If you’ve ever gotten a piercing, you’re well aware that it’s important to keep your new jewel clean. But how exactly are you supposed to take care of it?
Below, we’re sharing everything you need to know on cleansing your piercings.
How often should you clean it?
Just like you take time to wash your face and body every day, the same should be true for your new piercings. “We recommend that piercings are cleaned twice a day with sterile saline,” says Astrid & Miyu lead piercer Sam Hayler.
Is there a right way to clean it?
Washing new piercings can be tricky, as you don’t want to touch them in the process (doing so can actually cause irritation bumps). Instead, keep your hands off and spritz it with a solution like H2Ocean Piercing Aftercare Spray or submerge it in a warm, salty solution. You can do this by filling a small glass and cupping it over your ear.
Additionally, Hayler says that you can take care of piercings like you would any other part of your body. “Rinsing in the shower with warm water is fine,” she notes. “Try to avoid soaps as these can change the delicate pH of your skin and cause micro-abrasions.”
What should I do if I find a bump?
Most people automatically assume that a bump on the back, or sometimes the front, of a piercing is a keloid. “Keloids are actually very rare and are commonly misdiagnosed irritation bumps,” Hayler says. “Keloids can grow very large and appear quite pink as they have their own blood supply. These can only be treated by a dermatologist. Irritation bumps, on the other hand, are caused by sleeping on it, knocking it with hairbrushes, or the jewelry being too long.”
That said, one of the easiest ways to help soothe irritation bumps is to downsize your jewelry and alternate between hot and cold compresses – but don’t take matters directly into your own hands. “On these occasions, it’s best to go back to your original piercer for them to downsize the jewelry and assess,” Hayler says.
xx, The FabFitFun Team
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