Wild Ink Studios
Piercing Aftercare
Proper cleaning and patience are the keys to a well-healed piercing.
A member of the Wild Ink staff will perform your piercing. No piercing can be guaranteed — it is a foreign object in your body — but following proper aftercare greatly improves your chance of healing well. If you have any problems, call us. We're here to help.
Check your jewelry daily
We are not responsible for lost jewelry or ball ends once you leave the studio. Sleeping, changing clothes, towels, blankets, masks, and hair can loosen ends — check and tighten your jewelry daily with clean hands.
We recommend NeilMed or sterile saline solution for piercing aftercare.
By Piercing Type
Care Instructions
Follow the section that applies to your piercing. When in doubt, call the studio.
General Piercing Information
- May be tender, sore, itchy, and/or uncomfortable for a few days to a few weeks. Swelling and discomfort can be reduced with ibuprofen or another anti-inflammatory.
- May secrete a white or pale yellow fluid that crusts on the jewelry.
- May be red or bruise slightly.
- Minimum healing times are generally 8–18 weeks, but vary depending on location and the individual.
- Tighten beads daily with clean hands to ensure jewelry won't fall out.
- We do not recommend changing jewelry before the piercing has healed enough to support it.
- Piercings take time to heal — they will not heal in a week. Be patient; it is a foreign object in your body.
Facial & Body Piercing Care
- Wash gently in the shower using unscented soap and pat dry with a clean towel.
- Clean using NeilMed saline wash (available in store) or sterile irrigation saline solution (0.9% sodium chloride, available at most pharmacies). Remove any crust on the jewelry with a saturated Q-tip and cleaning solution.
- Clean the piercing 2–3 times a day. Over-cleaning causes irritation and problems.
- Never use rubbing alcohol, Polysporin, antibacterial gel, or hydrogen peroxide — they are harsh, prolong healing, and kill good bacteria.
- Ointments and oil-based creams smother the piercing and prevent it from breathing, also prolonging healing.
Oral Piercing Aftercare
- Each time you eat, drink, or smoke, rinse your mouth with alcohol-free Listerine.
- For lip piercings: clean the inside of the mouth as above, and treat the outside as a facial/body piercing.
- Suck on crushed ice to reduce swelling.
- No kissing, sharing drinks, or sexual contact to the area while it is healing.
Infections & Complications
- If you think you have an infection, come in and let the piercer take a look. Discharge is not always an infection — often it is irritation or the wrong aftercare being used.
- If it is an infection, we will advise you to see a doctor for antibiotics. If it isn't infected, a doctor may make you remove the jewelry and the hole will close — check with us first so you don't lose the piercing.
If you have questions about your new tattoo or piercing, contact your artist right away. No question is a stupid question! Health & safety info