Aftercare

A little care goes a long way. Here is how to look after a new piercing, and how to keep your titanium looking beautiful for years.

Caring for a fresh piercing

Clean it twice a day with a sterile saline solution: soak or gently spray, then pat dry with clean gauze or a paper towel (cloth towels harbour bacteria). Keep it simple and be consistent. Healing is slow and steady, not something you can rush.

Do

• Wash your hands before touching it.
• Use sterile saline, twice a day.
• Sleep on the other side, or use a travel pillow.
• Leave the jewellery in until it is healed.

Don’t

• Twist, spin or play with it.
• Use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or harsh cleansers.
• Change the jewellery too early.
• Swim in pools, spas or the ocean while it heals.

Healing times

Everyone heals differently, but as a rough guide: lobes take around 6 to 8 weeks, and cartilage (helix, conch, tragus and friends) can take anywhere from 3 to 9 months or more. A piercing can feel healed on the outside while it is still settling underneath, so give it time.

Downsizing

New piercings are often fitted with a slightly longer post to allow for swelling. Once the swelling has settled (usually a few weeks in), it is worth seeing your piercer to swap to a shorter length, which is more comfortable and helps it heal neatly.

Caring for your titanium

The lovely thing about implant-grade titanium is that it will not tarnish. To keep it bright, wipe pieces with a soft cloth, and every so often wash healed jewellery in warm water with a little gentle soap, then dry well. That is all it needs.

When to see your piercer or GP

A little redness, swelling or crusting is normal early on. But if you notice spreading heat or pain, a lot of swelling, or discharge that is green or has an odour, see your piercer or GP. It is always better to check.

This is general information, not medical advice. Follow your piercer’s guidance and see your piercer or GP with any concerns.