General Cleaning

WASH your hands prior to cleaning or touching your piercing for any reason

SALINE rinse as needed during healing (refer to 4 Cleansing Solutions).

RINSE thoroughly to remove any residue.

DRY by gently patting with a clean, disposable paper towel. Cloth can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry, causing injury.

Cleaning Solutions

Packaged sterile saline is a gentle choice for piercing aftercare. We offer a Steri Wash solution at the shop for a gentle and safe healing experience.

Mixing your own sea salt solution is no longer a suggested practice from the APP. This commonly results in the product being far too salty and strong, and can result in over drying the piercing and interfere with healing.

Use a sterile saline solution labeled for wound wash. Contact lens saline, eye drops, and other saline products should never be used on a body piercing. Your saline solution should list 0.09% sodium chloride as the only ingredient.

What's Normal?

INITIALLY

Some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness, or bruising.

DURING HEALING

Some discoloration, itching, secretion of whitish-yellow fluid (not pus) that will

form some crust on the jewelry. The tissue may tighten around the jewelry as it heals.

ONCE HEALED

The jewelry may not move freely in the piercing; do not force it. If you fail to include cleaning your piercing as part of your daily hygiene routine, normal but smelly bodily secretion may accumulate.

A piercing may seem healed before the healing process is complete. This is because tissue heals from the outside in, and although it feels fine, the interior remains fragile. Be patient and keep cleaning throughout the entire healing process.

Even healed piercings can shrink or close in minutes after being in for years! This varies from person to person; if you like your piercing, keep jewelry in - do not leave it empty.

What to do:

Wash your hands prior to touching the piercing; leave it alone except for when cleaning. During the healing it is not necessary to rotate your jewelry. Exercise during healing is fine; listen to your body.

Make sure your bedding is washed and changed regularly. Wear clean, comfortable, breathable clothing that protects your piercing while you are sleeping.

Showers tend to be safer than taking baths, as bathtubs can harbor bacteria. If you bathe in a tub, clean it well before each use and rinse off your piercing when you get out.

What to Avoid:

Avoid cleaning with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial soaps, iodine, or any harsh products, as these damage cells. Also avoid ointments as they prevent necessary air circulation.

Avoid Bactine, pierced ear care solutions, and other products containing Benzalkonium Chloride. These can be irritating and are not intended for long-term wound care.

Avoid overcleaning. This can delay your healing and irritate your piercing. Avoid undue trauma, such as excessive movement, playing with the jewelry, and vigorous cleaning. These can cause the formation of unsightly and uncomfortable scar tissue, migration, prolonged healing, and other complications.

Hints & Tips:
Jewelry

Unless there is a problem with the size, style, or material of the initial jewelry, leave it in place for the entire healing period. If it is necessary to replace the jewelry, contact Mohave Aesthetics and get it changed by one of our qualified piercers.

Contact Mohave Aesthetics if you need a non-metal jewelry alternative if your metal jewelry must be temporarily removed (such as for a medical procedure).

Leave jewelry in at all times. Even healed piercings that you have had for years can shrink or close in minutes! If removed, reinsertion can be difficult or impossible.

With clean hands or paper products, be sure to regularly check the threaded and threadless ends on your jewelry for tightness.

Should you decide you no longer want the piercing, simply remove the jewelry (or come into Mohave Aesthetics to have it removed by one of our piercers) and continue cleaning the piercing until the hole closes. In most cases only a small mark should remain.

In the event an infection is suspected, quality jewelry or an insert alternative may be left in place to allow for the drainage of the infection if approved by your physician. On rare occasions, when the jewelry is removed, the surface cells close up, which can seal the infection inside the piercing channel and result in an abscess. Until the infection is cleaned up, discuss with your physician if you should leave in quality jewelry or an appropriate substitute.

For Particular Areas:

Ear, Cartilage, Face

Use the t-shirt trick: Dress your pillow in a large, clean t-shirt and turn it nightly; one clean t-shirt can provide four clean surfaces for sleeping.

Maintain cleanliness of telephones, headphones, eyeglasses, helmets, hats, and anything that contacts the piercing area.

Use cation when styling your hair and advise your stylist of a new or healing piercing.

Alternative Aftercare:

Aftercare needs differ from one region and climate to another and not all products are widely available, discuss your specific needs with your body piercer.

If you choose to use soap on a healing piercing, consider using a gentle soap-free from harsh chemicals, dyes, and perfumes. The use of anti-bacterial soap is not recommended as it may over dry and irritate your piercing. If your piercer suggests using a soap, fully rinse away product after use.

If sterile saline is not available in your area, a sea salt mixture can be a viable alternative. Dissolve 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon (0.75 to I.42 grams) of non- iodized (iodine free), fine grain sea salt into one cup of warm distilled or bottle water. A stronger mixture is not better, sea salt that is too strong can irritate the piercing.

For any other questions and concerns regarding your piercing, contact Mohave Creative at (424) 525-3003.