Piercing Sterilization

Piercing sterilization is important to do when getting and taking care of a piercing. When you get a piercing, ask your piercer if all his equipment has been sterilized in an autoclave. While he does the piercing make sure he changes his gloves often and he opens package containing the sterilized needle in front of you. Make sure the jewelry is either surgical steel, titanium or gold. Keeping your piercing sterilized afterward is simple.

Instructions

Things You'll Need

Antimicrobial/germicidal medicated soap
Sea Salt
Distilled Water

1)Thoroughly wash your hands before cleaning your piercing. Piercings should be cleaned daily for the length of your healing time. This can also be added to your shower routine.

2)Wash your piercing with antimicrobial/germicidal medicated soap. Make sure your soap is mild and both fragrance and color-free. Rinse with warm water, making sure there is no soapy residue left behind.

3)Soak your piercing in a sea salt soak directly after cleaning. Sea salt soaks are recommended once a day to aid in faster healing. A sea salt soak can be made by dissolving 1/4 tsp. of sea salt in 8 oz. of distilled water and soaking the area directly for several minutes.

4)Check your jewelry after each cleaning to make sure the balls of threaded jewelry are firmly attached. Balls can be changed at any time, but you must keep the original jewelry in for the full healing time.

Keep your jewelry in for the full healing time. This is usually about 3 months.

Piercings should not be cleaned more than twice a day.

Clean your bathtub with a bleach product thoroughly before bathing during the initial healing time after getting a piercing.

Professional piercers do not support the use of a piercing gun because it cannot be sterilized in an autoclave and does not adequately protect against the transmission of blood-born pathogens.

In the event of pus drainage or infection, see your physician for treatment immediately. Leave the jewelry in during treatment to avoid the skin closing and sealing in bacteria.