Wash your hands thoroughly before cleaning your piercing or handling jewelry when necessary.

Avoid unnecessary touching, twisting, or rotating the jewelry.

Use a sterile wound-wash saline solution containing 0.9% sodium chloride, without added ingredients.

Recovery Aftercare Spray may be used if its ingredients are appropriate for piercing care. Follow the product directions and your piercer's instructions.

Do not mix your own table-salt solution or use harsh disinfectants.

Some dried discharge or crusting may occur during healing.

Soften buildup with sterile saline or clean running water, then gently remove only what comes away easily using clean, disposable material.

Never force crusting through the piercing channel.

After cleaning, gently dry the surrounding area with clean, disposable gauze or paper towel.

Avoid shared towels, washcloths, and unnecessary moisture.

Avoid alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, harsh antibacterial cleansers, ointments, and fragranced products directly on the healing piercing.

Excessive cleaning can also cause irritation. Follow your piercer's recommended routine.

For the outside of a lip piercing, use sterile saline and gently remove softened buildup.

Avoid excessive handling and harsh products.

Maintain good oral hygiene using a soft toothbrush and your usual brushing routine.

Rinse with clean water after eating or drinking anything other than water.

If using mouthwash, choose an alcohol-free product recommended by your piercer or dental professional. Avoid overusing it.

Swelling and tenderness are common during the first several days.

Cold beverages and small ice chips allowed to dissolve gently may help with discomfort.

Avoid excessive pressure, unnecessary jewelry movement, and foods that irritate the piercing.

Avoid wet kissing, oral sexual contact, sharing drinks or utensils, and playing with the jewelry while healing.

Avoid smoking or vaping where possible, as these can irritate healing tissue.

Initial jewelry may be longer to accommodate swelling.

Return to your professional piercer for an appropriate downsize once swelling subsides. Do not change jewelry yourself during early healing.

This includes lobes, helix, forward helix, tragus, daith, conch, rook, flat, and industrial piercings.

Avoid sleeping directly on a healing piercing. Pressure can cause irritation and affect jewelry positioning.

Keep phones, headphones, glasses, and bedding clean.

Clean gently with sterile saline and avoid makeup, skincare products, and unnecessary touching near the piercing.

Be careful when washing your face, changing clothes, or drying with a towel.

Avoid tight waistbands, belts, and clothing that rubs against your navel piercing.

Clean gently with sterile saline and avoid soaking in pools, hot tubs, or baths while healing.

Avoid friction, snagging, and unnecessary pressure.

Clean supportive clothing may improve comfort. Follow your piercer's instructions and allow adequate healing time.

Healing time depends on the piercing location, jewelry, your health, and aftercare.

Earlobes may heal in several weeks to months, while cartilage, navel, and nipple piercings often take many months.

A piercing can look healed on the outside before the internal tissue has fully healed.

Some initial swelling, tenderness, localized redness, and light-colored crusting may occur during healing.

Symptoms should generally improve rather than progressively worsen.

Spreading redness, increasing pain or swelling, pus, fever, or red streaking may indicate an infection.

Seek prompt medical evaluation if these occur. Severe tongue or mouth swelling, difficulty breathing, or difficulty swallowing requires emergency medical care.

Do not remove jewelry from a potentially infected piercing unless instructed by a healthcare professional.

Contact your piercer for jewelry fit or irritation concerns, and seek medical care for suspected infection.