How to Care for a New Body Piercing
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.
By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
SUNDAY, Sept. 24, 2023 -- Piercings can be a fun way to express yourself, but they can also cause complications — particularly in areas that aren’t the earlobes — and need proper care.
“The first step to caring for your piercing is choosing a qualified piercer,” said Dr. Steven Daveluy, an associate professor and program director at Wayne State Dermatology in Michigan. “Select an experienced piercer in a licensed studio. Then, properly care for your new piercing afterward to prevent problems, such as an infection or your piercing closing.”
Daveluy and the American Academy of Dermatology offer these recommendations that people can follow to help ensure piercing success.
- Leave your jewelry in. Don’t remove your new piercing for six weeks or more, even at night. The piercing can close if you remove the jewelry too early.
- Keep the piercing clean.
- Always wash your hands so you can prevent infection of newly pierced areas. Use a mild, fragrance-free cleanser and water at least once a day. Thoroughly rinse away soap. Avoid getting water in your ear.
- Don’t clean your piercing with hydrogen peroxide or antibacterial soaps, which can damage healing skin.
- Apply petroleum jelly around each piercing to keep it moist and help with healing. Using petroleum jelly from a squeeze tube instead of a jar can help prevent transferring germs.
- Pay attention to what your piercing looks like. If it’s sore, red, or puffy or oozes yellowish liquid, you may have an infection.
You may be developing a scar called a keloid if you see the skin around the piercing becoming raised.
“If you think you have an infection and your symptoms don’t resolve quickly, make an appointment to see a board-certified dermatologist,” Daveluy said.
Sources
- American Academy of Dermatology, news release, Sept. 20, 2023
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted September 2023
Read this next
Could Tattoos Be Linked to Blood Cancer Risk?
WEDNESDAY, May 29, 2024 -- Research suggests that tattoo ink spurs inflammatory changes that might contribute to the development of lymphoma. The findings are early, however, and...
Had a Joint Replaced? Your Infection Risk May Rise After Chemotherapy
MONDAY, May 27, 2024 -- If you're one of the millions of Americans walking around with a new knee or hip, your odds for an infection in that joint rise if you ever have to undergo...
Americans Got Drug-Resistant Infections After Stem Cell Treatments in Mexico
THURSDAY, May 9, 2024 -- Antibiotic-resistant meningitis or severe, long-lasting joint infections: That's what three U.S. "medical tourists" brought home after seeking out...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.