PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE AFTER PIERCING

You like the way piercing looks on your body. It makes you look edgy, fun, and sexy. But do you know what is not sexy? Skin infections! You might have heard of people having skin infections right after they get a tattoo or a piercing. It is quite common to have a bit of itchiness right after getting pierced, but if you experience severe discomfort, it is time to take things into your hands and do something about it. Continue reading to learn valuable tips to help prevent skin infection after piercing.

Know The Risks: Before you book an appointment to get pierced, learning the risks associated with piercing is crucial. One often does not use an anesthetic or any numbing agent before inserting the jewelry on the body. Therefore, one who is getting pierced will experience tremendous pain, even if for a short period.

  • Some piercing (especially nickel jewelry) can cause an allergic reaction.
  • Piercing on the tongue can be extremely uncomfortable, especially in the initial days when you cannot eat food properly. One might even chip a tooth if one is not mindful of the newly pierced tongue. Tongue swelling is also not uncommon.
  • One may face skin infections such as redness, pus discharge from the skin, and bumpy skin after being pierced. One may imagine that such bumps will go away naturally. But differentiating piercing bumps v.s keloids is vital. While piercing bumps will go away on their own, keloids will not. One must seek medical help if the keloids, which look like scar tissues, start to spread on the skin surface.
  • If the needle used during piercing is infected, one can get blood-related diseases such as hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, etc. Therefore, maintaining safety measures should always be a priority. Ask the person piercing to wear a fresh pair of gloves and sanitize the equipment before he inserts the needle into your skin.
  • Unwanted and sudden cuts are common while piercing. One must stay calm while getting pierced. One may even have to get stitches for the cuts endured during piercing. Therefore, always visit a reputable piercing studio and find the best person in the establishment to do your piercing. Experts know how to pierce the skin with minimum cuts or pain.

Avoid Pools: After getting pierced, you should not jump into the pool until the piercing is completely healed. Avoid getting into hot tubs, rivers, and other water bodies for at least a week. Be sure to clean the pierced area with cold water and soap twice a day. The bumpy skin is prone to catching the virus, so wash your hands before touching the area for cleaning. If, however, the piercing is in your mouth or tongue, clean the piercing with an alcohol-free mouthwash.

Avoid Fiddling: You may find it cool to play with the new piece of jewelry in your body, but avoid doing so in the first few weeks. Most piercing wounds take around six weeks to heal. But at times, it may take up as long as six months to heal a piercing.