Saline solution is essentially the same as the fluid inside your body and is ideal for rinsing a piercing. Irrigation saline is available in studio and is also sold at pharmacies.
We generally suggest tissue to clean your piercing- it doesn't "wisp' like Q-Tips or Cotton Balls and can be wrapped in and around a nose or ear piercing more easily than a cotton make-up pad.
An important note: Do not use the communal bathroom toilet paper!! Have your own tissue that you keep with your saline solution. This is very important.
Drainage from your healing piercing is part of the healing process. Lymph rinses the piercing and aids in the healing process. Lymph can be a clear fluid, or a thicker whitish/yellow goo. It is also common for some blood to be mixed with the lymph which can appear red to brown. If the lymph is left to dry it becomes "crusty" on the jewelry. Be sure to soften these "crusties" with saline and wipe them away.
Be sure to have your jewelry downsized as suggested by your piercer. Overly long posts can put stress on the piercing that can be seen in the form of "bumps". If you have an irritation bump forming please contact us, and remember, as with all piercings, to dry it well after rinsing.
Most people rinse 1-3 times daily, this changes over the healing time depending on how your piercing feels and your level of activity. Remember to keep rinsing your piercing 3-6 weeks longer than you feel you need to. This gives the new tissue a chance to "toughen" and mature. All piercings take about 18 months to mature, so be prepared to go back to your original cleaning routine for several weeks at any point in the first couple of years.
Using a ice pack, frozen bean bag, etc, and gently applying to your piercing will help reduce swelling and feel good. This should be comfortable, not "freezing". Always protect your piercing with clean fresh tissue or gauze before applying. Only apply 10 minutes out of any hour.
Using a heated bean bag, hot water bottle, heating pad, etc, and gently applying to your piercing helps increase the circulation to the area and promote healing. This should be comfortable, quite warm, but not "hot". Always protect your piercing with a clean fresh tissue or gauze before applying.
You'll need to rinse with good, clean water several times a day. We suggest bottled water since its filtered.
Rinse with water for 15-30 seconds after you eat, drink, smoke or put anything other than bottled water in your mouth, including after you brush your teeth.
If you regularly use mouthwash, please switch to an alcohol free rinse as alcohol can cause irritation.
Ibuprofen (Motrin) is an anti-inflammatory and can be used according to package instructions to reduce swelling
Eat slowly, think about where your jewelry is. Avoid foods that feel like the jewelry (i.e. candies and tongue barbell beads can be easily mistaken)
Drink plenty of cold water to help with any swelling.
To lessen the chance of tooth and gum damage please DOWNSIZE, have your jewelry re-fit PROMPTLY do not leave oversized or poor fitting jewelry in for longer than necessary.
Don't forget to tighten your ends!
Threadless ends can be tighten by simply pushing the front and back together.
Threaded ends by turning the beads right to tighten (the same as the threads on your tube of toothpaste)
PLEASE KEEP OTHER PEOPLE'S BODILY FLUIDS AWAY FROM YOUR FRESH PIERCING!
For oral piercings this also includes no kissing, no sharing lip balm, no sharing drinks, etc. during the healing.
Never share worn jewelry!
A piercing's initial swelling can restrict bleeding. When this swelling goes down you may bleed a little. This is rare, but normal especially for tongues. Try not to worry. If a piercing is bleeding uncontrollably the most common treatment is to remove the jewelry and apply direct pressure. Some bruising near the piercing site is not uncommon and will often occur several days after the initial piercing. The most common cause of bruising is moving the jewelry too much in the first few days.
For all piercings, please remember: DO NOT REMOVE YOUR JEWELLERY FOR CLEANING.
If you remove your jewelry you may lose your piercing.
If your jewelry does come out during the healing period please return to Instinct as soon as possible so that we can help. Do not force the jewelry in or try to re-pierce your piercing. Call us at 250 377 3877 or reach us over Facebook Messenger or email.
If you are having a problem or think you have an infection, call, message or drop in immediately!
If you are in any doubt whatsoever, call 811 to speak to a registered nurse, or see a doctor as soon as possible.
Jewelry keeps a piercing open and lets the wound drain, do not remove any jewelry unless you have an extremely swollen piercing with a post. (See the swelling section above)
Many piercings must be performed with oversized jewelry in order to accommodate swelling and cleaning.
Wearing oversized jewelry past when it's needed can drastically impact your final piercing. Wearing oversized posts in the mouth for more than a few weeks can lead to serious tooth/gum damage.
Swelling is a body's natural reaction to trauma and most localized swelling is completely normal.
Extreme swelling is rare, but must be dealt with immediately. If a piercing swells so much that the ends of the jewelry are being sucked inside your piercing and no shaft of the jewelry can be pushed out, call us! Longer jewelry is needed right away.
The most important thing to remember is that your immune system deals with stress, helping you stay healthy, and healing your piercing. Everything you can do to keep your immune system from working overtime will help your piercing heal faster.
Tighten your barbell balls!
-Tighten the balls by turning the top ball to the right and the bottom ball in the opposite direction. (if you forget it's the same as any screw-on lid)
Secure your threadless posts!
-Push the two ends together to insure the fit is tight.
Please message us with any additional questions!