When the snow starts falling and the cold winds start blowing, you may experience some discomfort due to your piercing. The fact is that the cold weather has an adverse impact on your skin, specifically dryness and flakiness, which can affect your piercings. Therefore, it is important to know how to keep your pierced region smooth and hydrated till spring arrives.
Often, caring for your piercing means frequent checkups and cleanups. However, piercings take longer to heal during winter as a result of dehydration. So, it is imperative that you take proper care of your piercing to prevent complications from arising.
How to Care For Your Piercing During Winter
Here are a few ways to care for your piercing during winter.
Avoid Using Soap
Whether you have a piercing on your nose, ears, or any other part of your body, it is important that you keep it as clean as you can. However, it is recommended that you avoid washing your piercing directly with excess soap as it can be quite damaging for your skin. Soap generally dries out piercings all-year-round, but washing your piercing with soap in winters can be quite detrimental. This is mainly because excessive cleaning of a piercing, especially with soap, can end up getting rid of your skin’s natural moisturizers, drying it up more than usual. The best choice is to opt for a sea salt solution to clean up your piercing.
Bathe with Luke Warm Water
While a hot shower is all you crave during winter, it isn’t the best choice for your piercing. Hot water makes our skin exceptionally dry, which will negatively impact your piercing. A better option is to take a bath with lukewarm water while avoiding non-detergent cleaners.
Use a Moisturizer
The best way to beat dry skin during winters is to use a cream moisturizer. A luscious and heavy moisturizer is especially great for those with dry and sensitive skin. Hydrated and moisturized skin will ensure that your piercing remains healthy.
Avoid Extreme Temperatures
You need to avoid extreme temperatures to protect your piercing. Extremely cold weather can cause frostbite and skin disorders in your pierced area so you need to ensure that you remain properly covered at all times. Extreme heat isn’t a good option, either. It may feel good to remain cuddled up in front of your electric heater, but any temperature above 78 degrees will diminish moisture from the air and will dry up your skin, and cause discomfort to your piercing.
What to Do if Your Piercing Gets Infected During Winter?
Prolonged dryness can cause skin irritation, which can lead to an infection in the pierced area. Red streaks, fever, yellow pus, and hot skin from your piercing are all symptoms of an infection. As soon as you begin to notice one or more symptoms, it is imperative that you initiate a full-scale piercing aftercare routine. Start with sea salt water soaks for some relief.
Visit your doctor if your piercing is causing a lot of discomforts, and ask him if you should start off on antibiotics. After carefully examining your piercing, your doctor will recommend whether or not you should take off your piercing jewelry.
While it is important to care for your piercing all-year-round, it is even more important to care for it during winter. Follow the above-mentioned tips to care for your piercing to avoid infections and complications!