Body Piercing: Cleaning and Healing

Contents: Body Piercing General Care Related Services at Tang Center Related Topics

Body piercing -- general care for the ear, belly, nipple & nose:

• Always wash hands thoroughly before contact with piercing.
• Do not use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. (Both slow the healing of pierced area by drying and killing new healthy cells.)
• Do not use bacitracin or other ointments. (Ointments attempt to heal the skin & may slow oxygen transport to the tissue).
• Use salt soaks for best care/cleaning of ring or stud and loosening dry material on the skin (¼ teaspoon of sea salt or teaspoon of table salt dissolved in 8oz of warm water).
• To clean the surrounding skin, use mild antiseptic products such as benzalkonium chloride, (Bactine, any liquid antibacterial soap - avoid perfumed products). Dilute 50/50 with water, if soap is too harsh.
• Twice a day saturate a cotton swab or Q-Tip with the cleaning solution, apply to the pierced area, let soak for a few minutes.
• Remove any dried matter.
• Rotate the jewelry while the area is wet.

Ear piercing of the pinna (above the lobe):

• Because of decreased vascularization in the upper pinna of the ear, it will take longer than the ear lobe to heal, generally between 12-16 weeks.
• It is important to not irritate the ear, it is recommended that you sleep on the non-pieced side (or sleep on your back if both ears are pierced). Use the un-pierced ear when talking on the telephone (or ear phones if both are pierced).
  

Pierced belly buttons or nipples:

• Pierced belly buttons heal in 6-12 months, pierced nipples heal in 6-8 weeks.
• Options for cleaning area with salt water soaks: Make a suction seal between cup and belly button by leaning over cup, then lie down on a towel, lie on your back, cup should be sealed to abdomen. Soak the area for at least 10 minutes. Rinse with plain water. Dry the area thoroughly after soaks.
• OR, Clean the area with salt water soaked cotton swabs or Q-tips. Soak the area for at least 10 minutes. Rinse with plain water. Dry the area thoroughly after soaks.
• Wear loose fitting clothing (Clear, pink, or slightly bloody discharge is normal for several days after piercing).
  

Nose piercing:

• Do not remove the stud for 8 weeks. Healing may take 12-24 weeks, depending on location of piercing.
• Avoid touching the stud unnecessarily.
• Nose piercings can close within hours, so never leave the piercing without jewelry.
• The special nose stud is designed to be worn with the stem pointing up the nose. This is not normally uncomfortable. If it causes irritation, move the stud slightly until a comfortable position is found.
  

Tongue, cheek and lip piercings:

• Healing time 6-8 weeks.
• No oral contact of any kind for 6 weeks (no wet kissing or oral sex).
• Suck on ice or popsicles the first 24-48 hours to minimize swelling and pain.
• Reduce intake of warm beverages, hot or spicy foods, tobacco, alcohol and anything irritating to your mouth.
• Rinse with mouthwash for 30-60 seconds after consumption of anything other than water. If Listerine is too harsh it may be diluted, or use teaspoon sea salt to an 8oz glass of water.
• Use Gly-Oxide/Peroxyl twice daily following the instructions on the bottle: 5 drops on top, 5 drops underneath; let foam and spit. (This is very important.) Afterwards you may rinse with water or salt water.

Tongue:

• The size of the stud is important in the healing process. It is best to use a post ¼ inch longer than the thickness of your tongue. When the swelling has improved, the post can be downsized to a slightly shorter but still roomy length. After 6-8 weeks you can wear a stud the length of the piercing.

Cheek and lip:

• The outer opening of the piercing is best treated using liquid antibacterial soap or Bactine. If the liquid soap is too harsh it may be diluted 50/50 with water (avoid perfumed products). Apply liberally with a cotton swab or Q-tip. Rotate the jewelry only after the area is moist and dry material has been loosened or removed.
• Clean 2-3 times daily.
• Continue the above care regimen for 6-8 weeks.
  

Genital piercing:

• Avoid sexual contact until piercing is fully healed, from 6-10 weeks.
• To clean use warm water with a cleansing agent of antibacterial soap. (ie, Phisoderm, Bactine, or liquid antibacterial soaps such as Dial, Lever 2000, or Softsoap) and avoid perfumed products. Dilute 50/50 with water if irritation occurs.
• Leave the cleanser on the skin for 3 minutes; lather and work the ring back and forth through the piercing half a dozen times.
• Remove any dried matter from the surface of the ring and around the opening of the piercing before turning the ring or stud.
• Rinse under running water or use a peri-cleanse bottle (available over the counter in most drug stores); it has a squirt top which is ideal for rinsing the area.
• Urine may irritate the area but usually does not cause infection.
• Keep the new piercing clean.
• Never touch it with dirty hands.
• During sexual contact, use barriers (condoms, dams, etc.) to keep saliva and other body fluids out of your piercing (avoid sex for 6 to 10 weeks after piercing).
  

Related Services at the Tang Center

For Students:

• Advice Nurse: (510) 643-7197
  
• Appointments: (510) 642-2000
  
• Self Care Resource Center: (510) 642-7202

For Faculty and Staff:

• Please refer questions to your health plan or primary care provider.

Related Topics

• Wound Care
  

Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to diagnose, treat or provide a second opinion on any health problem or disease. It is meant to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between an individual and his/her clinician.

Last reviewed: August 2005

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