Wash with anti-bacterial soap once a day for 3 days (excludes inside of the nose and mouth). Afterwards discontinue because anti bacterial soap kills all bacteria including the good bacteria you want to keep. After 3 days start using either a sterile saline or sea salt solution and clean around the area 4-6 times/a day for your piercings respective healing time. Whitish yellow "crusties" may develop during the healing time, this is a natural body response to the piercing, just clean them off with the saline and make sure they don't migrate back into the piercing hole.

• No Hydrogen Peroxide: Piercings are puncture wounds and if peroxide gets trapped in there and starts to bubble can lead to an infection.

• No Rubbing Alcohol: Rubbing alcohol burns on a fresh piercing and also dries out the wound and prevents new cells from forming.

• No Oil Based Ointments: Ointments like Neosporin suffocate the wound and prevent oxygen from getting in which impedes the healing process.

• Do not submerge piercings in any dirty bodies of water such as lakes, ponds, rivers, or public hot tubs.

• Swimming pools that are properly maintained are fine and the ocean is fine because it's salt water. Be careful drying off after showers or any water activities, dab the area dry gently to prevent snags.

• Do not twist, rotate, or play with the jewelry as this causes additional irritation to the area and increases chance of infection. However it is encouraged to wash your hands and make sure the piercing balls on your jewelry remain tight regularly.

ORAL PIERCINGS

• Rinse with alcohol free non-whitening mouthwash before bed, when you wake up, after every meal, after drinking anything other than water, and if you smoke/vape rinse afterwards.

• No chewing gum or hard candy that can stick to the jewelry.

• No alcohol for 2 weeks as it can induce swelling.

• No straws as it can create a vacuum seal inside your mouth that can put unnecessary strain on your piercing.

• If salty or spicy foods irritate your piercing avoid them for a short period.

• No sexual contact including french kissing.

• Swelling is to be expected with most oral piercings so try to be proactive in reducing it. If medically fit to do so keep Tylenol or Ibuprofen in your system for at least the first few days after getting pierced and do cold compressions regularly with an ice pack or crushed ice for the inside of the mouth. If your jewelry begins to feel tight contact your piercer immediately.

ADDITIONAL AFTERCARE INFO

NOSTRIL/SEPTUM

There is no need to wash the inside of your nose with anti bacterial soap just use the saline/sea salt and q-tips.

No makeup directly on the area and be careful with facial washes or scrubs because we don't won't any of that getting stuck in there where it can potentially cause infection

For added protection from snags while sleeping you can apply small circle bandaids over night.

BELLYBUTTON

No high waisted pants to avoid snags and possible infection.

For 3 weeks after the piercing a night soak is recommended. Take the saline/sea salt solution and spray it on a cotton ball and bandaid it over the jewelry before bed. When you apply the bandaid the jewelry will lean to one side so make sure to alternate on a nightly basis to ensure the jewelry sets evenly. The night soak protects the piercing being picked or scratched at during sleep or if you are a belly sleeper.

Tea Tree Oil Info

Tea tree oil comes from the leaves of the tea tree. It was used in the 19th century to make an herbal tea by sailors and is not the same as the tea plant from which we have drinking tea today. It is often used for fungal and bacterial infections and insect bites to aid with healing but people have also started using it with piercings because they want a more “natural” healing choice.

Many people love tea tree oil because it has a great smell and many antibacterial properties but that doesn't mean it's a good choice of aftercare. It's often found in skincare and hair products because it can help with dry skin and acne but these are not piercings. Many people will try and use it on a new piercing for the same reason – antibactieral is good, right? Tea tree oil isn't a good choice as aftercare for a fresh piercing, asides from the fact that when used neat it can cause discomfort it will interrupt the healing process, it can be used for healed piercings though.

When To Use Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil has a drying action on the skin which is why it is great for acne. Because dry piercings are uncomfortable piercings the only time you want to dry your piercing out is when it has a scar or a keloid. These are often fluid filled which means that a drying product is ideal. The nose or nostril piercing is one of the most common keloided piercings and because there is usually wet mucus inside the nose tea tree can be very helpful. However, if there is nothing wrong with your piercing (no keloids or scars) the tea tree can actually cause these to form by irritating the skin through excessive drying.

It should only be used if your piercing has a “bump” after the initial healing period is over and not before then. If you're not sure whether your piercing has a bump or whether tea tree oil is right for your piercing go and see a professional piercer. They will be able to look at your piercing and tell if there is scar tissue or keloids before you risk damaging your piercing. Tea tree oil should not be used as piercing aftercare. The best thing for piercing aftercare is a simple saline solution ( a mix of non-iodized sea salt and distilled water) to wash the piercing and nothing else. If your piercer recommends tea tree oil for after care as well as this you do not need it.

How to Use Tea Tree oil for Piercings

Tea tree oil is an astringent. This means that it draws moisture out from the cells that are exposed to it. When your piercing has a scar or keloid you want to take a small amount of oil, diluted with a carrier oil such as almond oil or coconut oil, and apply it to the bump on your piercing with a clean finger. You do not want to use paper towels, q-tips, or cotton buds because the small “hairs” of the bud may get in your piercing and this may irritate it.You want to apply this morning and night after washing your piercing but you may also apply it periodically throughout the day until you start seeing the bump shrinking. Continue to apply the oil until it has disappeared. Once the bump has disappeared it's important to stop using the tea tree oil as it can cause it to come back. Tea tree oil will also work on scars from piercings that have been removed or migrated out in the same way.

Side Effects

There is some evidence that tea tree oil can disrupt hormones but studies are ongoing. It does however, definitely cause drying, irritation, burning, itching, and redness when applied directly to the skin. It should not be used in any greater concentration than 5% because of this when applied to skin but can be applied without dilution for therapeutic purposes like shrinking piercing bumps as long as it is applied to the bump only and not the area around it which could become inflamed.