Body piercings are a wonderful form of art and self-expression. There are so many styles and options to choose from. You have all the freedom to display your creative as well as a bold side when deciding what type of body piercings you will go for.
However, you need to keep one thing in mind: your body treats any kind of piercing as a wound. This means you will have to take proper and give it sufficient time to heal before you can try a variety of jewelry.
Following proper piercing aftercare and knowing how to clean a piercing can go a long way in helping your piercing heal faster. This way we are here to help!
Read on to find out the best ways to keep your piercings clean and free from infection.
How to Clean a Piercing
Cleaning your piercing regularly is a major part of good aftercare. This is not supposed to be a complicated task, nor do you require a bunch of commercial cleaning solutions and products for this. All you need is a bottle of normal saline. In case you can’t get that, you can prepare a saline solution at home.
Preparing Saline Solution
You will need just two ingredients for this:
- Pure and organic salt (rock salt or sea salt granules can do)
- Warm water
Take warm water in a cup and dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in it. Stir it properly and the solution is ready. Make sure it’s not too salty, or else it may irritate your piercing.
Using the Solution to Clean the Piercing
You can store your normal saline solution in a small bottle and use it to clean your piercing at least twice or thrice a day for about 2 to 3 weeks.
You can damp a clean cotton pad with the solution and press it lightly on the pierced area. Keep it in that position for about a few minutes and then wipe it off.
The saline solution keeps your piercing clean as it takes away moisture from the piercing and also kills any microbial growth. This reduces the risk of infections. It can also relieve the pain that comes with a new piercing.
For additional benefits, you can also mix a few drops of tea tree oil in the solution. Tea tree oil is a great antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredient that can speed up the process of healing.
To Sum Up
Maintaining good hygiene and cleaning your new piercings can promote faster healing and eliminate the chances of any infections. Apart from cleaning the pierced area regularly with saline solution, you should also take care of the following.
- Don’t touch your piercing unnecessarily or play with them (with dirty hands).
- Do not use any harsh chemicals, cosmetics, or soap on the piercing.
- Avoid putting pressure on the pierced area while sleeping.