HeadRush Whitby

Piercing Aftercare Instructions

Handle with care — do not touch unless cleaning. Proper aftercare is what separates a well-healed piercing from a problematic one.

Expected Healing Times

Piercing Type	Initial	Full Healing	Downsize at
Earlobe	6–8 weeks	3–4 months	4–6 weeks
Helix / Cartilage	3–6 months	6–12 months	8–12 weeks
Tragus	3–6 months	6–12 months	8–12 weeks
Daith	3–6 months	9–12 months	10–12 weeks
Conch	3–6 months	6–12 months	8–12 weeks
Industrial	4–6 months	9–12 months	10–14 weeks
Nostril	2–4 months	4–6 months	6–8 weeks
Septum	6–8 weeks	3–4 months	4–6 weeks
Lip / Labret	6–8 weeks	3–4 months	2–4 weeks
Tongue	4–6 weeks	2–3 months	2–3 weeks
Navel	4–6 months	9–12 months	8–12 weeks
Nipple	4–6 months	9–12 months	8–12 weeks

A piercing is considered "healed" when it no longer produces discharge, feels tender, or shows redness. Cartilage, navel, and surface piercings may require up to 2 years for complete internal healing. When in doubt, ask your piercer — not the internet.

Daily Care — Cleaning Routine (2× Daily)

Clean twice a day — morning and before bed. No more, no less. Over-cleaning is as harmful as under-cleaning.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately before touching or cleaning your piercing. Every time, no exceptions.
Rinse the piercing with saline wound wash (NeilMed or equivalent). Spray directly or apply with clean lint-free gauze — never cotton balls, which leave fibres behind.
Let the saline sit for 30–60 seconds to loosen any crust or discharge around the jewelry.
Gently wipe away any softened crust with clean lint-free gauze or a Q-tip. Do not pick or force anything off.
Rinse the area with clean water to remove any residue.
Pat dry with a fresh paper towel or clean gauze. Do not rub.
Apply a thin layer of aftercare ointment or saline spray to keep the site protected.

⚠ Do not over-clean. Cleaning more than twice a day strips natural oils and prolongs healing.

Products to NEVER Use

•Alcohol & Hydrogen Peroxide — kill healthy cells, dry out and damage the tissue around your piercing, massively slow healing.
•Bacitracin & Polysporin — cause allergic reactions, clog pores, don't cleanse the wound, and interfere with new tissue formation.
•Bactine / Antiseptic Sprays — contain benzalkonium chloride; too harsh for open wounds, damages healing tissue.
•Soap Directly on the Wound — use soap only to clean your hands before touching. Do not apply soap into the piercing channel.

Redness, Pain & Swelling

What's Normal

•Redness and swelling around the piercing for the first 1–2 weeks. This is a normal inflammatory response.
•A small amount of clear or white-yellowish discharge (lymph fluid) that dries to a crust around the jewelry — completely normal, not infection.
•Mild soreness or tenderness when the area is touched, especially in the first week.
•Slight itching during the healing phase — do not scratch.

How to Manage It

•Keep cleaning 2× daily with saline. Consistent aftercare is the single most effective thing you can do.
•For swelling: a clean cold compress (not ice directly on skin) held gently over the area for a few minutes can reduce inflammation.
•For pain: Tylenol (acetaminophen) can be taken if needed. Avoid ibuprofen and aspirin — they thin the blood and can increase bleeding around a fresh piercing.
•Elevate if applicable — if a body piercing is swollen, keeping the area elevated when resting helps.
•Wear loose, soft clothing over body piercings. Friction is one of the leading causes of prolonged irritation.

⚠ IMPORTANT: If redness, pain, or swelling is increasing after the first week, or you develop a fever, consult a family physician within 24 hours. Do not wait.

During Healing — What to Avoid

Physical

•Do not touch, twist, rotate, or move the jewelry
•Do not sleep directly on a new ear piercing
•Avoid tight clothing rubbing over body piercings
•Do not pick off crusty discharge — soak it off

Water & Environment

•No swimming in pools, lakes, oceans, or hot tubs
•Showers are fine — let clean water rinse over it
•Avoid submerging in bath water
•No saunas, steam rooms, or tanning beds

Lifestyle

•No makeup, lotions, perfume, or hairspray near it
•Keep hair away from facial/ear piercings
•No oral contact with the piercing site

Jewelry & Downsizing

Your initial jewelry is longer than your final piece — this is intentional. It accommodates swelling.

Do not change jewelry for at least 6–8 weeks for lobes and septum, or 3–6 months for cartilage and body piercings.
Downsize at the appropriate time. Come back to the studio — we will swap to a shorter post that sits flush.
After downsizing, continue aftercare until the piercing is fully healed.
Material matters: use only implant-grade titanium (ASTM F136), implant-grade steel, solid 14k+ gold, or niobium.

⚠ Never attempt to change your own jewelry during initial healing. Come to the studio.

Possible Complications

Irritation Bump vs. Infection

Small, fluid-filled bumps near the piercing site are usually irritation bumps — caused by snagging, sleeping on the piercing, or incorrect jewelry fit. Fix the cause and the bump typically resolves. Continue saline aftercare. Do not pick or puncture.

Signs of Infection — See a Doctor Within 24 Hours If:

•The area is red, hot, swollen, and increasingly painful beyond the first week
•You notice thick yellow-green pus (distinct from normal clear/white lymph)
•You have a fever or feel generally unwell after getting pierced
•The skin around the piercing is hard, warm to the touch, and tender
•Redness is spreading visibly beyond the immediate piercing area

Other Possible Complications

•Keloid scarring — raised scar tissue beyond the piercing site. More common in certain skin types. Contact us if you notice unusual scar formation.
•Migration or rejection — the body slowly pushes surface piercings out. Signs: jewelry sitting closer to the skin surface, thinning tissue above the jewelry. See your piercer promptly.
•Allergic reaction to jewelry — persistent widespread redness and rash rather than localized. Switch to implant-grade titanium and consult a physician if symptoms persist.

⚠ If you suspect infection, do NOT remove the jewelry. Removing it traps the infection inside the closed channel. See a physician with the jewelry in place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I clean my piercing in the shower?

Yes — letting clean water flow over the piercing in the shower is fine and even helpful. Just don't use soap or shampoo directly on it.

The crust keeps coming back. Is that a problem?

No. Lymph fluid dries to a crust as a normal part of healing. It will keep appearing until the piercing is fully healed. Soak it off gently during cleanings — never pick.

My piercing looks fine. Can I stop cleaning it early?

No. Continue twice-daily cleaning until the piercing is fully healed, not just symptom-free. Stopping early is one of the leading causes of late-stage complications.

Can I swim at all?

Not in pools, lakes, or oceans during initial healing. If you must, cover the piercing with a waterproof bandage and clean thoroughly afterward — but avoidance is strongly preferred.

My jewelry is too tight / getting embedded. What do I do?

I snagged my piercing. What now?

Clean it with saline, don't panic. Minor snagging is common. If there is significant tearing, bleeding that doesn't stop, or the jewelry has been pulled through, come to the studio or see a physician.

When can I change to a hoop or a different style?

Only after the piercing is fully healed — not just initially healed. For most cartilage piercings that means 12+ months. Come to the studio and we'll assess it properly.