~Body Piercing~

Picking Your Piercer

You have decided to have your body pierced and you are asking yourself, “I want it done now, so where do I go?” In this era of bloodborne diseases you MUST be very careful who you have perform your piercing!

This guide is brought to you by the Association of Professional Piercers to assist you in making a better-informed decision regarding your piercing because…

This is meant to be a guideline and to aid you in having a safe piercing experience.

See their autoclave (sterlizer)

An autoclave is a device that sterilizes the jewelry, tools and equipment necessary to perform your piercing/s by eliminating bacteria and its spores. The most effective units available to studios use a combination of steam and pressure. (”Dry Heat” is NOT considered appropriate for sterilization.) Absolutely no studio should be in operation without this vital piece of equipment!

Piercing Set-up

Ask if you can watch them set-up for a piercing and be in the room when they set up for yours. The piercer should first wash and glove their hands. The equipment should be sealed in individual sterilized packages and placed on a tray. The piercer should change gloves if they touch anything in the room other than you and the sterile equipment. All needles should be in individual sterile packages and should be opened while you are present. NEVER let a piercer use a needle on you that was soaked in a liquid. All needles should be disposed of in a sharps container (usually a small red box marked “biohazard”) after they have been used on a single client.

Do they provide aftercare guidelines?

The aftercare for your piercing should be explained to you and provided in writing. Read this sheet BEFORE you have the piercing done! If it tells you to treat your piercing with harsh soap, ointment, alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide, the studio is not keeping up with industry standards.

Piercers

Don’t be misled into believing piercing is easy. It takes time and dedication to acquire the ability to correctly place and skillfully perform piercings. Piercers either serve an apprenticeship or are self-taught. Apprenticeships will generally last from 6 months to two years. Those who are self-taught will ideally have sought guidance from others in the field. Continued education is the hallmark of any conscientious piercer. It is perfectly acceptable and advisable to inquire about how long your piercer has been piercing, how they learned to pierce, and what they have done to keep their knowledge base current, i.e., courses on Anatomy, Aftercare, Aseptic Technique, etc.

Is the studio well-kept and clean?

Are the walls washed and the carpet vacuumed? Is the staff bathed and neat? Is the restroom kept clean and tidy? Ideally, studios should have 5 separate areas: the counter, waiting room, piercing room(s), bathroom, and a separate sterilization room.

Does the studio have a license to operate?

In most cases a license to operate means that the studio meets minimum requirements and has passed some sort of inspection. To find out if your area has established standards and inspections, call your local Health Department. If a studio is operating unlicensed in an area where licenses are required, report them to your local health department or city business license division.

Portfolios

Look at their piercing photo portfolio. Are piercings placed to accent the anatomy or do they look awkward and poorly matched to the individual? If the portfolio features unusual looking placements, are there pictures of healed piercings, showing the actual viability of the placement?

Age Requirements

Regardless of any local legislation being more lenient, the following is an appropriate minimum standards policy on piercing minors: For any piercing of a minor, a parent or legal guardian must be present to sign a consent form. Proof positive, state issued photo identification is required from the legal guardian, and a bona fide form of identification from the minor. In the event the parent has a different last name and/or address from the child, court documentation is needed to prove the relationship, i.e., divorce papers, or a remarriage certificate. Under no circumstances is it acceptable or appropriate for a piercer to perform piercing on the nipples or genitals of an individual under 18 years of age.

Are they piercing with ear piercing guns?

A number of states have made it illegal to use a gun on body piercings and with good reason. Most ear guns can’t be sterilized in an autoclave and therefore don’t meet the criteria for APP piercers’ use of sterile disposable equipment.

Use your instincts

If you don’t feel comfortable with the studio or the piercer you should leave. “I should have listened to my gut feeling” is something you should never have to say.

Use your head

Don’t act impulsively or be swayed by a low price. You generally get what you pay for (but some unskilled piercers charge plenty). Get referrals on a piercing shop/piercer from knowledgeable friends and/or the local health department.

Although individual studio requirements vary, most will expect you to:

Bring valid photo identification
Be completely sober
Be bathed with hair trimmed or tied back (where applicable)
Have eaten within 4 hours
If you are getting a genital or nipple piercing wear suitable, clean underwear/garments/bras. We do not do genital piercings.
If possible, avoid Aspirin or other blood thinners
Have considered any potential health issues i.e. individual who require antibiotics prior to dental work should see their doctor prior to being pierced.

Studio Etiquette

In the piercing room: Allow your piercer to direct you to an area where personal belongings may be placed BEFORE setting anything down.
Camera flashes can be very distracting during the performance of a piercing.
Check with your piercer before taking pictures.
Turn off your cell phone.

Shopping for jewelry

When referring to size of jewelry, there are two measurements. One is the width (of a ring, also known as its diameter) or the length (of a barbell or straight post). The other is the thickness of the jewelry, or gauge. When talking about the jewelry gauge, the smaller the numbers, the thicker the jewelry.

When choosing what to put in a piercing, especially a fresh one, remember that jewelry quality can make a big difference in the health of the piercing. Jewelry should be polished to a mirror finish. It should be brilliant and reflective; jewelry that is dull, grey in color, or has nicks, scratches, or polishing compound on its surface should not be used. Jewelry for initial piercings should be made of material that will not react with the body: implant grade stainless steel and titanium; gold (14K or higher); or platinum. In some cases, inert plastics like Tygon® or PTFE (Teflon®) are also acceptable. Sterling silver is not appropriate for healing, and acrylic should not be used for initial piercings. Earring studs should never be used for anything other than earlobes.

~Body Piercing Aftercare~

Taking Care of your  piercing

The best aftercare will depend on various factors. Each body is unique and every piercing is different. There ar a number of things you can do to help your body to heal your piercing. Some of them are:

Keep your hands OFF the piercing! dirty (unwashed) hands are the worst enemy for piercing. During the course of a day your hands become covered with germs. If you touch the piercing, even just near the area, you will deposit bacteria at the piercing site, possible causing an infection.

Cleaning Solutions

Use one or both of the following solutions:

Antimicrobial or antibacterial alcohol-free mouth rinse. (oral piercing)

Packaged sterile saline solution with no additives (read the label) or non-iodized sea salt mixture; Dissolve 1/8 to ¼ teaspoon of non-iodized (iodine free) sea salt into one cup (8oz) of warm distilled or bottled water. A stronger mixture is NOT better. Saline solution that is too strong can irritate your piercing. (external or oral piercing)-If you have high blood pressure or a heart condition please check with your doctor before using a saline product as your primary cleaning solution.)

A mild, fragrance-free liquid soap-preferably anti-microbial or germicidal. (external piercing only)

Cleaning Instructions For  External Body Piercings

WASH your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning or touching your piercing for any reason.

SALINE soak for five or ten minutes at least twice a day or more if needed, (You can over clean your piercing). Invert a cup of warm saline solution over the area to form a vacuum. For certain piercing it may be easier to apply using clean gauze or paper towels saturated with saline solution. A brief rinse afterward will remove any residue.

SOAP no more than twice a day. While showering lather up a pearl size drop of the soap to clean the jewelry and the piercing. Leave the cleanser on the piercing no more than thirty seconds.

RINSE thoroughly to remove all traces of the soap from the piercing. It is not necessary to rotate the jewelry through the piercing.

DRY by gently patting with clean, disposable paper products. Cloth towels can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry, causing injury.

Cleaning Instructions for Oral Body Piercings

RINSE your mouth with cleaning solution for 30 seconds after meals, smoking and at bedtime (4-5 times daily) during the entire healing period. Cleaning too often or with too strong a rinse can cause discoloration and irritation of your mouth and piercing.

Maintain Good oral Hygiene. 

First Aid

Allow small pieces of ice to dissolve in the mouth. (Ice relieves swelling.)

Take an over the counter, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen or aspirin as indicated on package.

APPLY Bactine as it includes a first aid liquid with active ingredients Benzalkonium Chloride, an antiseptic that prevents infection, and lidocaine, a local anesthetic which will numb the surface. (external piercing only-WytchDragon recommendation)

What is Normal

Initially; some bleeding localized swelling, tenderness, or bruising.

During healing; some discoloration, itching, secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid (not pus) that will form some crust on the jewelry. The tissue may tighten around the jewelry as it heals.

Once healed; the jewelry may not move freely in the piercing; do not force it. If you fail to include cleaning your piercing as part of your daily hygiene routine, normal but smelly bodily secretions may accumulate.

A piercing my 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. Be patient, and keep cleaning throughout the entire healing period.

All piercing take a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks to  heal. Do NOT change your jewelry until after it is completely healed.

Even healed piercing can shrink or close in minutes after having been there for years! This varies from person to person; if you like your piercing, keep the jewelry in-do not leave it empty.

What to Do

Wash your hands prior to touching the piercing; leave it alone except when cleaning. During healing, it is not necessary to rotate your jewelry.

Stay healthy; the healthier your lifestyle, the easier it will be for your piercing to heal. Get enough sleep and eat a nutritious diet. Exercise during healing is fine; listen to your body.

Make sure your bedding is washed changed regularly. Wear clean, comfortable, breathable clothing that protects your piercing while you are sleeping.

Showers tend to be safer than taking baths, as bathtubs can harbor bacteria. If you bathe in a tub, clean it well before each use and rinse off your piercing when you get out.

What To Avoid

Avoid cleaning with Hibiclens, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Dial or other harsh soaps, as these can damage skin cells. Also avoid ointments as they prevent necessary air circulation. 

Avoid over-cleaning. This can delay your healing and irritate your piercing.

Avoid all oral contact, rough play, and contact with others’ bodily fluids on or near your piercing during healing.

Avoid stress and recreational drug use, including excessive caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.

Avoid submerging the piercing in unhygienic bodies of water such as the ocean, lakes, pools, hot tubs, etc. Or protect your piercing using a waterproof wound-sealant bandage (such as 3m nexcare Clean Seals). These are available at most drugstores.

Avoid all beauty (such as make up) and personal care products on or around the piercing including cosmetics lotions, and sprays, etc.

Don’t hang charms or any object from your jewelry until the piercing is fully healed.

Hints And Tips

Jewelry

Unless there is a problem with the size, style or material of the initial jewelry, leave it in place for the entire healing period. See a qualified piercer to perform any jewelry change that become necessary during healing.

Contact your piercer if your jewelry must be removed (such as for a medical procedure). There are non-metallic jewelry alternatives available.

Leave jewelry in at all times. Even old or well-healed piercing can shrink or close in minutes even after having been there for years. If removed, re-insertion can be difficult or impossible.

With clean hands or paper product, be sure to regularly check threaded ends on your jewelry for tightness. (“righty-tighty, lefty-loosey.”)

Carry a clean spare ball in case of loss of breakage.

Should you decide you no longer want the piercing, simply remove the jewelry (or have a professional piercer remove it) and continue cleaning the piercing until the hole closes. In most cases only a small mark will remain.

In the even of an infection is suspected, quality jewelry or an inert alternative should be left in place to allow for drainage or the infection. If the jewelry is removed, the surface cells can close up which can seal the infection inside the channel and result in an abscess. Do not remove jewelry unless instructed to by a medical professional.

For Particular Areas

Ear, Cartilage and Facial:

Use the t-shirt trick: Dress your pillow in a large, clean t-shirt and turn it nightly; one clean t-shirt provides four clean surfaces for sleeping.

Maintain cleanliness of telephones, headphones, eyeglasses, helmets, hats and anything that contacts the pierced area.

Use caution when styling your hair and advise your stylist of a new or healing piercing.

Navel:

A hard, vented eye patch (sold at pharmacies) can be applied under tight clothing (such as nylon stockings) or secured using a length of Ace bandage around the body (to avoid irritation from adhesive). This can protect the area from restrictive clothing, excess irritation, and impact during physical activities such as contact sports.

Nipples:

The Support of a tight cotton shirt or sports bra may provide protection and feel comfortable, especially for sleeping.

Each body is unique and healing times vary considerably. If you have any questions, please contact your piercer.

*DISCLAIMER:

These guidelines are based on a combination of vast professional experience, common sense, research and extensive clinical practice. This is not to be considered a substitute for medical advice from a doctor. If you suspect an infection, seek medical attention.