MontanaPiercer
03-11-2005, 09:34 AM
Aftercare for your piercings
First off, the things you will NOT be using to clean your piercing:
·Alcohol : This product is brutal to new tissue. True, it has tremendous aseptic properties, but it rapid evaporation sucks the moisture right out of the tissue along with stripping the skin of essential oils. This holds true for most common mouthwashes also. Over-use of these products is known to cause thrush (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000966.htm) (characterized by whitening of the tissue) and prolong healing times for oral piercings (and they sting). Tech2000, Crest Pro Health or Biotene are alcohol free mouthwashes, and much better options.
·Hydrogen peroxide : Worse than alcohol by far. Dehydrating to the skin as well as damaging to new tissue. The rapid action of the peroxide can actually dislodge weaker new tissue and significantly increase healing time.
·Antibiotic Ointments: Too often improperly used, these medicines are used only for short periods to treat specific medical conditions. If put on too thickly, it can even block oxygen to the wound site and prevent effective healing.
·Epsom salt: This is magnesium based and NOT the same thing as sea salt. Reactions to and irritation from the magnesium sulphate are possible.
·Table salt: The refining process and addition of iodine make this product unsuitable.
·Dirty Hands: This is the source of the vast majority of healing woes. Unwashed hands are a breeding ground for bacteria, along with all sorts of nasty contaminants. Do NOT pick at, pull on, or play with your healing piercing.
·Benzalkonium Chloride Cleansers (BZK): Products such as Bactine are sometimes used as part of aftercare routines. I find these chemical cleansers unnecessary, and many times cause irritation and prolonged healing times.
Anti-bacterial soaps: Frequently suggested as an aftercare product, even the gentlest of these products such as Satin or Provon, made from PCMX are still overly drying to the tissue, and are just not necessary. At best it does little, at worst it causes severe tissue dehydration and irritation, all the while costing you money. Your immune system is all the anti-bacterial protection you need.
Piercings should be thoroughly cleaned 2 to 3 times per day, for the entire healing period
The first step is hand cleaning. Wash your hands thoroughly with anti-bacterial soap. Effective cleaning requires at least 30 seconds of contact time.
For oral piercings, brush your teeth and tongue. After brushing, rinse for at least 60 seconds with an alcohol free antiseptic mouth rinse. Antiseptic mouthwash should be used after food, drink or smoking. If frequent rinsing is necessary, substitute the sea salt solution rinse for the mouthwash. It takes a little longer but will prevent the thrush condition.
The sea-salt soaks should be done for 5 to 8 minutes. Mix your solutions at 1/4 teaspoon of salt per 8 ounces of warm distilled water. Cotton balls can be soaked in the solution and used to irrigate the site, for difficult to soak locations. Rinse with the solution for oral piercing. Rinse the site well with pure distilled water to wash away the salt.
Using a clean cotton swab, clean the area surrounding each hole. Clean the jewelry completely; making sure that all of the lymph discharge is removed. This discharge is usually referred to as 'crusties', and is characterized by hard, crystalline build up, usually light yellow in color. This is not pus, but a normal part of the healing process. The jewelry does not have to be rotated as this may cause irritation and tissue damage. With a straight or curved bar, clean well under the balls.
Things to remember
·Discomfort and swelling is temporary, over the counter anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAIs) is usually sufficient at easing these symptoms. Initial swelling is usually gone within 3 to 5 days. Use all products as directed.
·Keep yourself healthy. Drugs, alcohol, stress and lack of sleep among other things, can have a negative impact on your immune system. Vitamin C and Zinc will help you out here
·Keep up good hygiene practices. This means your body, your hair, and your clothes. Change your bed sheets frequently, especially pillowcases when you have ear or facial piercings.
·Avoid trauma to the wound site. Damage during healing will almost certainly result in problems. This may include migration and partial or outright rejection. Baby your piercing....no rough treatment. Be very careful when drying off after a shower and putting on or taking off clothes. With ear piercings, watch out with that hairbrush.
·Keep make-up and body lotions away from the piercing. If you use astringent facial cleansers, keep those away from the wound also.
·Don't sleep on your piercings, or wear clothing tight enough to put pressure on the piercing. This can cause irritation and migration over time.
·Do not take your jewelry out while it is healing. Every person is different, but fresh piercings can close in a matter of minutes, making jewelry insertions difficult or outright impossible. Do not change your jewelry for 4 weeks or so, and then only to other implant grade jewelry. Acrylic, organic and low grade metal pieces like silver and cheap steel should not be worn until completely healed.
·During your healing period, do not expose yourself to open water. If you feel that your participation is required, wear a water-tight, air permeable bandage like TegaDerm, or Band-Aid Liquid Bandage. This is not a solution for daily exposure since the bandage will irritate the wound, however it will get you by for the day.
·Most piercings will show improvement long before the estimated healing times have expired, this does not however, mean that they are completely healed. Ups and downs are completely normal. Be patient and persistent. More frequent cleaning is unnecessary, and can actually be detrimental to the process.
First off, the things you will NOT be using to clean your piercing:
·Alcohol : This product is brutal to new tissue. True, it has tremendous aseptic properties, but it rapid evaporation sucks the moisture right out of the tissue along with stripping the skin of essential oils. This holds true for most common mouthwashes also. Over-use of these products is known to cause thrush (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000966.htm) (characterized by whitening of the tissue) and prolong healing times for oral piercings (and they sting). Tech2000, Crest Pro Health or Biotene are alcohol free mouthwashes, and much better options.
·Hydrogen peroxide : Worse than alcohol by far. Dehydrating to the skin as well as damaging to new tissue. The rapid action of the peroxide can actually dislodge weaker new tissue and significantly increase healing time.
·Antibiotic Ointments: Too often improperly used, these medicines are used only for short periods to treat specific medical conditions. If put on too thickly, it can even block oxygen to the wound site and prevent effective healing.
·Epsom salt: This is magnesium based and NOT the same thing as sea salt. Reactions to and irritation from the magnesium sulphate are possible.
·Table salt: The refining process and addition of iodine make this product unsuitable.
·Dirty Hands: This is the source of the vast majority of healing woes. Unwashed hands are a breeding ground for bacteria, along with all sorts of nasty contaminants. Do NOT pick at, pull on, or play with your healing piercing.
·Benzalkonium Chloride Cleansers (BZK): Products such as Bactine are sometimes used as part of aftercare routines. I find these chemical cleansers unnecessary, and many times cause irritation and prolonged healing times.
Anti-bacterial soaps: Frequently suggested as an aftercare product, even the gentlest of these products such as Satin or Provon, made from PCMX are still overly drying to the tissue, and are just not necessary. At best it does little, at worst it causes severe tissue dehydration and irritation, all the while costing you money. Your immune system is all the anti-bacterial protection you need.
Piercings should be thoroughly cleaned 2 to 3 times per day, for the entire healing period
The first step is hand cleaning. Wash your hands thoroughly with anti-bacterial soap. Effective cleaning requires at least 30 seconds of contact time.
For oral piercings, brush your teeth and tongue. After brushing, rinse for at least 60 seconds with an alcohol free antiseptic mouth rinse. Antiseptic mouthwash should be used after food, drink or smoking. If frequent rinsing is necessary, substitute the sea salt solution rinse for the mouthwash. It takes a little longer but will prevent the thrush condition.
The sea-salt soaks should be done for 5 to 8 minutes. Mix your solutions at 1/4 teaspoon of salt per 8 ounces of warm distilled water. Cotton balls can be soaked in the solution and used to irrigate the site, for difficult to soak locations. Rinse with the solution for oral piercing. Rinse the site well with pure distilled water to wash away the salt.
Using a clean cotton swab, clean the area surrounding each hole. Clean the jewelry completely; making sure that all of the lymph discharge is removed. This discharge is usually referred to as 'crusties', and is characterized by hard, crystalline build up, usually light yellow in color. This is not pus, but a normal part of the healing process. The jewelry does not have to be rotated as this may cause irritation and tissue damage. With a straight or curved bar, clean well under the balls.
Things to remember
·Discomfort and swelling is temporary, over the counter anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAIs) is usually sufficient at easing these symptoms. Initial swelling is usually gone within 3 to 5 days. Use all products as directed.
·Keep yourself healthy. Drugs, alcohol, stress and lack of sleep among other things, can have a negative impact on your immune system. Vitamin C and Zinc will help you out here
·Keep up good hygiene practices. This means your body, your hair, and your clothes. Change your bed sheets frequently, especially pillowcases when you have ear or facial piercings.
·Avoid trauma to the wound site. Damage during healing will almost certainly result in problems. This may include migration and partial or outright rejection. Baby your piercing....no rough treatment. Be very careful when drying off after a shower and putting on or taking off clothes. With ear piercings, watch out with that hairbrush.
·Keep make-up and body lotions away from the piercing. If you use astringent facial cleansers, keep those away from the wound also.
·Don't sleep on your piercings, or wear clothing tight enough to put pressure on the piercing. This can cause irritation and migration over time.
·Do not take your jewelry out while it is healing. Every person is different, but fresh piercings can close in a matter of minutes, making jewelry insertions difficult or outright impossible. Do not change your jewelry for 4 weeks or so, and then only to other implant grade jewelry. Acrylic, organic and low grade metal pieces like silver and cheap steel should not be worn until completely healed.
·During your healing period, do not expose yourself to open water. If you feel that your participation is required, wear a water-tight, air permeable bandage like TegaDerm, or Band-Aid Liquid Bandage. This is not a solution for daily exposure since the bandage will irritate the wound, however it will get you by for the day.
·Most piercings will show improvement long before the estimated healing times have expired, this does not however, mean that they are completely healed. Ups and downs are completely normal. Be patient and persistent. More frequent cleaning is unnecessary, and can actually be detrimental to the process.