and uneven pressure, all of which can lead to irritation bumps, prolonged redness, tenderness, or delayed healing. Excess length can also make the piercing more vulnerable to impact and accidental trauma.
❋ Why Downsizing Supports Proper Healing
Downsizing to a shorter, properly fitted post once swelling has gone down allows the jewelry to sit flush and stable against the skin. This promotes comfort, reduces irritation, improves the appearance of the piercing, and supports healthy, long-term healing. Downsizing is not a cosmetic step—it’s a key part of proper aftercare and helps ensure your piercing heals as smoothly as possible.
❋ Downsizing Time Frame
Downsizing typically occurs around four weeks after your initial piercing. Please follow up with Jeane so she can ensure your jewelry is properly fitted as your piercing continues to heal. In some cases, four weeks may not be enough time to safely install shorter jewelry. If that’s the case, check in with us, continue your aftercare routine, and we’ll help troubleshoot and guide you through the next steps.
Here’s why this matters…
Your body knows how to heal, our job is to support it.
That’s why we choose jewelry that works with your body, not against it. We use implant-certified titanium because it’s gentle, lightweight, and made to live in your piercing forever. This means less irritation, less swelling, and fewer surprises along the way. Jewelry style also makes a big difference with the nature of healing. Paired with the right fit and a little patience, your piercing will settle beautifully so you can truly enjoy it.
All of our jewelry is purchased from reputable manufacturers, as well as our solid gold! The companies we work with provide what is called a “mill certificate” that indicates EXACTLY what we need to know about what our jewelry is truly made of. If you need a Mill Certificate to show your MRI tech please let me know! All of our jewelry is non-ferrous and safe to wear inside MRI machines. (Jewelry may affect imaging).
