The following aftercare is  suggested to heal your new  piercing A new piercing may do the following: Be tender, swollen, itchy, and or slightly red for a few days(or weeks if a navel). Bleed a little for a few days. Secrete a whitish-yellow fluid, which crusts on the body hardware. This is not pus. Tighten around the body hardware as it heals.

How to clean a new piercing

Once or twice daily it is beneficial to soak your piercing with a warm saline solution. Use non iodised sea salt. 1/4 tea spoon added to 250mls warm water. The solution should be a similar salinity to your blood. Do not use too much salt. Salt soaks speed up healing and salt compressing will relieve any tenderness.

 

Piercings After Care

Palmolive or Health Basic's Antibacterial liquid soap is very good and readily available. Active Ingredient: Triclosan 0.2%

Emu Oil will sooth and assist in faster healing.

• Wash hands thoroughly with the antibacterial soap supplied before touching your piercing.
• Twice daily clean your piercing. No more no less. Preferably clean your piercing in the shower.
• Soften and remove any dried matter on the body of the hardware without moving it through the piercing. Lather a small blob of antibacterial soap in your hands and apply to the area. do not rotate the jewellery unless it has become contaminated. Leave in place for up to 60 seconds, then rinse away all traces of soap. Gently dry and leave it alone. Allow air to circulate around the piercing.
• Warm salt water soaks and compresses are very good to assist healing and relieve any tenderness. However it is not a substitute for cleaning.
• Continue the twice daily cleaning until the piercing is fully healed. Refer to your release form for estimated healing times.
• Apply a drop of Emu oil daily and gently massage into the exit points of the piercing. This will sooth the piecring and assist is faster healing.

Genital Piercings

• After cleaning with antibacterial soap you should urinate to ensure all traces of soap are removed, in case soap has got into your urethra.
• Sexual Intercourse and oral sex are fine during the healing period, so long as a condom or dental dam are used as a protective barrier protecting against infection from on person to another. Don't be too enthusiastic during the initial healing period as damage to the piercing could occur.

Oral/Mouth Piercings

Mouth piercings heal faster than anywhere else does. However, some things should be taken into consideration.

• Avoid putting anything into your mouth that my have bacteria on it, e.g.: fingers, other peoples tongues, shared cigarettes & drink containers.
• Wash hands with antibacterial soap before putting your fingers in your mouth.
• Your Lip / Tongue piercing requires regular cleaning using either warm salty water (1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt to 250mls warm water) or antiseptic mouthwash such as Biotene or Oral B (both a non alcohol based) or Listerine which needs to be diluted 50-75% with clean water and swished around for 30 seconds after consumption of any food, drink, or smoking. With the exception of clean water. Continue this procedure until healing is complete. Refer to your release form for estimated healing times.
• Refer to Facial Piercings section for cleaning outside of a Lip Piercing.
• Oral sex is fine if a condom or dental dam is used as a barrier on your partner's genitals ( ideally wait a week or two). No wet kissing should happen during the healing period. Ice blocks, ice cubes and ice water will greatly help reduce swelling during the first week.Anica or Neurofen anti-inflammatory capsules are also beneficial during the first week.

Warm Salt Soaks/Compresses

• Boil clean water and add a *1/4 teaspoon of sea salt (not table salt which contains iodine) to 250mls of the boiled water in a clean container.
• Allow to cool and either invert the container over the piercing for 10-15 minutes or saturate a clean tissue and hold over the piercing, applying a little pressure for 10-15 minutes. Pat dry.
  *No more than 1/4 teaspoon of salt, solution should be no saltier than your own tears.

Supplements

To speed up healing Vitamin C, Multi vitamins, and Zinc have proved very beneficial. Zinc helps skin cells regenerate quicker, (woman 60mg daily for 2 weeks, men 120mg daily for 2 weeks). Zinc can be obtained from a chemist or health food store, or taken naturally in the form of toasted pumpkin seeds and toasted sesame seeds.

Changing Body Hardware

• During the initial healing period the body hardware fitted should remain in the piercing.
• Your piercing is healed after the period stated on your release form, but may take a year or so to toughen up. Tongues have a long barbell installed initially to allow for swelling. After 4-6 weeks you can down-size if so desired. If you were pierced at Flesh Wound we will insert your new body hardware for free. You must purchase new body hardware however.
• If you remove the body hardware before healing is complete you may have difficulty reinstalling it, and the hole may shrink quickly. Also you risk contaminating the piercing if bacteria gets on the body hardware, and or your hands are not clean before you reinsert it.
• If you need to remove the body hardware for a short period of time, we can insert a nylon retainer to stop the piercing shrinking: this is almost invisible and wont show up on a X-ray or be visible to Granny or Employers.

Infections

Generally the following situations are the cause of infection:

• Touching the piercing with dirty Hands (unwashed hands) or some one else touching it.
• Oral contact with the piercing (this includes your own saliva, with the exception of oral piercings)
• Allowing yours and others body fluids to come into contact with your piercing (your urine is sterile to your own body in the case of genital piercings).
• Contact with dirty hair, cosmetics, oils, infrequently washed clothing and bedding. Swimming Pools ( Chlorine), Sea Water (Sewage), Hot Tubs(Bacteria). Your own Bathtub is fine if you clean it first.

Signs of an Infection

Redness and swelling. Sensation of heat at the piercing site. Pain, especially throbbing or spreading pain. Unusual discharge. It may be yellowish, greenish, or grey.

I think I have an Infection, what should I do?

• While it is never inappropriate to see a piercing friendly Doctor a visit to Flesh Wound could save you a visit to the doctor.
• We will discuss with you what may have contributed to the infection and suggest methods of treating it, at no charge.
• Do not remove the body hardware as the holes will close up and stop the infectious matter draining.
• Anti Biotics are effective if the right one is selected. Your Doctor will advise you on this.
• Over the counter anti biotic ointments can help but should not be used for more that 7 days and only the smallest amount applied. Too much and air cannot get to the piercing
• Antiseptic ointments usually do more harm than good.

Common problems you can avoid

• Over cleaning, vigorous cleaning or a cleaner that is too harsh, e.g. Hydrogen Peroxide, Methylated Spirits, Isopropyl Alcohol, Undiluted Tea Tree Oil, Hibicleans and Betadine. These products can burn the piercing and generally damage new skin cells. This can cause prolonged healing, Rejection and or Infection.
• Friction caused by tight clothing or heavy clothing, rough sexual activity, or excessive movement can cause dark redness, keloids (excessive scar tissue), discharge, and migration/rejection of the body hardware. Avoid rubbing your new Tongue Piercing over your bottom teeth during the first 4 weeks, as a hard keloid may form on the underside of the piercing.
• Stress, poor diet, or illness and over indulgence of illicit drugs can cause prolonged healing times or migration of the body hardware.
• Reactions to Surgical Steel, Titanium, Niobium, 14k Gold or Higher are extremely rare. Often a reaction to the cleanser or other problem is mistaken for a metal allergy. The area may feel hot and sore, like a minor infection, or the body may pull away from the body hardware (the piercing gets larger). Firstly change your cleanser. If the reaction hasn't improved with in a week then a change of body hardware may be required. Stick to one cleanser only, don't mix cleansers. Keep it simple and Keep it clean.

Brand & Scarification wound care

• Branding and Skin Cutting require extra care during the healing process. The following aftercare routine is suggested by Flesh Wound.
• Keep your fresh Brand/Cutting clean, dry, and covered with a clean paper towel for the first 2-3 weeks.
• Twice daily give it a very light wash with clean water and a small amount of Antibacterial Soap. Avoid getting the scab too wet, as it may crack and allow bacteria to get into the wound.
• Apply a SMALL amount of Balsamicum Ointment (a Weleda Product) 2-3 times a day for 2-3 weeks. Apply a fresh dressing after each application.
• After 2-3 weeks the scab will start to lift away from the healing wound. Do Not Pick It.
• Picking at the scab can cause excess and uneven scarring, and risk infection.
• If you find the scab is coming away but it is still sticking in some places, use a clean sharp pair of scissors to cut the lifted scab off.
• Your Brand/Cutting will go through a few changes during the healing process. It will widen and either raise or stay flat or sink into the skin. If you find it is itchy while healing, slap it lightly but do not scratch it, as this can cause infection.

Don't hesitate to CONTACT FLESH WOUND
if you have any healing or after care problems.

DO NOT LEAVE IT TOO LONG!