AFTERCARE GUIDE
Piercing Aftercare Guide
How to care for your new piercing for safe healing and the best results
Proper aftercare is essential for safe healing and long-lasting results after a piercing. At The Piercings Club, we provide professional piercings in San Diego, with locations in Bay Park and La Jolla, and we believe great aftercare is just as important as expert technique.
This piercing aftercare guide is designed to help clients heal safely, reduce irritation, and know exactly what to expect after their appointment.
ESSENTIAL STEPS
General Aftercare Instructions
Healing Times (General Estimates)
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CLEANING
How to Clean Your Piercing
Keep it simple. Over-cleaning can actually slow down healing.
Here's everything you need.
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Use Sterile Saline Only
Look for a sterile saline wound wash with 0.9% sodium chloride as the only ingredient. We sell and recommend Steri-wash. Avoid contact lens saline, nasal spray, eye drops, or homemade salt mixes — they're not the same thing.
01
Wash Your Hands
Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching or cleaning your piercing. This is the most important step.
02
Spray With Saline
Spray the piercing with sterile saline wound wash. You don't need to move, twist, or rotate the jewelry — just let the saline do the work.
03
Gently Dry
Pat dry with clean, disposable gauze or a paper towel. Avoid cloth towels — they can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry.
HEALING TIMELINE
Healing Times
Healing varies by body and lifestyle, but here are typical timelines:
Earlobes
5-9
Months
Cartilage
helix, conch, tragus
6-12
Months
Nose
6-12
Months
Navel
9-12
Months
VERY IMPORTANT
Downsizing Your Jewelry
Many piercings are started with longer jewelry to allow for swelling.
Once swelling subsides, a downsizing appointment is often required.
Wearing jewelry that's too long can cause:
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Irritation bumps
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Delayed healing
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Snagging or discomfort
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Downsize Appointment
Schedule your check-up 4–8 weeks post-piercing for optimal healing
We recommend a downsizing or check-up 4–8 weeks after your piercing.
Know What to Expect
What's Normal During Healing
Your piercing heals from the outside in, so it may look and feel healed before it actually is. Be patient — and don't stop cleaning early.
NORMAL SIGNS OF HEALING
First Few Days
✓ Some bleeding, swelling, tenderness, and bruising around the piercing site. This is completely normal and will subside.
During Healing
✓ You may notice some discoloration, itching, and a whitish-yellow fluid that forms light crust on the jewelry. This is lymph fluid — not pus — and it's a sign your body is healing. The tissue may feel tight around the jewelry.
Looks Healed (But Isn't Yet)
✓ A piercing can look great on the outside while still being fragile inside. Keep cleaning through the full healing period your piercer recommended, even if it seems fine.
Fully Healed
✓ The jewelry may not move as freely — that's normal. Continue cleaning as part of your regular hygiene routine to prevent buildup. If you like your piercing, keep jewelry in it — even healed piercings can close surprisingly fast.
Contact Us If You Notice
! Increasing Pain after the first few days
! Thick yellow or green discharge
! Jewelry embedding into the skin
Remember Healing Takes Time
Your piercer will give you a specific timeline based on your piercing. Trust the process.
OUR STUDIOS
Professional Piercing Aftercare in San Diego
This guide applies to all piercings performed at The Piercings Club in:
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Bay Park, San Diego
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La Jolla, San Diego
Whether you received an ear piercing, cartilage piercing, nose piercing, or child's ear piercing, proper aftercare is the key to a smooth healing process. If you have questions, concerns, or want a professional check-up, we're always here to help.
GUIDELINES
Do's & Don'ts
The short version of everything you need to remember during your healing period.
✓ DO THIS
✓ Wash hands before touching your piercing
✓ Clean with sterile saline spray only
✓Shower regularly, showers are better than bath
✓ Change bedding and pillow cases regularly
✓ Leave your jewelry in during the entire healing period
✓ Check threaded and threadless ends for regularly for tightness
✓ Keep exercising — just protect the piercing from bacteria on gym equipment
✓ AVOID THIS
! Don't twist, spin, or rotate your jewelry
! Don't use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or antibacterial soap
! Don't use Bactine® or products with Benzalkonium Chloride
! Don't apply ointments — they block airflow
! Don't over-clean — it irritates the piercing
! Don't submerge in pools, hot tubs, lakes, or oceans
! Don't apply cosmetics, lotions, or sprays near the piercing
! Don't hang charms from jewelry until fully healed
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JEWELRY
Jewelry Care & Tips
Your jewelry plays a big role in how well your piercing heals.
Here's what you need to know.
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Leave It In
Keep your initial jewelry in for the entire healing period unless there's a problem with size, style, or material. Even well-healed piercings can shrink or close in minutes if you remove the jewelry.
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Downsizing
Many piercings need a downsize before they're fully healed. Come see us — we'll swap to a shorter piece at the right time to prevent irritation and snagging.
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Downsizing
Many piercings need a downsize before they're fully healed. Come see us — we'll swap to a shorter piece at the right time to prevent irritation and snagging.
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Removing a Piercing
If you decide you no longer want a piercing, simply remove the jewelry (or have us do it) and continue cleaning until the hole closes.
⚠️ Suspect an Infection?
If you notice increasing redness, warmth, swelling, or unusual discharge, contact your piercer or see a doctor. In most cases, you should leave the jewelry in while treating an infection — removing it can trap the infection inside. Many doctors aren't trained specifically in piercing care, so we can help refer you to a piercing-friendly medical professional.
By Piercing Type
Area-Specific Tips
Different piercings need slightly different care.
Tap below for tips specific to your piercing.
✓ Clean bedding and pillowcases are extra important. Try the t-shirt trick: slip your pillow inside a large, clean t-shirt. Rotate the pillow and flip the shirt inside-out for up to 4 clean surfaces.
✓ Clean your phone, headphones, and eyeglasses regularly with disinfectant — they all touch your ears.
✓ Wash hats, scarves, headbands, and anything that touches your ears frequently.
✓ Change bedding and pillow cases regularly
✓ Tell your hairstylist about new or healing piercings before they work on your hair.
✓ Avoid sleeping directly on a healing cartilage piercing — it can shift the angle. Use a travel pillow and rest your ear in the opening.