General healing time for most piercings take 4 weeks. Cartilage piercings can take upwards of six months to heal, however. Tongue piercings are the quickest healing piercing at a minimum of two weeks.
We recommend a SALINE SOLUTION as the aftercare product for your piercing. It is always preferable to purchase a packaged saline solution, with NO ADDITIVES.
Do NOT go buy saline solutions from the store for contacts, this is not the same type of product that is safe for piercings.
The following is a DIY recipe to make your own Piercing Saline Solution(formula put forth by the American Association of Professional Piercers):
Dissolve 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon (. 75 to 1.42 grams) of non-iodized (iodine-free) sea salt into one cup (8 oz / 250 ml) of warm distilled or bottled water. A stronger mixture is not better; a saline solution that is too strong can irritate the piercing.
Do NOT use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Claire's for your Ears or anything other than the saline solution.
Avoid Bactine®, pierced ear care solutions and other products containing Benzalkonium Chloride (BZK). These can be irritating and are not intended for long term wound care.
Some piercers recommend using soap. I do not recommend using soap on your piercings. Soap tends to dry out piercings. If you do choose to use soap make sure it is fragrance, dye & triclosan free, as these elements will infect your piercing.
-Always wash your hands before beginning your aftercare procedures.
-Spray your solution on your piercing location 2-3 times a day. Spray enough to get any crusty materials damp enough to easily wipe them away with a q-tip or cottonball. Make sure not to "rub" at your piercing location, wiping away crusties gently is NOT the same as rubbing the piercing location.
-When you take a shower or bath, make sure NOT to get your fragranced body washes or shampoos/soaps in your piercing. Your piercing is an open wound, please treat it as such.
-There is no need to turn or twist your jewelry.
Longer bars are used to accommodate swelling that will occur for up to a week after the piercing.
TONGUE PIERCINGS- You can use a sterile saline solution or UNFLAVORED Orange Mouthwash for your aftercare. After every drink, meal, smoke, etc. swish and spit with either saline solution or unflavored mouthwash.
Any issues at all, such as: keloiding, scarring, rejection, jewelry changes, questions, etc. CONTACT US!