immediately!
If you have any question you can contact the shop at lifestyleink12@gmail.com or give us a call at (815) 730-1395
OVERALL RULES
Keep your new piercing clean, dry, downsize on time, and don’t mess with it!
Special Tip: Good hygiene, like showering, is important! But be sure to avoid submerging in pools, lakes, ponds, hot tubs, etc!
Ear Piercings
Helix, Deep Helix, Conch, Faux Rook, Tragus
Downsize Time: Approximately 8 weeks Full Heal Time: Approximately 8 months
Daith, Rook, Industrial
Not necessary to downsize but you CAN downsize after 10 months – 1 year
Full Heal Time: Approximately 10 months – 1 year
Lobe
Downsize Time: 6-8 weeks
Full Heal Time: Approximately 3 – 4 months
Special Tip: Make sure to go to bed with dry hair as excess moisture can cause irritation!
Anti-tragus and Snug
Downsize Time: 6-8 weeks
Full Heal Time: Approximately 10 months – 1 year
Special Tip: These piercings are notoriously difficult to heal! Follow your piercer’s instructions on downsizes and aftercare.
Nose Piercings
Nostril
Downsize Time: Approximately 8 weeks Full Heal Time: Approximately 6 – 8 months
Septum
Not necessary to downsize
Full Heal Time: Approximately 4 months
May change to seamless jewelry after fully healed
Eyebrow
Downsize Time: 6 – 8 weeks Full Heal Time: 5-6 months
Bridge
Downsize Time: 6 – 8 weeks Full Heal Time: 5-6 months
Special Tip: Bridge piercings are notorious for developing irritation bumps! Follow specific “irritation bump aftercare,” and consult your piercer if bumps start to form.
Oral Piercings
Follow traditional aftercare for the part of the piercing outside the mouth.
Inside the mouth, always make sure to rinse with clean water after eating. Once a day, you may add alcohol free mouthwash to clean water to rinse. Additionally, avoid smoking for the duration of your heal time and be sure to practice excellent oral hygiene.
To avoid dental damage as much as possible, it is important to follow downsize times and always have properly fitted jewelry.
Lip- Philtrum, Labret, Monroe, “Snake Bites,” etc.
Downsize Time: Approximately 3 weeks
Full Heal Time: 5-6 months
Special Tip: Lip Piercings often need more than one downsize! Stay in touch with your piercer to make sure you always wear properly fitted jewelry.
Tongue Piercings
Downsize Time: Approximately 10 days and 2 months
Full Heal Time: 3-4 months
Special Tip: Tongues love to swell! Be sure to plan ahead with soft foods and be ready to downsize accordingly as your swelling subsides.
Miscellaneous Body Piercings
Navel
Downsize may not be necessary until fully healed or after.
Full heal time: 1 year+
Nipples
Downsize Time: 4-5 months Full Heal Time: 1 year+
Special Tip: Nipple Piercings heal with “ups and downs!” Don’t panic about your piercings being more tender or if you produce additional discharge throughout your healing process.
Surface Anchor
No downsize necessary! Full Heal Time: 3 – 4 month
Special Tip: Surface anchors will always push out or “reject!” Make sure to consult your piercer if you are experiencing tenderness, tissue discoloration, or have an overall change in the way your piercing feels! Prompt removal is important to avoid excess scarring!
Let’s Talk About Bumps!
Irritation bumps are an unfortunate side effect of trauma happening to a healing piercing! These are commonly mistaken for “keloids,” when in fact they are a treatable excess production of scar tissue and collagen.
Things to do when you notice your piercing developing a bump: Contact your piercer! We will often recommend an in person consultation.
We will often go over things like, “How have you been cleaning your piercing?” “Has there been any recent trauma like a large snag?” “Have you been sleeping on your piercing?” “Did you downsize on time?”
Make sure to eliminate all things that may be irritating your piercing.
– Dirty pillowcases
– Pet hair and dander
– Trauma like snagging,
headphones, etc.
Once the cause of the irritation has been removed, you are now able to treat the bump! Treatment can be simple if you catch the irritation in the early stages.
Spray a small amount of sterile saline into a shot glass or small cup. Heat this saline in the microwave until it’s hot but will not burn you- a few seconds will do! With this warm saline, you should “compress,” your bump with a qtip.
The saline will cool quickly on your qtip, so you may need to re-moisten a few times.
Remember, these compresses are about the warmth and pressure and not about the wet! So be sure to dry your piercing thoroughly after you are finished.
It is recommended to complete warm compresses 2-3 times a day!
If you are not seeing a difference in your bump or it continues to worsen after two weeks, contact your piercer. There are further aftercare instructions that can help!
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*Disclaimer: These guidelines are based on a combination of vast professional experience, common sense, research, and extensive clinical practice. This is not to be considered a substitute for medical advice from a doctor. If you suspect an infection, seek medical attention. Be aware that many doctors have not received specific training regarding piercing. Your local piercer may be able to refer you to a piercing-friendly medical professional.