Freebirds Piercing

Aftercare Instructions


First of let me say congratulations on your new body piercing!  I am sure you are really excited to get on your way to having a healed piercing to enjoy.  Below are some general aftercare and suggestive guidelines to go by, but please remember we are not Doctors.  These guidelines are based on the accumulated experience of professional piercers who together have pierced many many people.  Please try to be patient.  Each body is unique and is tender or secreting you should cintinue the care regimen, even if it is past the started time range.  DON'T TOUCH WITH DIRTY HANDS.  


CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS DRY SKIN


Body piercings need to be cared for daily during the entire initial healing time.  *First before touching your healing piercing, wash your hands thoroughly with a liquid antibacterial soap and warm water.  If you wish you may wear disposable medical gloves ( this is a god idea if you have artificial nails).  Never, never touch a healing piercing with dirty hands!  This is vital for avoiding infections, don't give those germs a free ride to your piercing!  *Next, use clean cotton swabs soaked in warm water to remove any crusty matter that has developed on or around your jewelry and your skin.  Take time and use a couple Q-tips, make sure it is sparkling clean and slightly warm.  At this time you may want to  use awarm salt soak.  (see below)*  Finally follow up with your preferred choice of healing agent.  I recommend H2O ocean spray for dry skin piercings and or emu oil for thicker piercing ( nostril, cartilage and navel ).  DO NOT USE BETADINE,ALCOHOL, OR HYDROGEN PEROXIDE.  These products will dry out YOUR PIERCING AND PREVENT YOU FROM HEALING.  


ORAL PIERCINGS


Expect swelling following your oral piercing.  Each piercing will be different from person to person so don't expect each on to be the same.  To keep your swelling to a minimum stay hydrated!!!  Drink lots of ice water and suck on ice chips.  Keeping your mouth could will bring swelling down.  Next, don't play with your new piercing, the more you move it the more it will swell.  Finally some people have found tat taking a anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen  can reduce swelling as well a discomfort.  Do this only if you are comfortable and physically able.  (use as directed)* To keep oral membranes clean,  rinse with alcohol free mouthwash when you eat or drink anythings besides water.  I recommend H2O Ocean oral mouth rinse, it is a great product and I have found it to have a speedy recovery time.  You could also use Biotine  as directed on the packaging.  If you are a smoker you need to pay a little extra attention to your piercing.  Not only will you be rinsing A LOT MORE but it will also take you longer to heal as your cells are not able to focus on a small amount of tissue to heal  (because they are trying to heal your whole mouth).  Anytime you smoke  you need to rinse so carry some with you at all times.  If you can quit for a couple of weeks it will help your piercing or at least cut back if you can't quit.  Chewing tobacco is a definite no-no.  Don't do it!


GENITAL PIERCINGS


*Clean as directed for dry skin piercings.

*Sexual activity is not prohibited, but must be gentle and hygienic.  Listen to your body!  If something feels sore it means you need to ease up or stop for the time being.  Use condoms and dental dams for all sexual  contact during the entire healing process to prevent sharing Bodily fluids.    Use gloves for any touching.  Plastic wraps can substitute for dental dams.  

*Pleasure use condoms have extra room for jewelry and seem to work well with genital piercings. 

*Avoid condoms and lubricants with nonoxynol since it is very strong and can irritate healing piercings.  

*Use water based lubricants such as KY Jelly.  


HELPFUL HINTS AND TIPS


DON'T TOUCH!!!  ( i CAN NOT SAY THIS ENOUGH!)

* With all piercings CHECK YOUR JEWELRY FOR TIGHTNESS, SO YOU DON'T LOSE IT!


NAVEL


* Avoid tight cinching belts, big belt buckles and high waistbands.  

* Use good posture.  (meaning sit up atrait)  it will take some of the stress of your navel piercing.  If your jewelry is turning from slouching it could migrate!


EARS AND FACIAL PIERCINGS


*Shield piercings from hair spray and other hair products.  Avoid getting lotion, makeup or facial products and other foreign substances in piercings.  

*Make sure pillow cases are clean and changed frequently.  

*Clean your telephone and or cell phone with Lysol or other disinfectant.

*Wet and freeze a bag of q-tips to apply to hard to reach piercings if they are swollen and uncomfortable.  (this works really well for nostril piercings)


NIPPLE


*It is advisable to sleep in a clean cotton tank top, light tee shirt or sports bra, especially if you have any pets in or around your bed.  

*Your healing piercing should not come into contact with dirty hands or saliva.

LEAVE YOUR JEWELRY IN UNTIL IT HEALS!!!


HEALING BASICS


*Your body heals itself by growing new skin through the piercing creating a channel of tissue.  

*To help your body fight infection  and heal itself quicker get plenty of rest, try to reduce your stress level,  eat a nutritious diet and stay hydrated!!! If you are comfortable with a multivitamin/mineral supplement is suggested.  Several medical professionals have suggested taking a zinc supplement (60mg for women 120mg  for men)  unless your doctor advises otherwise discontinue use after four weeks.  3000mg of vitamin C daily in a mineral ascorbate form (not ascorbic acid).  Emergen-C is a excellent brand, one packet three times daily. These are just suggestions to aid your body in its healing process.  Please feel free to stop by Freebirds to talk to your piercer at any time.  However please understand that we are not physicians and can only offer suggestions based upon our experience.  If those suggestions do not produce a rapid improvement, a physician should be contacted as soon as possible.  If possible, leave your jewelry in when consulting your physician.  Removing your jewelry will not necessarily end any infections and may make matters worse by eliminating a passageway for the discharge of pus and matter to exit.  

*If your piercing was done properly and you actively attend to the aftercare, your risk of infection is minimal.  In our experience most problems are caused by 1) oral contact or handling your piercing with dirty hands.  2) using a cleaning agent that isn't compatible with your body.  3) over cleaning or not cleaning the piercing properly.  4) wearing jewelry to which you are allergic or is not appropriate in material, size or design.  use caution when changing jewelry make sure your fully healed.