HOW YOUR PIERCING HEALS IS UP TO YOU!!

Congratulations. You've just received a body piercing by a trained professional who cleaned and disinfected the area pierced and used sterile needles, piercing instruments, and jewelry. Now it is up to you to take appropriate care of your piercing during the critical healing period.

WARNING: CHEMICALS WILL NOT HELP YOUR BODY TO HEAL FASTER!

Rubbing Alcohol, Hydrogen Peroxide, Bactine®, Ear Care Solutions (or any other benzalkonium chloride solutions), or Antibacterial soaps (such as Dial® or Softsoap®). Stay away from any and all active ingredients in daily-use products. Use Betadine® (providone iodine), Hibiclens®, Neosporin® (or other petroleum-based lubricants) ONLY as specified elsewhere in this after care sheet.

PRODUCTS YOU CAN USE

The trick is to use products that will not irritate your piercing and will facilitate fast healing. You need two items: FIRST, pick up some sort of very mild, preferably pH balanced, cleanser. The very best soap you can find is CASTILLE SOAP. Generic castille soap is available in the "medicated" soap aisle of your drug store. Some people also have much luck with high-quality glycerin-based soaps from a health food or drug store. SECOND , you will need some saline solution to rinse with. Saline is the key to quick healing - it balances piercings so you heal faster! The easiest and most accurate way to acquire saline is in the form of SALINE SOLUTION FOR CONTACT LENSES. Buy the least expensive, most generic one. Also pick up some Q-TIPS, espeically when you have a piercing (such as a nostril) - where getting to the inside may be difficult.

HOW TO CLEAN YOR PIERCING

ALWAYS CLEANSE YOUR HANDS (PREFERABLY WITH AN ANTIBACTERIAL SOAP) BEFORE TOUCHING YOUR BODY PIERCING.

1. Thoroughly clean your piercing once a day EVERY DAY. It is a good idea to do it at the end of your shower. That way the piercing has been soaking a while and is easier to clean. Before moving the jewelry, clean all the external parts as best as you can. Once the outside is cleaned completely, clean the inside of the piercing by moving the jewelry back and forth several times WITH SOAP in order to work soap inside the hole. Now, RINSE WELL WITH LOTS OF FRESH WATER!! You must remove ALL that soap or it WILL irritate the piercing. After your shower, rinse the piercing with saline on a Q-tip to return some of your natural balance - and heal fast!

2. If your piercing gets dirty during the day (i.e., you work out, go swimming, or just get it dirty), then you should clean it again using soap and water and a saline rinse as described in step one, or by using a cup of water and a drop or two of soap - ALWAYS RINSE WELL AND USE SALINE!

3. If your piercing doesn't get dirty, but it is crusty from healing, a good thorough rinsing with saline using some Q-tips will be more than enough. Give it attention at least a couple of times a day while it is first healing and more or less later as it requires - it will let you know - but never less than the one big cleaning (step one) EVERY DAY.

For the initial adjustment period (the first 3 to 5 days) you may use a small dab of lubricant (i.e., Neosporin® or Vitamin E oil) to ease the initial discomfort due to dryness. DISCONTINUE USE OF LUBRICANT AFTER 5 DAYS. After that time, piercings will heal fastest when clean and dry. Taking a 50mg Zinc supplement may also help speed healing.