When we get a new piercing, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and think the process is over as soon as the jewelry is in place. We hate to say it, but it is only just the beginning. A new piercing is essentially a fresh, open wound, and depending on the location, it can take weeks—or even months—for it to fully heal.
During this healing period, it’s like navigating a field of potential “landmines” that can lead to an infection if you’re not careful. For example, the frustrating redness, itching, oozing pus, swelling, or if you’re unlucky, even a full-on fever. Thankfully, many of these issues can be avoided if you know what to watch out for. Here are seven common culprits you’ll want to sidestep post-piercing.
1. Poor Hygiene
Before diving into the recovery process, we need to talk about the piercing process itself. What many people don’t realize is that poor hygiene at the piercing studio or with the piercer can cause problems, even before you’ve done anything. This can happen if the needles aren’t properly sterilized or if the piercer handles your piercing with unwashed hands, transferring germs to the site. This underscores the importance of choosing a reputable piercing studio with a proven track record of cleanliness and professionalism, as well as an established infection prevention protocol.
2. Exposure to Contaminants
Contaminants are all around us, but when they come into direct contact with your piercing, they can lead to an infection. This is most common when you touch your piercing with unwashed hands, rest it against dirty surfaces like pillows, or submerge it in water from lakes, pools or hot tubs. These situations increase the risk of introducing bacteria, which can irritate the piercing and cause an infection. To avoid this, minimize contact with contaminants until your piercing is fully healed—such as removing or changing out the jewelry and swimming only when it is completely ready.
3. Aftercare Neglect
Your piercer will likely give you comprehensive aftercare instructions once your piercing is done. These guidelines are designed to promote healing and prevent complications, including infections and keloids. Depending on the location of your piercing, you might be advised to wash it with fragrance-free soap, rinse thoroughly, and apply petroleum jelly—common advice for ear piercings. Be sure to follow the cleaning instructions carefully, avoiding both under- and over-cleaning, as either can interfere with the healing process and potentially harm the tissue your body is working hard to rebuild.
4. Accidental Trauma
That said, it’s entirely possible to accidentally injure your piercing, even if you’re doing your best to be gentle with it. This can occur when you sleep on the piercing, accidentally tug at it or bump into it. Some of these issues are exacerbated by prevailing misconceptions, like the idea that you should twist the piercing as it heals, or changing the jewelry too soon. Keep in mind that while these movements may seem minor, they can cause damage to the piercing site, irritate it, delay recovery and ultimately increase the risk of complications.
5. Low Quality Jewelry
It’s not just about the skills of your piercer or your commitment to aftercare; jewelry plays a crucial role too. The type of jewelry you choose can significantly affect the outcome of your piercing, and using improper or low-quality jewelry could cost you extra time, money and discomfort down the road. Always opt for hypoallergenic metals like surgical stainless steel, implant-grade titanium, or niobium instead of cheaper, reactive options like nickel. For initial piercings, higher-end materials such as gold, platinum and pure silver are excellent choices too. In addition to the material, the size of the jewelry matters as well—too tight or too loose, and it can irritate the piercing and trap bacteria, resulting in an infection.
6. Reactions to Allergens
Infection symptoms can be triggered by a variety of allergens, ranging from nickel in jewelry and shellfish in food to fragrances in scented products. These allergens can inflame the piercing site, often mimicking or worsening infection symptoms. While seafood is frequently blamed, many people are unaware that to those sensitive, dairy, gluten and nuts can also slow down the healing process and further aggravate the piercing site.
7. Existing Medical Conditions
One of the things your piercer will discuss with you during your appointment is whether you have any existing medical conditions that could affect your piercing’s healing. For example, diabetes can slow recovery by up to three times, at the same time increasing the risk of infection. However, this is typically not a major concern if your diabetes is well-controlled and your blood sugar levels are within range. Similarly, it’s essential to be transparent with your piercer about any other medical conditions you have, as well as the medications you’re on, so that they can provide you with the best care possible and ensure proper recovery in line with your needs.
Final Thoughts
Taking care of your piercing goes beyond the initial procedure and involves actively protecting your body from potential risks throughout the healing process—especially for the more invasive piercings like conch and navel.
By understanding and keeping clear of common culprits like poor hygiene, accidental trauma, and low-quality jewelry, you can dramatically reduce your chances of infection. Being mindful of allergens, following aftercare instructions to the letter, and being open and communicative with your piercer about your health will ensure your piercing heals smoothly and beautifully.
Your piercing deserves care and patience. Set the stage for proper healing and a stunning result with Ink By Finch, a tattoo and piercing studio in Singapore known for housing skilled body modification experts. For exceptional service, contact us here for a consultation where we can discuss your suitability and the ways we can bring your vision to life. Your investment in health and style goes hand in hand with Ink By Finch.