Piercing Hole Cleaning Tips

Piercing is a form of expression for some people, but after every new piercing, whether it's in the ear, nose or elsewhere, it's important to prioritize one thing: cleanliness. Ear piercings, in particular, are often so quick and simple that people often overlook the importance of regular hygiene and grooming.

The first thing to understand is that the piercing is a small cut. The piercing will take time to heal and during this healing phase, you should keep the piercing clean, to promote the healing process and reduce the risk of infection.

Depending on the type of piercing, healing time can range from a few months to a whole year. Then, what is the importance of cleaning the piercing hole?

Reporting from byrdie.com, cleaning the piercing regularly is actually quite important, especially if the piercing was done in the last two months. If you don't clean the area around your piercing, this can put you at a higher risk for complications such as irritation, infection, scarring, and the formation of granulomas or small lumps that form in response to infection or inflammation.

In addition, cleaning new piercings regularly can also speed up healing time. Piercing holes should be cleaned regularly, regardless of certain signs.

Pain, itching, and dry blood around the piercing are additional symptoms telling you that the piercing needs cleaning. If you think your piercing is infected, see a doctor immediately.

Doctors usually recommend cleaning the piercing two or three times a day, while the piercing is healing. Ear piercings usually take about 2 months to heal, whereas cartilage piercings can take up to 1 year to heal, which means cartilage piercings remain susceptible to infection for up to 1 year or put you at higher risk.

Cartilage piercings have a high risk of infection, as do the navel, nipple and genital areas. How to clean the piercing is quite easy, start by washing your hands with soap and warm water.

Use a q-tip, gauze, or cotton swab to apply saline solution to the piercing, clean gently, remove any crust or dried blood, pat dry with a tissue or dry towel, then apply ointment to seal in moisture in the area. Stay away from harsh products, such as hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, and acids, as these can slow wound healing.

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