New body piercings are flesh wounds that vary in intensity, and jewelry placed in a new body piercing comes in very close contact with bodily tissues and fluids.
Just like any other wound, it is extremely important that new body piercings are cleaned and cared for properly. Without proper aftercare, people with new body piercings put themselves at an increased risk for infection and other complications.
Cleaning a New Body Piercing
New body piercings must be cleaned and cared for daily in order to prevent infections and to make sure the piercing heals properly.
For non-oral piercings, the Association of Professional Piercers recommends doing a saline soak or compress at least once a day to clean a new piercing. People with a new piercing can use a prepackaged saline solution without additives, such as H2Ocean, or can create a simple solution by dissolving 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt into eight ounces of warm distilled or bottled water. The Association of Professional Piercers does not recommend using a stronger saline solution in an attempt to help a piercing heal quicker; in fact, harsh soaps and solutions can irritate the piercing and slow the healing process.
After performing a saline soak, the next step in the cleaning process is to clean the piercing and surrounding area with warm water and a fragrance-free antimicrobial or germicidal soap. A pearl-sized drop of soap can be used on most piercings when lathered and left on the area for no more than thirty seconds. Leaving cleansers on freshly-pierced areas for longer than thirty seconds can cause irritation.
The pierced area should then be rinsed thoroughly with warm water and patted dry with disposable towels. Cloth towels can harbor bacterial and other growths that can be transferred to the piercing area and cause infections.
Cleaning a New Oral Piercing
Caring for an oral piercing is different than caring for a body piercing in other areas. Oral piercings come in contact with food and beverages. Additionally, the concentration of nerves and blood vessels around the mouth increases the likelihood that an infection will spread quickly if left untreated.
The Association of Professional Piercers recommends an altered procedure for cleaning piercings inside of the mouth. Using the same saline solution that is recommended for non-oral piercings or with a antibacterial, rinse piercings and the mouth with an alcohol-free mouth wash after meals and before bed, or four to five times a day. Each rinse should last for about thirty seconds.
For cheek and lip piercings, it is recommended to follow the same steps used to clean a non-oral piercing. Saline soaks should be used two to three times a day, and soap should be used once or twice a day.
Caring for New Body Piercings
New piercings are fragile and should be treated with care to prevent injuries. Montana Body Art recommends reducing friction and irritation to the area by avoiding restrictive clothing or wearing a bandage orver certain piercings, such as navel piercings, during contact sports or while wearing clothes such as pantyhose. Clothes worn over piercings should be non-irritating and made of natural fibers, such as cotton.
Additionally, new piercings should not be exposed to a variety of irritants or unsanitary areas:
- hairspray or styling products
- baths, lakes, swimming pools, or any standing public body of water
- rough housing
- excessive handling of jewelry
- removing jewelry in case of infection
For oral piercings, it is also recommended to avoid certain foods until the piercing is healed in order to prevent irritation before the piercing begins to heal. After the healing process has begun, people with oral piercings can begin to eat these foods again, as long as the piercing is not irritated:
- spicy foods
- acidic foods
- salty foods
- soft foods such as mashed potatoes or oatmeal
- foods or beverages heated to high temperatures
- foods or beverages with high amounts of alcohol or caffeine
People with new piercings should also avoid smoking, excessive alcohol, and any intimate contact that may come in contact with a new piercing until the area has healed. Taking a variety of vitamins, including vitamins B and C, iron, and zinc; avoiding nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol; and living a healthy lifestyle complete with a nutritious diet and exercise will help a new body piercing heal.
New body piercings are flesh wounds that need to be taken care of properly in order to avoid irritation and infection. If not cared for properly, a new piercing can become infected, and this infection can spread to other parts of the body quickly and become a serious medical problem.
Sources
- "Body Aftercare" Association of Professional Piercers. Safepiercing.org, accessed 21 February 2011.
- "Cleaning and Care of Body Piercing Jewelry" Montana Body Art. Montanabodyart.com, accessed 21 February 2011.
- "Oral Aftercare" Association of Professional Piercers. Safepiercing.org, accessed 21 February 2011.
Ashley Anderson - Ashley is an Ohio-based writer and editor with specializations in higher education, writing, and social activism.
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