Care for Your Body Piercing

Body Piercing Aftercare Tips

Your new piercing(s) should be cleaned twice daily. Antibacterial soaps work particularly well in helping keep your piercing clean and accelerate the healing process. We recommend Dial, Lever 2000, and any other liquid antibacterial soaps.

First wash your hands with the antibacterial soap, then lather up the piercing and the surrounding area. Remove any scabbing or discharge ONLY when cleaning your piercing. Soap up the skin so that the lather is pulled through the piercing while rinsing. Barbell piercings should only be pushed back and forth, never spun. DO NOT use rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial ointments, lotions, creams, or Neosporin. If you have any questions, contact Jersey Devil Tattooing & Body Piercing at 856-228-0049.

Special Care for Lip and Tongue Piercings

Sucking on ice and taking Ibuprofen (such as Advil) will help keep the swelling to a minimum. Always use Listerine after eating, drinking, or smoking anything. Clean the lip piercing twice daily for two weeks in addition to after smoking, eating, or drinking. For the first two weeks, reduce your intake of hot beverages, spicy foods, and smoking. Avoid kissing or oral sex for about 4 weeks. Remember, you have an open wound in your mouth!

Gargling with warm salt water can help soothe your mouth and speed healing. It can also help minimize the with discharge that normally accumulates around the hole. Smokers should gargle several times a day.

Healing Times

Ear lobes, eyebrows, and septum: 4 to 6 months
Cartilage: 6 months to 1 year
Nostrils: 6 to 8 months
Tongue: 2 months
Lip/labret: 4 to 6 months
Male or female nipples: 4 to 6 months
Navels: 6 months to 1 year
Surface piercings: 6 months to 1 year

Helpful Hints

There are several little things you can do to ensure your new piercing heals properly, the most important of which is to keep yourself healthy. Make sure you keep your hands off your new piercing as much as possible and keep contaminants like makeup and hair products away. Wear clean clothing that does not constrict the piercing. Avoid oral contact and other people's bodily fluids.

Keep your pets away from fresh piercings and be careful about where you swim. Check your jewelry periodically. Use common sense and in the event of serious infection or other problems, consult your physician immediately.

Call 856-228-0049

for a FREE consultation.