BONE DEEP’S AFTERCARE FOR BELOW THE NECK Your piercing was performed professionally and appropriately. Follow these simple suggestions and your healing period should go smoothly. Although not physicians, BONE DEEP’s piercers are available whenever you have questions about aftercare. Please call us anytime!

A NORMAL PIERCING: DO I HAVE AN INFECTION?  May be tender, itchy, slightly red , or bruised for a few weeks. Infections are caused by contact with bacteria, fungi, or other living  Redness may persist for several months to a full year. pathogens. Piercing infections can usually be traced to one of the following  May bleed a little for the first few days for various piercings. activities:  May secrete a whitish-yellow fluid which crusts on the jewelry. This is  Touching the piercing with unwashed hands, or letting someone else not pus. touch the piercing.  May tighten around the jewelry as it heals, making turning when dry  Oral contact wit the piercing, including your own saliva. somewhat difficult.  Allowing body fluids to contact the piercing (your urine is sterile to your  May “fold” over to one side. You may decide that the jewelry would own body). be more comfortable at an angle. If this occurs, don’t try to force the  Contact with hair, cosmetics, oils, infrequently washed clothing or ring to lie straight. bedding or other agents.  Going into a pool, hot tub, lake, ocean, or other body of water (your own HOW SHOULD I CLEAN MY PIERCING(s)? clean bathtub is okay).  Choose ONE gentle liquid antibacterial soap containing triclosan, such as: Dial Liquid Antibacterial; Lever 2000 Liquid Antibacterial; HOW CAN I TELL IF I HAVE AN INFECTION? Softsoap Antibacterial; Almay Hypocare Antibacterial. While these symptoms may also indicate other problems, look for the  If you are sensitive to triclosan, you may want to try these alternatives: following indications of infections: Clearly Natural Antibacterial (iodine) or NutriBiotic Antibacterial  Redness, swelling and/or a sensation of heat at the piercing site. (grapefruit seed)  Pain, especially throbbing or spreading pain.  You may find it easiest to do this in the shower. Was hands well before  Unusual discharge. It may be yellowish, greenish, or grayish. cleansing. First let the water help you to remove any crusted matter, then rotate a little liquid antibacterial soap gently into the piercing. I THINK I HAVE AN INFECTION. WHAT SHOULD I DO? Leave the soap in the piercing for mo more than 2-3 minutes, then rinse While it’s never inappropriate to see your piercing-friendly physician, a call to thoroughly while rotating the jewelry. Don’t allow any residue to your piercer may save you a trip. If possible, visit your piercer and show remain in the piercing. him/her the piercing. Also tell him/her about any circumstances which may  If the piercing is a genital piercing, you may wish to urinate after rinsing have led to the infection. to remove any residue from the sensitive urethra.  Please don’t remove the jewelry! This may aggravate the problem by  Clean the piercing no more than two times a day. Cleaning more closing off the drainage for the matter. frequently may damage the delicate skin cells. Cleaning less frequently  The effectiveness of an oral antibiotic depends on selecting the right one may invite an infection. When you’re not cleaning the piercing, leave it for the job. This should only be done by a physician! If you have used alone. an over the counter topical antibiotic ointment before without adverse effects, it may be appropriate to use sparingly, for no more than 3-5 WHAT ELSE CAN I DO? days. Many people are very sensitive to antibiotics, particularly  Many piercers have found that Vitamin C (3000mg in mineral ascorbate neomycin; Bacitracin is the least problematic ointment. form), multivitamins, and Zinc supplements (women: 60mg, and men: 120mg, for about two weeks) help speed the healing and regeneration COMMON PROBLEMS YOU CAN AVOID: process.  Over cleaning, vigorous cleaning, or using a cleanser that is too strong  Hot soaks and compresses, with optional addition on ¼ tsp sea salt per can produce symptoms very similar to an infection. The skin may be cup co clean water are strongly suggested for navel piercing. To soak, very tender and appear shiny and there may be a clear discharge. invert a cup of water over the navel, forming a vacuum, or soak in a  Friction caused by tight or heavy clothing, rough sexual activity , or well-cleaned bathtub. Make a compress with paper towels to insure excessive movement of the area can cause dark redness, keloids, cleanliness. You can do this once, or twice, daily for about 10-15 discharge, and rejection/migration. This is a common problem for navel minutes. piercing.  Nipple piercees may want to sleep in a clean tank top, T-shirt, or jog bra  Stress, poor diet, or illness can cause longer healing times, or migration for a few nights. of the piercing.  Genital piercees (male & female) can use a panty liner to absorb excess  Reactions to the metals used in quality jewelry are extremely rare. moisture and cushion the piercing. This is especially helpful for Guiche Often, a cleanser reaction or other problem is mistaken for a metal piercings. allergy. The area may feel hot and sore, like a low-grade infection, or  Avoid wearing restrictive or irritating clothing that limits oxygen flow the body may attempt to pull away from the metal, resulting in a large, to the area. Similarly, activities which constrict the area are discouraged. growing cavity.  Any sexual contact should be gentle, and latex barriers (dental dams,  Occasionally, the selected jewelry may not be appropriate. This may or condoms, finger cots) should be used to protect the piercing from body may not be due to circumstances that occurred after the piercing. If the fluids, even if you are in a monogamous relationship. jewelry is too thin or too heavy, too large or too small in diameter, or not the appropriate style (a barbell instead of a ring, for example), you may WHEN CAN I REMOVE OR CHANGE THE JEWELRY? experience healing problems. Contact your piercer if you suspect that  Your piercing will not be completely healed for several years. Even you may need different jewelry. after the piercing has healed – reinsertion can be difficult and sometimes impossible. ESTIMATED INITIAL HEALING TIMES:  Jewelry should not be changed during the initial healing period, usually Everyone heals at a different rate. These are the average times for which you about 6-10 months. Be sure to always wear appropriate jewelry in your should clean your piercing twice daily and treat it like new, healing tissue. piercing, when full healed. Jewelry designed for earlobes is never Remember that even after the initial period, your piercing will still need one appropriate, and can damage your piercing. full year or longer to completely heal (toughen up). Always treat the piercing  If you must remove the jewelry temporarily, call your piercer, or use an with care and gentleness. insertion taper lubricated with a little antibiotic ointment to insert a piece  Vertical & Horizontal Clit Hood, Inner Labia, Clitoris, Prince Albert: 4- of uncolored monofilament nylon. Weed-eater or fishing line work well. 8 weeks. 160lb. test is equivalent to 14-12 gauge. This will retain the piercing  Nipple, Outer Labia, Frenum, Guiche, Scrotum, Dydoes: 2-6 months. until your can reinsert the jewelry.  Ampallang, Apadravya: 4-8 months.  It’s no problem to permanently remove the jewelry. In most cases, only a small indentation will remain. We encourage you to call your piercer. They will be happy to assist you.