CLEANING YOUR PIERCING

Avoid touching your piercing where possible, and make sure you have clean hands before and after doing so. Wash your hands with warm water and soap, make sure you dry your hands thoroughly with a clean towel or disposable paper towel.

For your ear piercing, the only cleanser you need is Antibacterial Cleansing Saline Solution. You can purchase this from our piercing studio, or ask your local pharmacist to advise you. Always follow the manufacturers' instructions.

Use the Antibacterial Cleaning Saline Solution on the front and back of your piercing twice a day (morning and night) every day, for the duration of your healing time as seen below.

HEALING TIMES

• Lobe: 8 - 12 weeks
• Helix/ Forward Helix: 6 - 12 months
• Tragus: 6 - 12 months

THINGS TO AVOID

• Avoid contact with dirty hands or clothing, and avoid fiddling with, tugging or pulling your piercing. Do not pick at your piercing or any discharge.
• Avoid swimming in chlorinated pools or the sea for 4 weeks and sunbeds or tanning for the first two weeks after getting your piercing. Cover the area with a breathable plaster whilst tanning.
• Don't use soap, beauty products or creams (e.g. Savlon, surgical spirits or TCP) to disinfect the piercing. They will slow the healing process and are deemed too abrasive.
• Avoid sleeping on your piercing as excessive pressure or constantly sleeping on that side can alter the angle of the piercing when healed. Ensure your bedding is clean.
• Keep hair away from the piercing as it carries a lot of dirt and oil. Any contact with shampoo, hairdye or other hair products or make up should be avoided.
• Be aware of your new piercing and try to avoid catching it on clothing such as hats, scarves, etc.
• Do not leave the piercing without jewellery for the first 12 months. Keep your original jewellery in for the duration of your healing time.

WHAT TO EXPECT

It's normal to see bleeding, bruising or swelling, or to experience tenderness after being pierced.

A pale, odourless fluid may sometimes secrete from the piercing and form a crust. This should not be confused with pus, which would indicate an infection.

To clean, soak a cotton pad/ bud in Antibacterial Cleansing Saline Solution and place it on the ear for 5 minutes. This will soften any fluid and allow you to clean your piercing thoroughly. Make sure you dry your piercing using only fresh disposable paper towels or kitchen roll.

You should be concerned if you get a sensation of heat, pain spreading or an unusual discharge or pus. Contact your piercer if excessive swelling, bleeding or changes in colour or soreness persist.

If you suspect your piercing is infected, visit your local GP.

CHANGING YOUR JEWELLERY

Our labret earrings are ideal to wear while your piercing is healing. You shouldn't change your earrings before your piercing is fully healed.

Once your new piercing has healed, the options are endless! Change your ear party depending on how you're feeling and switch out your earring for any MV styles. Make sure you keep an earring in your new piercing at all times for the first 12 months.

To remove your earring, first wash your hands, then hold the earring from the back and lightly unscrew the head of the jewellery to the left, until the head unscrews from the post.

Need help changing your jewellery or picking out a new ear stack? Book a follow-up appointment and our expert piercers will check your piercing, help you pick new earrings and change out your jewellery.

Once removed, clean your earring in saline solution and store in a clean, dry place to keep your jewellery looking its best.