Take care of your piercing

The skin around a new piercing might be swollen, red and tender for a few days. It might bleed slightly. If the swelling, redness and bleeding last longer than a few days, contact your healthcare professional. Getting treatment right away can help prevent medical problems related to piercings that could become serious.

To prevent infection and encourage healing:

• Clean oral piercings with mouthwash. If you've had your tongue, lip or cheek pierced, rinse your mouth with an alcohol-free, antiseptic mouthwash after each meal and before you go to bed. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean around the jewelry and the pierced area every day. That will help remove bacteria and plaque.
• Clean skin piercings. If you've had your skin pierced, clean the area around the piercing twice a day. You can use a saline solution made for wound cleaning or soap and water. Don't use hydrogen peroxide, iodine or other harsh products to clean the piercing. They could injure the pierced skin. Wash your hands before cleaning the piercing.
• Don't go swimming. Stay out of pools, hot tubs, rivers, lakes and other bodies of water while the piercing heals.
• Leave the piercing alone during healing. Don't touch a new piercing or twist the jewelry unless you're cleaning it. Keep clothing away from the piercing. Too much rubbing or friction can irritate your skin and delay healing.
• Keep the jewelry in place. Most piercings heal within about six weeks. But some might take several months or longer to heal. To keep the pierced hole open, always leave the jewelry in place during this time, even at night.