PIERCINGS
I now offer Nostril, Navel and all Ear Piercings
Pre-care for Piercings
As Piercers we talk a lot about aftercare and rarely mention pre-care. Pre-care is just as important to your health and the short and long term health of your piercing.What is Pre-care? Pre-care is all about making sure you are healthy, rested, hydrated, well fed, free from intoxicants and certain medication. We will discuss each of these different aspects in this weeks blog.​ Healthy It might seem an obvious point to make but being healthy is imperative to your piercing healing well. At any given moment your bodies immune system is fighting to keep you healthy.
In everyday life we are exposed to bacteria, fungus, viruses and debris that can be harmful to you. The vast majority of these foreign bodies are dealt with before they even have a chance to harm your body.
When healing a new piercing you are putting stress on your immune system; if your immune system is already under stress from something else then this will extend your piercings healing time and increase the risk of rejection and migration. It is best to give your body a chance to heal before adding new piercings.IllnessNobody likes being ill so lets try to minimise spread if you are ill then getting a piercing is going to a very unpleasant experience for you as your body is under stress and your senses will be heightened.
We don’t want to put you through undue pain or trauma so strongly advise you wait until any illness has passed. As well as protecting you we also need to protect ourselves; We really don’t enjoy being ill so much prefer it if you are able to give us enough notice to move your appointment.​
Rested, Hydrated and Well Fed
Again these might seem like obvious points but a rested, hydrated and well fed body will both handle the piercing better and heal better. Our immune systems are constantly working hard and they are fuelled and kept in working order by the rest we get and what we put into our body. When you have rested, hydrated and eaten there is a much lower risk of feeling faint; this is because when you get pierced your body will release adrenaline and start using up the sugar in your blood.
Our blood sugar is the fuel that keeps our bodies going, as it gets used up the body will divert blood flow and sugars to prioritise different systems. The upset tummy feeling that can occur after a piercing is because the body is focussing resources towards your muscles and healing. Hydration is just as important as food because the liquids that we drink eventually end up in our blood stream and help us to move nutrients and white blood cells around our body. When you are dehydrated you can feel light headed and lethargic, neither of these are good for going into a piercing session.
As Piercers we will look after you and guide you through your piercing but making sure you have a good energy resource is super important.​
Intoxicants and Medication
No Alcohol before piercing there are several reasons why being intoxicated before a piercing is inappropriate. Intoxicants include alcohol, cannabis, cocaine and many other legal and illegal drugs that effect your mental state. Aside from health issues, in Canada you cannot consent to a piercing when intoxicated and this means we cannot legally pierce you. Intoxicants can cause a lot of changes to your body such as:​
Raised Blood Pressure – This will cause you to bleed more and will extend your appointment time. We won't send you home until we have stopped bleeding as we want to make sure you are fine and healthy.
​Heightened Sensitivity – All piercings carry an element f pain. I will do everythingI can to make the piercing experience as smooth and comfortable as possible and minimise any pain. Intoxicants such as Cannabis can increase the sensitivity and therefor a more painful piercing experience. Surprisingly to a lot of people, most piercers don’t enjoy inflicting pain and see it as the worst part of our job.​
Increased Heart Rate – Much like blood thinning and raised blood pressure an increased heart rate will cause an extended bleed and a longer appointment. A common causes of increased heart rate is caffeine. We are all caffeine junkies here Holly Hudson Beauty but its important not to over caffeinate before getting pierced.​Even one glass of beer or wine is enough for us to refuse service.
We promise you don’t need alcohol or caffeine to get through your piercing, we will be here to help you. If you are unsure if your medication will have an effect on your piercing then it is worth speaking to your piercer and medical practitioner before booking a piercing.​ As always I am happy to help you with any stage of your piercing and if you would like more help with pre-care then you can get in touch with Holly at 780-902-8164​
Nose piercing aftercare
​
Getting a nose piercing is a relatively quick process. The healing process, however, isn’t so quick. It takes several weeks, and up to a few months, for a piercing to completely heal. Within the first few days, your nose piercing will be red, inflamed, and possibly painful.
The first step to nose piercing aftercare is cleaning. Your piercer will recommend a saline rinse to use at least twice per day. You may also consider using your own DIY sea salt rinse, or even tea tree oil if your nose is especially tender.
You’ll also want to make sure you leave the original jewelry in place until the piercing heals. Changing out the jewelry puts you at risk for infection. Also, you risk letting the piercing hole close up.
Don’t touch the piercing unless you’re cleaning it with recently washed hands — you may accidentally introduce bacteria and cause an infection.
An untreated nose piercing infection can lead to nasal trauma and a host of other symptoms, including breathing difficulties and a change in the shape of your nose.
What to clean nose piercings with:
​
It takes an average of two to four months for a nose piercing to completely heal. Your piercer can help you determine this for sure.
Once your piercing has healed, you won’t have to clean the site as often as you once did. However, you’ll still need to clean your nose piercing occasionally to maintain it. This will also help prevent infection and scarring.
​
To clean your nose piercing, you’ll need the following items:
-
saline rinse or a sea salt soak
-
cotton balls
-
thick paper towels or cotton cloths, as thin material can fall apart and get stuck on the jewelry
If you’re making your own saline rinse, thoroughly combine 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt in warm distilled water. You can dip the cotton balls or paper towels in the solution or place your nose in a cup of the water.
How to take care of a nose piercing
You’ll need to clean a new nose piercing twice a day, but you can do it more often.
After several months, when your piercing has completely healed, you can transition to fewer saline rinses and soaks by using them only if the piercing area is dirty or oily. You can also start using mild, unscented soap for healed nose piercings only.
How to clean a nose ring
In addition to cleaning your nose piercing, it’s important to clean your nose jewelry, too. This helps to get rid of any oil, dirt, or debris that’s stuck to the jewelry. You may also rinse away potential infection-causing bacteria.
New piercings require cleaning around and beneath the stud. As you switch to other types of jewelry while your piercing heals, it’s helpful to clean the jewelry any time you clean the piercing. This may be done with regular saline solution or regular soap and water.
If you wear silver jewelry in your nose, you’ll also want to occasionally clean it with professional silver jewelry cleaner. This helps to get rid of any corrosion that could potentially get stuck in your piercing.
Safety and precautions
​
When it comes to your nose piercing, knowing what not to do is just as important as knowing how to maintain it. To maintain a nose piercing:
-
Don’t apply over-the-counter antiseptics, including Neosporin. If you think your piercing is getting infected, continue your saline rinses and see your piercer for advice.
-
Don’t use hydrogen peroxide — this will cause irritation in the piercing.
-
Don’t twist or play with your nose jewelry, as this will irritate the piercing.
-
Don’t touch your piercing with dirty hands.
-
Never share nose rings or studs with other people.
-
Don’t ever force a ring back into the piercing hole. This can damage your skin. If it’s not going in right away, gently insert the ring in a clockwise motion until it sets.
-
​
You can also help avoid allergic reactions and other skin sensitivities by opting for quality nose rings. Look for the following materials in a prospective nose ring:
-
surgical-grade steel
-
titanium
-
14-karat or higher gold
Quality jewelry is also less likely to fall apart in the nose, which can cause complications if it’s swallowed or aspirated.
​
A nose piercing can heal and maintain itself well with regular cleanings. However, as with any piercing, there’s always a risk for complications.
Infections and scarring are most common with new nose piercings, but they can still occur with healed piercings, too. Piercing rejection is another possibility.
Talk to your piercer about any nose piercing complications that may arise. They might recommend a different cleaning approach, new jewelry, or another nose piercing altogether.
Ear Piercing Aftercare
Taking proper care of your piercing and doing your aftercare diligently is key for optimal healing. Read through this guide to learn all about how to take care of your new piercing and what to expect during the healing process:
​
HOW LONG WILL MY PIERCING TAKE TO HEAL?
​
While healing times can vary for everyone, it’s dependent on factors such as your overall health, sleep and stress levels, and your aftercare regimen.
Typically, ear lobe piercings take around 4-6 months, while upper or inner ear piercings take between 6-12+ months to fully heal.
You’ll know your ear is healed once any discharge, swelling, redness, flaking, or soreness stops. In general, your piercing should continue to feel better with time and a consistent aftercare routine!
​
Recommended Downsize Time Frames*:
*Tissue heals from the outside in. During the initial healing period, your piercing may feel fine on the outside, but the interior may still be healing. While your piercing may be ready for a downsize, it does not mean it has fully healed and you should not be switching over to hoops or fashion jewelry just yet!
​
Lobe: 2-3 months
Stacked Lobes: 2-3 months
Upper Lobe: 2-3 months
Snakebite Midi: 3-4 months
Helix: 3-4 months
Flat Helix: 3-4 months
Forward Helix: 3-4 months
Conch: 3-4 months
Tragus: 3-4 months
Anti-Tragus: 3-4 months
Rook: 3-4 months
Daith: 3-4 months
Full Healing Time Frames*:
*Your piercing is fully healed, both on the outside and the inside. *At this point, you may change your jewelry to hoops and fashion styles of jewelry.
Lobe: 4-6+ months
Stacked Lobes: 4-6+ months
Upper Lobe: 4-6+ months
Snakebite Midi: 6-9+ months
Helix: 6-9+ months
Flat Helix: 6-9+ months
Forward Helix: 6-9+ months
Conch: 6-9+ months
Tragus: 6-9+ months
Anti-Tragus: 8 months - 12+ months
Rook: 8 months - 12+ months
Daith: 8 months - 12+ months
HOW SHOULD I CLEAN MY PIERCING?
-
Prior to cleaning your new piercing, thoroughly wash your hands. Other than to clean your piercing, avoid touching it as much as possible—do NOT rotate or twist.
-
Spray the front and back of your piercing with sterile saline solution, 2 to 3 times a day. For certain piercings, it may be easier to apply using a clean non-woven gauze saturated with saline solution. If your piercer suggests using soap, gently lather around the piercing and rinse as needed. Avoid using harsh soaps, or soaps with dyes or fragrances.
-
Rinse the pierced sites (front and back) and surrounding area with water as needed to remove cleaning solution residue. Moving or rotating jewelry is not necessary or recommended during cleaning or rinsing.
-
Dry the area by gently patting with clean, disposable paper products. Cloth towels can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry causing injury!
Pro Tips:
-
Do not use cotton swabs/pads, as the fibers can get caught under your jewelry and irritate your piercing. We recommend using non-woven gauze or spraying saline directly onto the front and back of your piercing!
-
Exercise during healing is fine; listen to your body. We recommend avoiding contact sports that may potentially cause your piercing to get bumped around.
-
Make sure your bedding is washed and changed regularly. Wear clean, comfortable, breathable clothing that protects your piercing while you are sleeping.
-
Try your best to avoid sleeping directly on your fresh piercing(s). (Pro Tip: Use a travel pillow and place your ear in the middle hole of the pillow when laying down on your side.)
-
Stay dry(ish). Avoid submerging your new piercing in water such as pools, baths, and oceans! Showering is fine, just remember to keep your piercing clean, and rinse thoroughly of any residual soap.
-
After the initial healing time frame, it is important for the health of your piercing that you pop back into a Studs studio to have one of our piercers check your healing status and down-size the length of your post if it’s ready. Book your complimentary checkup appointment here!
WHAT IS NORMAL DURING A PIERCING'S HEALING PROCESS?
During the first few weeks, some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness, and/or bruising is expected. Throughout your healing process, you may also notice some discoloration, itching, and the secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid (not pus) that will form some crust on the jewelry—this is also normal! The tissue may tighten around the jewelry as it heals. Once your piercing is healed, the jewelry may not move freely in the piercing; do not force it!
If you don’t stick to a regular cleaning regimen for your piercing, some body secretions may accumulate with a faint smell. This is normal, and we recommend including cleaning as part of your daily hygiene routine.
​
It’s important to know that a piercing might seem healed before the healing process is complete. This is because tissue heals from the outside in, and although it feels fine, the interior remains fragile. The key is to be patient, and keep cleaning throughout the entire initial healing period.
If you remove your piercing jewelry, it’s possible that your piercing may shrink or close in minutes! This varies from person to person, and we recommend keeping your piercing jewelry in until it is fully healed.
If you have any questions about your piercing, Just reach out to Holly at 780-902-8164
**If you experience any abnormal symptoms outside of those listed above, we recommend checking in with your doctor.
​
Navel Piercing Aftercare
Navel piercing usually takes about 6 to 9 months or longer to heal. This piercing is not an easy piercing to heal as the abdomen lacks blood supply which causes slow healing. Sometimes the normal movement of the body and friction from clothing may cause problems to the piercing. It is normal to have a bit of discoloration placing and discharge from the piercing. If a small lump forms around the piercing, do not panic or remove the jewelry. These small lumps are called Granulomas and usually occurs when the piercing has smacked or the jewelry has been taken out and re-inserted damaging the wound.
The best course of action is to apply a hot compress to the wound at least once or twice a day. Soak a clean cotton ball in hot water, making sure that it is not hot enough to burn the skin but warm enough to penetrate the wound. Place it on your would and remove it only when the heat dissipates. Continuously do this for about 5 to 15 minutes every day until the lump disappears. ï‚·
Clean the piercing every day by soaking it in lukewarm water with a cotton ball, gently removing all the crusting and dirt. ï‚· Thoroughly clean off all the crust around the piercing as it can concrete around the jewelry. It may result in a tear the inside of the wound when the jewellery shifts. It may lead to inflammation and delayed healing. ï‚·
Remember always to dry your piercing with a clean cotton ball afterward. ï‚· You may use a saline solution to clean your piercing. ï‚· Soak your piercing with saline solution for 2-5 minutes and then rinse thoroughly with water. Dry with a clean cotton ball. ï‚· Wear comfortable loose clothing and avoid high waist jeans or shirt. ï‚· AVOID swimming as the water in the pool and oceans are contaminated and may cause the piercing to be infected. ï‚· AVOID sit-ups, stretching, or any rough movements that may cause the piercing to tear. ï‚· DO NOT use alcohol or any solution containing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide on your piercing. ï‚· DO NOT touch, turn or paly with your jewelry during the healing period except for when you need to clean it. Doing so may tear the piercing. ï‚· DO NOT pick at the scabs or crust as this will cause excessive scar tissue formation and lead to infections. ï‚· DO NOT remove or change the jewelry on your own until it healed. Give it a minimum of 3 months or longer before replacing the jewelry. Enjoy your new piercing and do give us a call if you have any questions or concerns at 780-902-8164