This article has been taken from the book written by Danny Wakantanka "Body Piercing, Rites,Tradition, Fashion and Pain". Nevertheless, it has been modified to be kept up to date.

Use the links below to go to each one of three sections.

- BODY & FACE PIERCING CARE GUIDE

- ORAL PIERCING CARE GUIDE

- APPROXIMATE HEALING TIMES

BODY & FACE PIERCING CARE GUIDE

Many think that to place an earring in the body he is only that: to put a piece and ready. But they do not consider that when perforating a small wound is being caused, by which could introduce several virus and bacteria that could trigger in sinfín of contrariedades and risks but the suitable care is had. But not you alarm, cares are simple and if you follow them as we suggested to you, soon you can enjoy without annoyances of your new perforation.

CLEANING

The corporal perforations are due to clean one or twice to the day during the process of the healing, most recommendable it is to do it in the morning at night and. The zone more of twice is not due to clean to the day, otherwise irritations could be caused and therefore, to prolong the time of healing. If it is only possible to clean it once, most recommendable it is to do it at night, since it is when the skin is more relaxed

In order to wash the perforation, he is recommendable to use a antibacterial or neutral soap and water. Before cleaning it a antibacterial liquid soap and hot water are due to wash to the hands with. An initial perforation with the dirty hands is never due to touch, because they could be via of contamination generating some infection.

Before moving the earring, it prepares the zone dampening it with hot water, removes with cotonete the scabs that form around the earring. You never try to clear them with the nails.

It applies a little soap on the zone. Clean the area and the jewelry shop, turn the piece several times, smoothly forwards and back so that the soap penetrates in the perforation. It leaves the soap remains by a minute in the zone, soon you must rinse very well with water so that they are not left remainders, once again moving the piece.

Later, it is necessary to dry the zone with a disposable towel, since the fabric towels could "hoard" the bacteria.

You must have patience, each body is different and only, by the same, the healing can vary of person to person. While it continues leaving a secretion the perforation, he is advisable to continue the same regime of cleaning although it has passed the time average of healing.

WHAT'S NORMAL?

After making a perforation it could appear bled, bruises and inflammations in the zone, nevertheless, are not signal of some complication. To perforate the skin, means to separate the weave, which can react of diverse forms, varying between each person. In order to avoid the previous thing, he is recommendable to avoid the consumption of aspirins, alcohol and caffein.

After a new perforation you can sentirte something uncomfortable, since the zone presents/displays swelling by some days generally.

The secretion of liquids with plasma of blood and dead cells is normal. It is generally a liquid between target and yellow, that forms a type of scab around the jewelry shop, is not pus, so you are not alarmed. This secretion is an indicator of which the perforation is healing.

Even though the perforation shines heals by outside, can continue the secretion, now with a more solid liquid, which is signal that the time of treatment continues, it of internal way, because finally the skin of the conduit must regenerate completely.

Sometimes the perforations seem healthy and suddenly irritations and annoyances return to their initial state with. This is normal.

The sensation of which the earring is very tight is normal, you do not hope mainly that the jewelry shop moves of a side towards the other, in the first days.

WHAT TO DO ?

Before touching the perforation he is advisable to wash the hands. Most recommendable it is to touch to the perforation and the earring solely during the cleaning.

The piece in the perforation is due to leave during the healing process. He is recommendable to review during the cleaning, with clean hands, if the small balls of the jewelry shop properly are fit to the earring.

In order to shine a healthy perforation, the ideal is not to clear and to put the earring frequently, otherwise you could hurt the skin.

The use of clean and comfortable clothes that allow him "to breathe" to the perforation. During the time of healing, he is advisable to take a multivitaminic one that contains zinc and vitamin c.

To rest the sufficient thing, to take a nutritious diet, avoids stress, drugs and alcohol, helps to obtain one more a faster healing.

If you have quitarte the earring by some medical examination, the best thing is to replace it by a piece of tygon or politetrafluorotileno (PTFE) until you can reinsertar your jewelry shop.

If the perforation is irritated, independent to the cleaning, you can use promotions with salt of sea or tea of manzanilla.

Washing in the shower is healthier than a bath in the bathtub, since in this one the bacteria could lodge themselves. But if even so you prefer to take a bath in the bathtub, he is advisable to before clean it with chlorine or some similar product and, soon of the bath, to rinse the perforation with clean water again.

WHAT NOT TO DO ?

You do not use alcohol, merthiolate nor oxygenated water, since they are products that can cause irritation and resequedad. He is not either advisable to grease pomadas with antibiotics, because some of these products cause that oxygen does not arrive at the "wound" causing complications.

You do not exceed in the cleaning. To wash the zone more of twice to the day could delay the healing, since you would be eliminating the self-defenses of the body.

It avoids to use different products to clean, the ideal is to use neutral or antibacterial soap solely.

During the time of healing, it avoids the oral contact and with other corporal liquids, as well as the robust games.

You do not use adhesives (patches or band-aids) on the perforation, since they limit the circulation of the air and the glue can hurt and irritate the zone.

The initial perforations do not have to be exposed to any public natural or artificial water source like ponds, lakes, jacuzzis, etc., because in these places the water is not generally clean, which represents a risk of infection for a new perforation.

If you exercise, avoid to press or to haul the perforation. When you finish of ejercitarte, it washes the zone to avoid that the sweat remains on the wound.

If the perforation presents/displays pus you do not clear the jewelry shop, it helps to that this it has exit, in addition if you remove the earring, the holes can be closed and the result could be an abscess.

SUGESTIONS BY BODY AREA

Navel

Avoid to use fit clothes or belts that press the perforation. Otherwise, it uses an adhesive (like the patches that is used to cover the eyes) on the zone, this one will help to protect it of the sweat and will cushion of the pressure.

Ear

If you use spray for the hair, lotion or some similar product, you do not allow that between in contact with the perforation. Asegúrate that the cover of your pillow is clean and, of being possible, avoids to use telephones public.

Nipple

Not to haul or to scrape the perforation when sleeping, for the men he is advisable to use a playera of cotton and for the women brassiere sport. If you have mascots, avoids that they rise your bed, it so that they do not leave to bacteria or pelusas that can induce an infection, mainly during the healing process.

Genitals

If you pierce the genitals the sexual activity not this prohibited, but obvious you must have certain well-taken care of like using preservative. Some exist that have an extra space in the end, which will help to accommodate you your jewelry shop. Also he is recommendable to use a lubricant with water base to facilitate the penetration. Although obvious the best thing is to listen your body, if you feel incomodidad, the best thing will be than you take the things with calm and that you let do it during a time.

IS YOUR PIERCING IRRITATED?

If the skin around the perforation is red or irritated, the water promotions with salt of sea are very recommendable, at least once to the day; then besides to alleviate they help it to accelerate the healing process.

You can dissolve a quarter of teaspoon in a clean water cup and warms up; the distilled water is the best option. If you feel that this parched solution the skin, you can prove using 1/8 of salt teaspoon. You do not exceed in the amount of salt, since it could be counter-productive.

This solution you can apply it with a disposable towel or hisopo, according to the zone. After the promotions, it is necessary to clean the perforation with water again and to dry. You never turn the earring with the salt, since this one only must be used of external way, not within the "wound".

The promotions of salt, like those of tea of manzanilla, help to stimulate the circulation of the blood and oxygen, reason why they favor to the healing. He is very recommendable to place the promotions before the daily activities, this to come up that during the day the costritas that form around the piece put in the perforation.

The time of application of the promotions must be around fifteen minutes. If you place several promotions during the day, then they can be only by a minute without the effectiveness is lost.

ORAL PIERCING AFTERCARE GUIDE

The perforations of lips, cheeks and language heal fast because the weave of the zone is softer and benevolent, nevertheless, could in the beginning be uncomfortable, by the inflammation that present/display generally. But not you alarm, cares are simple and if you follow them as we suggested to you, soon you can enjoy without annoyances of your new perforation.

CLEANING

The perforations that have contact with the mouth must clean up after ingesting foods or drinks. The ideal is to give traditional cepillado in the teeth, finalizing with a free alcohol mouthwash, that is antibacterial or antimicrobial. It will help you to eliminate the bacteria and to reduce the infection possibilities. If you feel that the rinsing is very irritating is recommendable to replace it by another mark, since when reducing it with water loses its properties. Also you can use a rinsing done with salt of sea. In order to obtain the correct solution it mixes a quarter of teaspoon of salt of sea with a lukewarm water cup.

The rinsing must be made by 30 to 60 seconds after each food during the initial stage of the healing. He is not recommendable to use the cleaning solution more than five times to the day, nevertheless, if only one drink, candy or cocktail snack interferes, is due to rinse the mouth during 10 to 15 seconds solely with water.

If you suffer of problems cardiac or high pressure it avoids to use the rinsing with salt.

WHAT'S NORMAL?

The inflammation of the zone is perfectly normal during the first three to five days later to the perforation. In order to reduce it you can absorb (not to chew) ice or in buckets or frapé.

Any new perforation can present/display a slight one bled at the beginning, in addition also they could appear certain around in bruises to his, this is normal and they are not symbol of complications.

Because you place an object other people's to your natural anatomy, during the first days you can experience certain incomodidad, which will be dissipated once you are accustomed.

You do not worry if it leaves a white liquid your perforation, since this one is plasma of blood or died cells, so he is natural. Any perforation tends to release this secretion, although in the zone of the mouth it is confused generally with the saliva and obvious costrita by the humidity of the zone does not form.

In the jewelry for the tongue it is normal that a bacterial plate in the ball of down and the post forms, this is possible to be removed carving the piece with a dental brush. The earring for the cleaning nor for a visit of routine to the dentist is not due to clear.

Sometimes the perforations seem healthy and suddenly irritations and annoyances return to their initial state with. This is normal. Ten patience and continues cleaning the zone.

WHAT TO DO ?

Try to sleep in such a way that the head is above of the heart, thus you will avoid that the perforated zone becomes inflamed more of the necessary thing.

There are some desinflamantes products that are sold with no need of prescription in the pharmacies, these they will help you to diminish the inflammation and the incomodidad.

It is recommendable to review at least once to the day, with the clean hands, if the small balls of the earring are screwed perfectly.

You do not allow that nobody touch your perforation, and if you must do it, asegúrate of first washing your hands.

If it is possible, during the time of healing, it changes your toothbrush constantly, it will avoid that the bacteria that remain in him make contact again with enemy with your mouth.

Use a dental paste that is not too irritating.

While you are accustomed to your new jewelry shop, it tries to eat slowly and that the mouthfuls are small. The meals and drinks you cold refresh the zone. In addition you must take sufficient water, specially prepared.

Have sufficient sleep and feed with nutritious food. While healthier they are your habits faster will heal your perforation.

Once one lowers the inflammation of the tongue is very recommendable to change the earring by which it has the shortest post, known as rest earring. This piece will be more comfortable and will avoid the irritation and the constant shock of your earring with the teeth.

Although you have several years with the piercing, if the jewelry is removed, can be reduced in minutes, this varies between person and person. So if for some reason you must remove it, the best thing will be than you use an earring known like retainer, which is a transparent bar that will hide your perforation without running the risk perfectly of which it is closed.

WHAT NO TO DO ?

Although you have a monogamous relation, during the first fifteen days avoids to offer oral sex, including tongue kisses, because finally a perforation is a wound and by her you can contagiarte of diverse of diseases.

Of being possible, you do not share your plates, cups or places setting.

Avoid to smoke during the time of healing, since the tobacco can prolong the period of treatment, like stress and the drugs.

You do not consume aspirins, alcohol and caffein during the first days, these could cause an additional inflammation.

Try not to excede with the irritating, acid food or too much it warms up.

You do not play excessively with the earring, since you can delay the time of treatment, expand the perforation or cause permanent damage to the teeth and gum.

The metal is harder than the human body, be well-taken care of.

You do not use different products to clean the perforation. It avoids to ingest hot drinks during the first days.

SUGESTIONS BY BODY AREA

Get used to to take with you an extra ball in case you lose some of your earring.

This is very advisable mainly if you use acrylic balls, which are more fragile.

If you break or you lose a ball of your earring, it uses a rubber small piece to erase, it will work to you in cases of emergencies.

In barbells and labrets you can change to the balls the times that you want while the post remains in its place during the time of healing.

Tongue

Try to eat small mouthfuls, and if it is possible directly places the pieces between molares, thus you will avoid to do it with your language.

Wash your tongue and jewelry with a smooth brush. Once the zone has healed to the perforation, brush with more force to avoid that the dento bacterial plateplate forms.

Lips & Cheeks

Take care of when opening the mouth when you are eating since you can cause a bite that will hurt to you more than the same perforation.

The outer part of the perforation can be reddened a little during the healing, this is normal.

APPROXIMATE HEALING TIMES

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