||HOME||
AFTERCARE INFO
THIS CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Body Piercing is probably the oldest form of human adornment still in common use. Since early man first put a bone through his nose it has been with us in one form or another. Though we have been piercing for centuries, it is still an inexact craft that has no completely predictable results. Piercings often react differently from person to person, and even from one part of the body to another. Unfortunately, in a very small number of cases, piercings have not worked at all, no matter what steps have been taken. This is usually due to some form of irritation, including allergic reactions.
The after care advice that we offer in this section is based on many years of personal and professional experience, but it is not definitive, and more suitable alternatives may be available. If in doubt, get medical advice. Patient care and perseverance are essential if you are to achieve good results.
'Please do not expect too much too soon'
Even though our clinic's professional piercers take proper safety and health precautions, and use the best techniques, jewellery and materials available, they obviously have no control over the way that people look after their piercings, nor over the way a client's metabolic system may react afterwards.
We will do our best to help anyone with a piercing problem, no matter what the cause - but we are unable to guarantee any results.
PLEASE NOTE
All piercings that are performed by us at the London Piercing Clinic are carried out on the understanding that they are done at the clients request, and on the condition that our piercers will not be held responsible for anything that may arise from any work done in good faith.
Please remember the main cause of infection is:
'touching the piercing with unwashed fingers'
*****
The following information has been compiled over a period of 20 years, and though it is not the only way to look after a piercing well, we have found it to be a simple and low problem route to go.
The Golden Rule of after care is NOT to touch an unhealed piercings with unwashed fingers - Doing so is almost guaranteed to cause infection!
It is important to avoid irritation in a piercing through irritation a piercing may refuse to heal, and it will probably reject from the skin causing scarring .
The main causes of irritation are:
a) something rubbing up against the piercing
b) playing with/abuse of an unhealed piercing
c) using a chemical or astringent that is too strong
d) using jewellery that causes an allergic reaction
General External Aftercare
REMEMBER DO NOT TOUCH ANY PIERCING WITH UNWASHED FINGERS - EVER!
Handle a piercing as little as possible until it is fully healed
DO NOT PICK AT - OR PLAY WITH - A PIERCING AS IT HEALS
Two to three times a day clean the piercing using a piece of paper towel soaked in mild saline solution*. First apply the wet paper towel to the piercing for +- 2 minutes to soften any plasma that may have dried on the skin. Then using a second clean saline soaked sheet of paper towel gently wipe the piercing clean. If the jewellery moves freely attempt to get a little mild saline solution* into the wound to help clean it out. Do not force the jewellery if it is not moving freely.
Do NOT apply any form of cream or salve to the piercing - these are intended for external use only and can cause irritation if they get in under the skin!
Do NOT use cotton wool or cotton wool buds to clean a piercing. There is a frequent problem with shards of cotton getting into piercings and causing irritation.
Oral Piercing Additional Aftercare
The oral piercing must be rinsed with a mild saline solution* after each meal, and if you smoke, after each cigarette. Simply take a third of a mouthful of the saline and sloosh it around your mouth for a full minute then spit it out.
If the piercing is both inside and outside your mouth (labret, Madonna, cheek, etc.) the outside of the piercing must also be cleaned following the same procedure that is used for other facial piercings.
With all oral piercings there is always a possibility of plaque building up on the jewellery. The jewellery should be lightly brushed at the same time as you brush your teeth. If the plaque build up becomes a problem then you must go back to your piercer to have the jewellery changed and/or cleaned.
Avoid harsh mouth washes - if anything you consume causes discomfort to the piercing, please avoid them, as this is an irritant that could cause problems with the smooth healing of the wound.
Do not indulge in any activity that may cause the transfer of bodily fluids with another person (kissing, oral-sex, etc.) for at least 3 weeks.
Genital Piercing Additional Aftercare
With genital piercings there is more of a need to keep things clean. Glans piercings, such as the PA, amapallang, apadravya, transurethral, dadoe, etc the easiest way to treat it is to soak the piercings in a clean jug of mild saline solution* after either bathing or showering. The piercings should be soaked in a saline solution at least twice a day. Be as gentle as possible and do not indulge in unprotected sex for at least two to three weeks, and again use a mild saline solution* soak after washing. Female genital piercings should be cleaned as any other surface piercing, but please us large quantities of the mild saline solution* to ensure that any trace of body fluids is removed from the piercing and surrounding skin.
*MILD SALINE SOLUTION (Dissolve a maximum of 1/4 teaspoon of rock or sea salt to 1 pint of boiled water - any more salt, and it may well cause irritation to the piercing). Sterile contact lens solution is also acceptable.
|