CONGRATULATIONS
ON YOUR NEW PIERCING!
Here at Nexus, we promise to do our best with your piercing. We cleaned and disinfected the area pierced, used sterile single-use instruments, and sterile jewelry. The rest is up to you. Listen to your body - be responsive to and responsible for your own body. If at any point you have any problems or questions, please feel free to stop in, give us a call, or send us an email. We are here to help.
Our Healing Philosophy
Our stance on aftercare is simple - less is more. Your body is going to do the work of healing your new piercing, you are just going to maintain it. A piercing that is neglected or not correctly cared for may not heal, so it is important to listen to your body and follow these instructions.
Warning: Chemicals will not make your body heal faster. Chemicals of any kind can irritate your healing piercing and some can damage jewelry. We do not suggest the use of harsh chemicals, soaps, essential oils, or ointments. From years of medical studies and research we have found that chemicals actually delay healing. The only products you should use on a healing piercing are sterline saline wound wash or clean water.
How to Clean Your Piercing
Thoroughly wash your hands.
Spray saline on the front and back of your piercing.
If needed, spray saline on a Q-tip and use that to gently remove any “crusties” without rotating the jewelry.
Rinse any excess saline from the skin around the piercing.
Gently dry the piercing after cleaning.
Do this whenever you notice the piercing is crusty, when activity may cause the jewelry to move (exercise, flipping a septum, etc.), and any time the jewelry feels “sticky” or uncomfortable until your piercing is fully healed.
You may also take a warm shower and let the water run over the piercing for a few minutes. This should gently clean away any crust, and after, you can clean it with saline on a Q-tip for any stubborn debris.
Oral Piercings
Oral piercings are prone to swelling initially. Cold food and drinks, such as ice water, can be beneficial to reduce swelling. Maintain good oral hygiene for the duration of healing. Do NOT use any products that contain whitening chemicals. You can rinse with bottled water after eating or drinking. Avoid any activities that would put you in contact with someone else’s bodily fluids, including sharing food and drinks. Be aware that smoking can be harmful to a healing oral piercing.
Warm Compress
You can spray saline on gauze and warm that in the microwave on a clean plate. Heat it to be warmer than your body temperature but please be careful not to burn yourself! You can hold this gauze directly on and around your piercing. Leave the saline soaked gauze against the piercing until it cools, then rinse the piercing and gently remove any crust or secretion. Always dry the piercing after soaking or any cleaning. If suggested by your piercer, do this at least once daily. Never move the jewelry back and forth in the piercing. Likewise, do not spin, twist, or rotate the jewelry in the piercing. Excess movement can cause irritation and issues while healing.
What to Avoid
Avoid undue trauma such as friction from clothing, excessive motion of the area, or playing with the piercing.
Avoid overcleaning, this can delay healing and irritate your piercing.
Avoid rough oral contact, rough play, and contact with others’ bodily fluids on or near your piercing during healing.
Avoid ALL beauty and personal care products on or around the piercing including cosmetics, lotions, sprays, etc.
Avoid swimming in any bodies of water. Chlorine is drying and irritating to a new piercing. Stay out of the pool until your piercing is at least a few months old. Natural bodies of water such as oceans, rivers, and lakes harbor harmful bacteria and should be avoided for the entire duration of the healing period.
Avoid all harsh chemical products including Rubbing Alcohol, Peroxide, Bactine, “Ear Care Solutions”, any Antibacterial Soaps, Neosporin (or other ointments), or Hibiclens.
What is Normal
Piercings may bleed on and off for the first few days to a week. Bruising, redness, and swelling are all normal for a new piercing.
Itching is normal with a healing piercing and a sign of healing occuring. Despite the itch, do not scratch!
Your piercing will have some secretion of a white-ish or yellow-ish fluid. This may dry and form a scab-like “crust” around the piercing. These secretions are a normal part of the healing process and will diminish as it continues to heal.
Piercings will shrink or fully close if jewelry is removed for any length of time during the healing process. For this reason, unless there is an issue with the size, style, or material of initial jewelry, leave it in place for the entire healing process. A qualified piercer should perform any necessary jewelry change that occurs during healing.
Tips and Tricks
Do not play with new and healing piercings as physical irritation is the cause of many problems.
Stay healthy! Eat a nutritious diet, get plenty of sleep, and drink plenty of water. A healthy body is better equipped to successfully heal your piercing.
Clean your bedding regularly. If you have pets, they shouldn’t be in or on the bed for the duration of healing.
For side sleepers healing ear piercings, a travel pillow or piercing pillow can help immensely. You can put your ear in the hole and sleep on that side without the pressure of your head causing migration or irritation.
For clients healing navel piercings with uniforms or clothes that would sit over the piercing, a hard, vented eyepatch can be worn.
Downsizing
Most piercings are started with jewelry that has a small amount of extra length to allow for swelling and cleaning during the initial weeks of healing. Once that swelling has gone down, that jewelry can sometimes feel long and annoying. Additionally, if slept on, snagged, or bumped, this excess length can cause the piercing to migrate. It is very important to come back to have your jewelry downsized to avoid that migration. Jewelry fees will apply. Coming in after around 1-2 months for a checkup is always a good idea.
Having Issues?
More often than not, people who think they have an infection actually have an irritation. Adjusting your care or changing jewelry will usually help the irritation improve. If you are having issues please contact us or come in person for a checkup! These checkups are always free. We are here not just to do your piercing but to help you heal. We won’t know if something is wrong if you don’t contact us, so please use us as a resource while your piercing heals!
More Aftercare Tips
For more tips about aftercare, click here for more resources!