Cleaning Solutions
Use either one or both of the following solutions for body piercing:
*Liquid anti-microbial and germicidal soap.
*Packaged saline solution with no additives (read the label) or non iodized (iodine free) sea salt mixture: Dissolve ¼ teaspoon into one cup (8 oz) of warm distilled or bottled water.  A stonger mixture is not better! Saline solution that is too strong can irritate the piercing.  (If you have high blood pressure or a heart condition, please check with your doctor before using a saline product inside the mouth as your primary cleaning solution.)

Cleaning Instructions for Body Piercing
Soak in saline solution and/or wash with liquid antibacterial soap as described below:
1) WASH your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning or touching on or near your piercing for any reason.
2) SALINE soak at least two or three times daily.  Simply soak directly in a cup of warm saline solution for a few minutes.  The longer you soak, the better.  For certain placements it may be easier to apply using fresh cotton balls or Q-tips saturated with saline solution.  A brief rinse will remove any residue.
3) SOAP no more than once or twice a day.  While showering, lather up a pearl size drop of the soap to clean the jewelry and the piercing.  Leave the cleanser on the piercing no more than thirty seconds, then rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of the soap from the piercing.
4) DRY with a disposable paper products such as gauze or tissues, because cloth towels can harbor bacteria and catch on new piercings causing injury.  Pat gently to avoid trauma.

May also apply BACTINE if there is excessive soreness.  Follow directions on bottle.

 What is Normal?
* For the first three to five days: significant swelling, light bleeding, bruising, and/or tenderness.
* During healing: some discoloration, itching, secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid (not pus) that will form some crust on the jewelry.  The tissue may tighten around the jewelry as it heals.
* Once healed: the jewelry may not move freely in the piercing.  DO NOT force it.  If you fail to include cleaning your piercing as a part of your daily hygiene routine, normal but smelly bodily secretions may accumulate.
* A piercing may seem healed before healing is complete.  This is because piercings heal from the outside in, and although it feels healed the tissue remains fragile on the inside.  BE PATIENT, and keep cleaning thoughout the entire healing period.

 What to do
* Wash your hands prior to touching the piercing, leave it alone except when cleaning.  It is not necessary to rotate the jewelry while healing except possible during cleaning.
* Stay healthy.  Get enough sleep and eat a nutritious diet.  The healthier the lifestyle, the easier it will be for your piercing to heal.  Exercise during healing is fine, just “listen” to your body.
* Make sure your bedding is kept clean and changed regularly.  Wear clean, comfortable breathable clothing that protects your piercing while sleeping.
* Showering is safer than taking a bath, because bathtubs tend to harbor bacteria.  If you would like to take a bath, clean the tub well before each use.

 What to avoid
* Avoid undue trauma such as friction from clothing, excessive motion of the area, playing with the jewelry and vigorous cleaning.  These activities can cause the formation of unsightly and uncomfortable scar tissue, migration, prolonged healing, and other complications.
* Avoid the use of alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Betadine, Hibiclens or ointment.
* Avoid over cleaning.  This can delay your healing and irritate your piercing.
* Avoid oral contact, rough play, and contact with others’ bodily fluids on or near your piecing during healing.
* Avoid stress and recreational drug use including excessive caffiene, nicotine, and alcohol.
* Avoid submerging in bodies of water such as lakes, pools, jacuzzis, etc.  Or protect your piercing using a special waterproof bandage such as Tegaderm, which is available at drugstores.
*Avoid all beauty and personal care products on or around the piercing including cosmetics, lotions, and sprays, etc.
* Don’t hand charms or any objects from your jewelry until the piercing is fully healed.

Hints and Tips
Jewelry
* Unless there is a problem with the size, style, or material of the initial jewelry, leave it in place for the entire healing period.  A qualified piercer should perform any necessary jewelry change that occurs during healing.
* Contact your piercer if your jewelry must be temporarily removed (such as for a medical procedure). There are non-metallic jewelry alternatives.
* Leave jewelry in at all times.  Even old, well-healed piercings can shrink or close in minutes after having been there for years.  If removed re-insertion can be difficult or impossible.
* With clean hands or paper product, be sure to regularly  check threaded ends on your jewelry for tightness. (Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey)
* Carry a clean spare ball in case of loss or damage.
* Should you decide you no longer want the piercing, seek professional help in the removal of the jewelry and continue cleaning the piercing until the hold closes.  In most cases only a small indentation will remain.

For Particular Areas
Navel
* A hard, vented eye patch (sold at pharmacies) can be applied under tight clothing (such as nylon stockings) or secured using a length of ace bandage around the body (to avoid irritation from adhesive).  This can protect the area from restrictive clothing, excess irritation, and impact during physical activities such as contact sports.
* Use the tshirt trick:  dress your pillow in a large, clean tshirt and turn it nightly; on clean tshirt provides four clean surfaces for sleeping.
* Maintain cleanliness of telephones, headphones, eyeglasses, helmets, hats and anything that contacts the pierced area.
* Use caution when styling your hair and advise your stylist of a new or healing piercing.

Each body is unique and healing times vary considerably.  If you have any questions, please contact your piercer.