Piercing After Care

A normal piercing...

  • May be tender, itchy, or bruised for a few weeks
  • May be red for a few months
  • May bleed for a few days
  • May secrete a yellowish puss like fluid that will make "crusties" on your jewelry

How should I clean my piercing?

  • Choose one gentle liquid soap to clean piercing such as:
    Nutri Biotic, Dr. Bronner’s Baby soap, Natures Gate Castile
  • Clean piercing in the shower only. Wash your hands first.
  • Let the water help loosen the crusted matter, then rotate jewelry back and forth so that the cleaning solution can work thru your fresh piercing. Make sure all soap has been thoroughly rinsed off.
  • Clean your piercing twice a day for the first 2-4 weeks, then once a day there after. When you are not cleaning this piercing, leave it alone!
  • Hot compresses with Chamomile tea bags can help if your?piercing is tender, itchy, and swollen.
  • Hot soaks with 1/4 tsp. sea salt per cup of water is suggested on your new piercing. You can do this once a day for ten to fifteen minutes.

How Does A Piercing Get Infected?

Bacteria coming in contact with the piercing cause infections. Here are some ways this can happen:
  • Touching piercing with dirty hands
  • Oral contact
  • Bodily fluids coming in contact with piercing (urine is sterile when it leaves the body).
  • Pools, lakes, sauna, hot tub, ocean, or river while piercing is new.
  • Cosmetics, oils, or infrequently washed clothing or bedding

How long will my piercing take to heal?

  • Tongues, Hood, Prince Albert: 4-6 wks
  • Nostril, Eyebrow, Lip, Monroe: 8-10wks
  • Nipple, Navel, Cartilage: 6-8 mo.

When you get a tattoo or piercing at Captain Jack's, it is performed by highly trained professionals who adhere to strict standards of proper sterile procedures and application in a modern studio. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call: (503) 236-8022.

Disclaimer: Please note this is to be used as a guide and is not intended as medical diagnosis, advice or prescribing. Seek the care of a medical care professional if you suspect an infection, have a temperature or experience any discomfort over what is customary for a tattoo or piercing.