Getting a new piercing is an exciting experience. However, the aftercare process is crucial for ensuring your piercing heals properly. A common question many people have is whether they can just leave their new piercing alone and let it heal on its own. The short answer is no, you should not leave a new piercing completely alone.
Why you should not leave a new piercing alone
Leaving a new piercing without any aftercare often leads to complications such as:
- Infections – Without proper cleaning, bacteria can build up in the piercing channel and cause an infection.
- Scarring – Moving the jewelry around and irritation can cause scarring around the piercing hole.
- Rejection – The piercing may start to reject or migrate without aftercare to help the healing process.
- Slow healing – Healing will take longer if the piercing is not kept clean and free of crusties.
Even if you don’t touch the piercing, dead skin cells and bodily fluids can build up around the jewelry and impact healing. That’s why some level of aftercare is necessary.
Recommended aftercare for new piercings
The standard aftercare guidelines for a new piercing include:
- Cleaning – Gently clean around the piercing 1-2 times per day with a saline spray or non-fragranced soap to remove crusties and buildup.
- Rinsing – At the end of your shower, run water over the piercing to rinse away residue.
- Dry – Pat dry the piercing after cleaning and rinsing to prevent moisture buildup.
- Avoid touching – Try not to touch the piercing unless you are cleaning it.
- Leave jewelry in – Don’t remove the starter jewelry until the piercing is fully healed.
This basic aftercare routine only takes a few minutes each day but makes a big difference in how well your piercing recovers. It helps control bacteria levels while allowing the wound to heal.
How long should I follow the aftercare routine?
You’ll need to follow the cleaning routine for the entire healing period of your piercing. How long that takes depends on the type of piercing:
| Piercing Type | Healing Time |
|---|---|
| Ear lobes | 6-8 weeks |
| Cartilage | 3-12 months |
| Nose | 2-4 months |
| Lip/oral | 6-8 weeks |
| Navel | 6-12 months |
As a general rule, clean piercings twice a day until you see no more crusties, swelling, redness, or tenderness. That’s the sign it has fully healed. Also be sure to come back to your piercer so they can assess when you can change the jewelry.
What if I snag or bang my new piercing?
It’s common for new piercings to get accidentally knocked or snagged, which can disrupt the healing. If that happens:
- Clean the piercing to remove any blood or lymph fluid that may have oozed out.
- Avoid touching or moving the jewelry around.
- Apply a cold compress if swelling occurs.
- Take ibuprofen to reduce inflammation.
- Keeping cleaning it daily until the irritation goes away.
If there is excessive swelling, bleeding, oozing, or signs of infection, see your piercer or doctor right away. Otherwise, continue the aftercare routine and it should recover.
When can I stop the aftercare?
Once your piercing feels completely healed, you can gradually phase out the cleaning routine. Signs it’s fully healed include:
- No more crusties, discharge, or swelling.
- No pain, redness, or tenderness.
- Ability to freely move the jewelry without discomfort.
- The hole has sealed up, leaving only a small opening for the jewelry.
At this point, you can clean the piercing just 1-2 times per week to remove buildup. Be sure to have your piercer confirm it’s ready before stopping aftercare. Prematurely stopping cleaning can lead the piercing to close up.
Do some piercings require more aftercare?
Yes, certain piercings tend to be higher risk and require extra attention during aftercare:
- Oral piercings – The mouth has a lot of bacteria so oral piercings need frequent cleaning and antimicrobial mouthwash use after meals.
- Surface piercings – They are prone to migration so must be cleaned very consistently.
- Genital piercings – Require diligent cleaning after use of the bathroom to prevent infection.
- Navel piercings – Buildup in the folds can happen, so soap and water is key.
Talk to your piercer if you have a piercing prone to complications so they can advise on proper aftercare.
Can I overclean a new piercing?
It is possible to overclean a new piercing by doing things like:
- Cleaning too aggressively – This can cause irritation and granulomas.
- Using harsh products – Avoid ointments, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, etc.
- Moving the jewelry excessively – Only rotate jewelry during cleaning.
- Cleaning too often – Stick to twice daily as advised.
As long as you follow your piercer’s instructions, clean gently with saline or mild soap, and avoid over-handling the piercing, you should be able to avoid overcleaning problems.
Can I swim with a new piercing?
Swimming should be avoided until after a piercing has fully healed, which can take months to a year. Reasons to avoid swimming with a new piercing include:
- The piercing hole is an open wound vulnerable to pool/ocean bacteria.
- Chlorine and salt can be irritating and drying.
- Jewelry can be pulled on by the water.
- Harder to clean pool/ocean water from the piercing after.
If you end up submerging an unhealed piercing in water, clean it thoroughly with saline immediately after getting out. Once healed, be sure to clean the piercing after swimming.
Does cleaning vary by piercing location?
The basic cleaning steps are the same for any piercing, but the technique may vary slightly by location:
| Piercing | Cleaning Tips |
|---|---|
| Ear cartilage | – Soak piercing for 5 minutes with saline |
| Ear lobes | – Gently wipe crusties away with cotton swab |
| Nostril | – Spray saline up into the nose and let drip out |
| Oral | – Use non-alcohol mouthwash after eating |
| Navel | – Carefully clean around top and bottom balls |
| Genital | – Use unscented soap and rinse well with water |
Always be gentle when cleaning piercings to avoid injury or irritation. Let your piercer know if you have issues.
Can I change my jewelry during healing?
It’s best to avoid changing new piercing jewelry until fully healed:
- The starter jewelry is sized specifically for swelling.
- Changing it can disrupt the healing fistula.
- New jewelry may introduce bacteria.
- It can cause irritation or damage if done too early.
Have your piercer assess readiness before attempting first jewelry change. This is typically several weeks/months after getting pierced.
What should I look out for during healing?
Some signs of normal healing include:
- Mild redness and swelling around the piercing for the first 3-4 days.
- Light drainage – Some clear fluid or diluted blood initially.
- Crusties – Small scabs of dried lymph fluid around jewelry.
- Tenderness/soreness at first.
Contact your piercer if you experience:
- Severe swelling, oozing, or bleeding.
- Green/yellow pus discharge – Sign of infection.
- Redness past the first few days.
- Hot to the touch.
- Thick discolored discharge.
- Intense or worsening pain.
This may indicate complications needing medical treatment.
What if my piercing seems infected?
Signs of an infected piercing include:
- Yellow/green pus discharge
- Foul odor
- Feeling hot to the touch
- Red skin surrounding area
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Fever or chills
If you suspect an infection, contact your piercer immediately. Do not remove the jewelry yet or it may seal the infection inside. Your piercer can assess if you need oral antibiotics. Keep cleaning it 2-3 times daily until it improves.
Does piercing aftercare vary by material?
Jewelry material doesn’t change the basic aftercare process. However, certain materials have a higher risk of issues:
- Plated metals – Plating can wear off and expose base metals.
- Porous materials – Natural materials like wood or bone are prone to bacteria.
- Low quality metals – Nickel and cheap alloys can cause sensitivity.
Opt for implant-grade metals or materials like titanium until healed. Your piercer can recommend good jewelry materials for new piercings.
Do I need to rotate my new piercing during cleaning?
Gently rotating or moving new piercings during daily cleanings can help:
- Prevent the piercing from sticking to drying lymph or crusties.
- Evenly distribute soap and saline around the piercing hole.
- Stimulate blood flow to aid healing.
- Prevent the hole from sealing too early if jewelry stays in place.
Avoid over-handling the jewelry. Be very gentle when rotating and stop if it causes pain. Move it just enough to loosen debris during cleanings.
Conclusion
While it may seem tempting to just “leave it alone and let it heal,” new piercings require some degree of basic aftercare and cleaning for proper healing. This helps prevent complications like infections, scarring, and rejection. Be sure to clean your new piercing 1-2 times daily using saline or mild soap until fully healed. Avoid touching it unnecessarily, changing jewelry too soon, or submerging it in dirty water. Pay attention for signs of infection needing medical treatment. With a simple yet consistent piercing aftercare routine, you can help your new piercing heal smoothly.