Clean your piercing twice daily using a combination of saltwater soaks and a mild soap (such as Safecare Plus, which we provide to all of our clientele). Over cleaning can be as bad as under cleaning, as you run the risk of drying out the piercing. We recommend that you get yourself into a routine, in the morning and evening.

First, do a saltwater soak (as detailed further down on the page) to help soften and remove dried discharge and lymph secretion and to relieve itching. After soaking your piercing, thoroughly remove the softened "crusties" with a clean cotton bud - do not use your fingernails! Once this is completed, you need to rinse the salt water off - the shower is the best place to adequately rinse your piercing. Wash your hands with a mild antibacterial soap, rinse them well and place a couple of drops of Safecare Plus in your palm and lather with water. Carefully massage this into your piercing, rotating very gently as you go, allow the lather to soak in for 1-2 minutes, then rinse your piercing thoroughly and well with water. After showering, dry your piercing and jewellery with a clean, dry cotton bud, paper towel, or gauze. Do not dry the piercing with bath towels, as towels harbour bacteria and you may catch the jewellery on the loops of the towel!

If the piercing is still spot bleeding, salt soaks are not necessary until the piercing begins to heal and the spot bleeding diminishes.

NEVER use any alcohol based products to clean your piercing. For example, alcohol swabs, hydrogen peroxide, betadine, dettol, 100% oils etc. They are too strong for continual use & kill the healing tissue, therefore slowing down the healing period and they may burn the sensitive skin.

AVOID using any creams on the piercing as the piercing cannot 'breathe', again, slowing down the healing period & also leaving a sticky residue which can lead to problems.

We suggest that you AVOID swimming in public places for at least the first week, swimming pools; watering holes & even the ocean here in the NT as it is tropical water. Common sense prevails as to when you can go swimming, if you are experiencing some problems with your new piercing then do not subject it to anything which may make it worse.

Avoid wearing tight, restrictive clothing or lacey underwear. Instead, wear comfortable, loose clothing and breathable, supportive underwear (especially for the blokes!). The more air circulation that gets to your fresh piercing, the better.

Ensure that bed linen is clean & changed on a regular basis, this goes for all materials that can come into direct contact with a new piercing.

Gentlemen, use a condom throughout the entire healing period of your new piercing, even if you're in a fluid-bonded, monogamous relationship. This is to protect your piercing from infection, irritation, and tearing, as the condom supports the jewellery as well as keeping it clean. For all piercings, it's recommended to avoid other peoples bodily fluids coming into contact with your healing piercing. If your own sweat has come into contact with your piercing during exercise, please rinse with bottled water to prevent aggravation caused by the acidity in your perspiration.

As healing periods vary from piercing to piercing, we recommend that you leave the initial jewellery in the piercing for as long as possible, this will ensure the piercing has had enough time to strengthen & the 'channel' formed. If you take the jewellery out of the piercing too soon then there is the risk that the hole may close up or shrink quite considerably. It is advised that you contact us to change the jewellery (at no extra charge) especially for the first time. If you need to take the jewellery out for sport, work or medical reasons then there are alternative pieces that can be used to help keep the channel open & the shrinkage minimized. Drink plenty of water, cut down on the caffeine and alcohol. Insufficient sleep, drugs & alcohol consumption, bad diet; can all contribute to long, slow & problematic healing periods. Stay healthy!

Salt water & chamomile soaks

Both of these soaks are great for healing piercings. Both require hot water so it is not recommended to use on your fresh piercing within the first week. The mild salt water soaks help to circulate blood and help to 'drain out' any build up of lymph, dead tissue, etc. Both help to reduce any swelling that may occur, reduce irritation if the piercing has been accidentally knocked and/or redness. Using demineralised (distilled) water is a better option, but not essential.

Salt soak

Add a ¼ of a teaspoon of non-iodised sea salt to 250ml (1 standard measuring cup) of freshly boiled water. Before applying to the skin, allow to cool slightly and make sure the salt has dissolved thoroughly. Depending on the placement of the piercing you can either soak up some of the hot salt solution with a cotton pad and apply it to the piercing, or submerge the entire piercing into the salt solution. Whichever method you choose, allow the piercing to soak for ten to fifteen minutes.

Chamomile soak

Use only 100% chamomile tea bags. Submerge the tea bag in freshly boiled water and allow to steep for at least ten minutes, cool slightly and apply the bag directly onto the piercing and leave on for 10-15 minutes. You can still drink the tea! Chamomile has been used for generations for its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, but it should be avoided if you have any allergies to ragweed or flower pollen!

What to expect during healing

Like any break of the skin, some soreness after the body piercing procedure can be expected. Bleeding is quite normal, even spot bleeding in some areas for 24 to 48 hours afterwards can happen. "Deep genital" piercings on males can bleed up to five days with erections and urination. This can be alarming but is nothing to freak out about! If you have any concerns, please contact us as soon as possible. The genitals are obviously a highly vascular area, and some people will bleed more than others. Avoiding blood thinning products such as: alcohol, aspirin, caffeine and some medications will help.

You may experience some bruising and swelling around the site of the piercing in the initial first few days or so, so please do not be alarmed. This is not at all uncommon and can be easily treated by using a cooler salt soak or applying crushed ice to the area in a paper towel. You may find that taking ibuprofen-based anti-inflammatory tablets (Nurofen or Advil, for example), will help alleviate the swelling, take them as directed on the packet, the pharmacist will assist you if you need further advise on these products.

Redness around the piercing is quite normal and can last up to 10 days. If the piercing is constantly subjected to pressure from clothing or accidental knocks or sleeping on it you can expect the redness to remain for longer, as well as some tenderness.

During healing you may find the piercing may feel itchy, as it is important not to touch or play with the piercing! You may find wrapping some ice in some kitchen paper & holding it gently onto the piercing will help to alleviate the itchiness.

Also during healing, you may notice your piercing secreting a liquid which is whitish/yellow in colour. This is normal & when it dries it forms a crust on the piercing as well as on the jewellery, previously referred to as the 'crusty' bits. This is just lymph, blood plasma, and dead cells, and it means your piercing is healing as it should.

Some tightness of the jewellery is normal even when the piercing is fully healed, if you need to move the jewellery for whatever reason, then just dab a small amount of diluted lavender oil or vitamin E oil onto the piercing to help lubricate it before movement. If lubricating a fresh piercing, rinse excess oil off with saline solution or distilled water. This will also aid healing and help to strengthen your piercing.

Infection is rare. Frequently, people mistake other, more common issues for infection. If you have any doubts about your piercing, please consult us immediately and use the back up service that we provide. We are here to help and advise.

Remember BE PATIENT AND BE HEALTHY!

Approximate healing times

Female:

Vertical clitoral hood - 2-4 weeks
Horizontal clitoral hood - 2-4 weeks
Inner labia - 4-6 weeks
Outer labia - 2-3 months (considered a deep genital piercing)
Christina - 2-3 months (considered a deep genital piercing)
Clitoris - 4-6 weeks
Triangle - 4-6 weeks
Fourchette - 4-6 weeks

Male:

Frenum - 2-4 weeks
Foreskin - 4-6 weeks
Lorum/shaft - 4-6 weeks
Prince Albert - 6-8 weeks (considered a deep genital piercing)
Reverse P.A. - 8-10 weeks (considered a deep genital piercing)
Dolphin - 6-8 weeks (considered a deep genital piercing)
Apadravya - 3-6 months (considered a deep genital piercing)
Ampallang - 3-6 months (considered a deep genital piercing)
Hafada/scrotum - 3-4 months
Guiche - 3-4 months

Bead implants/pearling - 2-4 weeks