Your body may not think that it’s normal to have a piece of metal lodged in it, even though it was done under aseptic conditions, and with a sterile needle. Your body should immediately start some blood clotting at the site of the wound, and use other mechanisms to help it heal. A mild degree of redness, maybe a tiny bit of swelling, and heat at the piercing are all normal. A normal piercing could be tender for a few days. Not “all day every day,”---- the discomfort is often noticed periodically. Ibuprofen is the drug of choice. (ADVIL, or generic) It will relieve the discomfort, decrease swelling, and cool the heat. Aspirin or Tylenol are not recommended. ICE WILL HELP A LOT AND SHOULD BE PUT ON THE PIERCING AS SOON AS PRACTICAL--- like, when you get home. You can put ice on it as often as you want. Wounds that are healing can become a little itchy . Don’t scratch at it.

It is possible to accidentally dislodge the jewelry when washing or drying your face, coming your hair, or when sleeping. If this happens, you need to find the jewelry immediately and clean it off with alcohol or soap and water, and gently, but assertively re-insert it.

Wash your hands and fingertips before cleaning your piercing. Use the Benzalkonium Chloride piercing solution on the tip of a Q-tip to clean the piercing and the jewelry at least twice daily. Clean the piercing and the jewelry as best you can, removing any crusties or debris that may accumulate on the jewelry.

When cleaning, move the jewelry around a little and rotate it so the skin won’t try to attach itself to it. Don’t get any make-up in or on the piercing, especially the sparkly kind. Your piercing may ooze sticky fluid for a few days.

If you go swimming in clean water, like a pool, you should clean your piercing afterwards. Salt water, like the ocean, is good for a piercing. Jacuzzis are probably not a good idea for the first couple days. Showers are great. Baths…….probably not a good idea at first either. The idea is to keep germs out of it. Creek water, swamp water,……not good.

Once your piercing is no longer sore to touch, is not draining, and the jewelry can be moved around freely within, you can consider changing jewelry. We recommend that you become familiar with the processes required to change it yourself

It can be said that all piercing eventually heal. The object is to get them to heal soon, with minimal amount of problems or scarring. Vitamin C, multivitamins, and Zinc supplements have been used successfully to speed healing during the first couple weeks. .

For a facial or ear piercing to be fully healed, to the point where the jewelry can be removed for a few days without it closing up may take a year or two. If you decide that you don’t want to have a facial or ear piercing anymore, just take it out. Continue to clean the wound for a few days. It will heal to a tiny scar, probably undetectable to the naked eye, if removed during the first few months. After several years, there may be a more noticeable scar….more like a dimple in the skin.

If you think you have a problem that is not normal, please feel free to call us, or stop in. We would encourage you to see a doctor if you think you are getting an infection, or if you are having some kind of problem that is causing a concern. Your family doctor may want to have a look, and may want to prescribe antibiotics for a problem case . Headlight Tattoo Inc. maintains a relationship with a Licensed Physician, as required by State code and the Gloucester County Health Department. If you would like to know of a doctor that will see you about a problem with your piercing, please ask, and we will provide the name and location of a Licensed Physician who has agreed to see you. This Physician may charge you a fee.

Healthy living, a high-quality diet, and good hydration will promote healing. Remember……Don’t drink and drive, and be nice to dogs.