Piercing aftercare: how to look after a new piercing

A new piercing needs proper care to heal well. How it's done matters too: at my studio every piercing is done by a professional body piercer, in a licensed and hygienic environment, using aseptic techniques and implant-grade titanium jewellery. After that, how well it heals is mostly down to the aftercare.

This guide covers the cleaning routine, what's normal in the first few weeks, how long different piercings take to heal, and what to avoid. If you're thinking about a piercing, it's worth reading before your appointment, so you know what to expect. Every client goes home with an aftercare kit: saline solution, spun lace cotton pads, dual-use cotton buds, fine cotton swabs, a printed aftercare guide with the key steps on it, and a pack of sweets.

Your cleaning routine

Do this every morning and night.

1. Wash your hands. Wash your hands thoroughly before you touch your piercing, so germs don't get into the healing area.
2. Use a saline solution made for piercings. Use only a saline solution that's suitable for piercings. Wet the front and back of the piercing, then wait 30 seconds.
3. Pat dry. Clean up any extra solution and gently pat the area dry. There's no need to turn or move your jewellery.

Keep this up for 6–8 weeks, whatever the piercing. A piercing can look and feel healed well before it is. Tissue heals from the outside in, so even when the outside feels fine, the inside is still fragile. Be patient and keep cleaning.

What not to clean it with

Never use strong salt solutions, hydrogen peroxide or alcohol on your piercing. They dry it out, irritate it and slow healing.

What's normal while it heals

• Bleeding or swelling. A little bleeding or swelling is normal for the first few days. A cold compress or ice helps to bring the swelling down and slow any bleeding.
• Tenderness, itchiness or bruising. Your piercing may feel tender or itchy, or even look bruised, for a few weeks.
• Whitish-yellow fluid. Your piercing may give off a whitish-yellow fluid that dries on the jewellery. This is normal and stops once the piercing has fully healed. Don't pick at it with your fingers: let your cleaning routine soften and rinse it away.

How long healing takes

Healing time depends on where the piercing is.

Not sure which of these your piercing is? See the ear piercing guide, which covers every placement with its pain level and healing time.

The shorter bar (downsizing)

Your first piece of jewellery has a longer bar to leave room for swelling. Once the swelling has gone down, 6–8 weeks after the piercing, that longer bar needs replacing with a shorter one that fits snugly.

If you were pierced with me, you're welcome to come back to the studio for this. I'll re-measure your ear and choose the right bar size for you. The appointment costs £5, plus the cost of the jewellery.

It's also the perfect time to choose something new: have a look at our jewellery.

Everyday tips while it heals

• Keep your hands clean. Wash your hands often, especially in the first 7 days, to lower the risk of infection from touching the area without thinking.
• Hands off. Don't touch or twist your jewellery other than when you're cleaning it.
• Rinse after showering. At the end of your shower, rinse your piercing to remove any soap, shampoo or conditioner.
• Keep everything around it clean: your hair, nails, the skin around the piercing, and your pillowcase and bedding.
• Don't sleep on it. Pressure on a new piercing can irritate it. If you must sleep on that side, use a ring pillow, so your ear rests in the hole without pressing on the piercing.
• Keep products away. Don't get lotions, sprays (including hairspray) or makeup in your piercing.
• Watch your hair. Long hair can catch on new jewellery. Keep it away from the piercing so it doesn't tug or pull.
• Go easy with headphones. If you've had your ear pierced, wear loose-fitting headphones (or skip them) while it heals, so there's no pressure on the piercing.
• Skip swimming for the first 2 weeks. Avoid swimming pools, hot tubs, the sea and other water for the first 2 weeks, while the outer skin heals over. Putting your piercing under water can introduce bacteria and irritate the healing tissue.
• Leave your jewellery in. Keep the jewellery you were pierced with until your piercing has fully healed. Changing it too early can irritate the piercing.

If you think it's infected

If you suspect an infection, contact your GP straight away.

Any questions?

I want every client's journey to a healed piercing to be comfortable and successful. If you have a question about a piercing, before or after your appointment, email me at hello@emilyedwards.beauty.

Planning your next piercing? Take a look at needle piercings at Emily Edwards Beauty or children's ear piercing.