Piercing aftercare: these are the most frequently asked questions

Congratulations on your new piercing! This blog answers the most frequently asked questions about piercing aftercare. We discuss how often to clean your piercing, what to use and not to use (tip: TattooMed Piercing Spray) and how to clean it. We also discuss what to do in case of inflammation, pus, blood, ingrowth, or allergy. Always follow your piercer's aftercare instructions and consult your general practitioner or piercer if in doubt. We hope this blog helps you with your piercing aftercare!

Usually, you should clean your piercing twice a day, with a saline solution or a special piercing aftercare spray

• Never use alcohol or iodine, these substances can irritate your piercing
  
  

• Use a 0.9% NaCl saline solution. You can buy this ready-made or make it yourself by dissolving half a teaspoon of table salt in 250 ml of warm water
  
  

• A better option is the TattooMed Piercing Spray. This spray contains ingredients that gently clean and protect the piercing. The spray contains no irritating substances and is suitable for all piercings. The Piercing aftercare spray is therefore a 2-in-1 product: it cleans and cares for your piercing at the same time

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water
  
  

• Clean a cotton pad or gauze with the saline solution or with Piercing aftercare spray from TattooMed
  
  

• Gently clean the piercing with the cotton pad or gauze
  
  

• Rinse the piercing with clean water
  
  

• Pat the piercing dry with a clean, lint-free cloth

• No, do not twist your piercing. This can irritate the piercing and slow down the healing process

• Touch your piercing as little as possible. If you do touch your piercing, make sure your hands are clean

• Always wear titanium or surgical steel jewelry initially. These materials are nickel-free and less irritating to the piercing
  
  

• Avoid jewelry made of plastic or other materials that can cause irritation
  
  

• Choose properly sized jewelry. Jewelry that is too small can embed in the piercing, while jewelry that is too large can snag

• Contact your piercer or general practitioner
  
  

• Clean the piercing with a saline solution or TattooMed Piercing aftercare spray
  
  

• Apply an anti-inflammatory cream to the piercing

• A small amount of pus is normal in the first few days after the piercing is done
  
  

• If a lot of pus comes from your piercing, or if the pus is green or yellow, this may be a sign of infection. In that case, contact your piercer or general practitioner

• If your piercing is bleeding, hold a clean gauze or cotton pad against the piercing until the bleeding stops
  
  

• If the bleeding does not stop after 10 minutes, contact your piercer or general practitioner

• Do not try to remove the piercing yourself
  
  

• Contact your piercer

• Yes, it is possible to be allergic to the materials of your piercing
  
  

• Symptoms of an allergy include redness, swelling, itching, and pain
  
  

• If you think you are allergic to your piercing, contact your piercer or general practitioner

• Good piercing aftercare is important to prevent your piercing from becoming inflamed or experiencing other complications
  
  

• Always follow your piercer's aftercare instructions
  
  

• Consult your general practitioner or piercer if you have any doubts about the health of your piercing

We hope this blog has helped you with your piercing aftercare!

Questions about caring for your piercing?
Take a look at our aftercare blogs at your leisure. Do you have any questions or would you just like more information? Feel free to contact us

Original publication date: 2017-06-26
Last updated on: 2024-03-10