Getting a piercing a few years ago was much more complicated than getting a piercing now. The growth of the piercing industry has brought a lot of new information to light, making piercing professionals more confident in current piercing practices.
However, it can be quite confusing when you’re getting a piercing for the first time, which can lead you to commit a few mistakes. Don’t worry, we’re here to help!
Here are a few newbie piercing mistakes that you need to avoid.
1. Over-Cleaning Your Piercing
You may have heard tons of stories regarding terribly infected piercings. This may have made you more alert and convinced you to ensure that your piercing is in its cleanest state at all times. The fact is that you should clean your piercing only 2 – 3 times daily; not more, not less than that. Piercing infections occur only in extreme cases where people don’t manage to maintain good hygiene.
The problem with cleaning your piercing too much is that it can dry out your skin, causing irritation in the skin surrounding your skin. This can make your piercing appear unsightly, with prolonged healing times and other complications. So, just focus on the piercing aftercare routine suggested by your piercer rather than adding on your own activities.
2. Misdiagnosing Piercing Bumps
It’s quite common to experience small bumps around your piercing. This may seem quite unusual, sending you into panic mode and causing you to turn to the internet for answers. If you do try to self-diagnose these bumps using the internet, you can expect to come across the weirdest answers!
Piercing bumps can occur due to a vast number of reasons. From slight skin irritation to hypertrophic scarring, anything can cause piercing bumps. Those who self-diagnose these bumps also tend to come up with their own solutions and medications to solve their problem, which can be quite dangerous. So, unless you have a medical degree, don’t self-diagnose any piercing bumps and implement ridiculous treatments to endanger your piercing!
3. Twisting Your Piercing Jewelry
Many years ago, people were taught to twist their piercing jewelry once in a while to get rid of crusties and to prevent them from growing on further. This practice must be left behind in the past! Touching your new piercing jewelry must be avoided since it can do more harm than good. It basically harms and irritates the already delicate healing skin, interfering with the healing process. So, if you do experience the growth of crusties around your piercing, gently wipe them away with a lint-free cloth or paper towel.
4. Thinking Your Piercing Has Healed
Piercings appear to have healed sooner than they actually heal. Your piercing may appear completely healed from above after just a few days of getting a piercing. However, there’s still a lot of important healing that your piercing needs to do internally. So, don’t back out on your piercing aftercare practices, or opt for changing your jewelry when you think your piercing has healed. The best option is to wait until your piercer gives you a go-ahead after you’ve served your entire recommended healing period.
Piercing healing is not as complicated as you might believe. Just follow everything your piercer suggests and avoid the above-listed newbie piercing mistakes, and you’re good to go!
