My Piercing is Healed - Now What?
If you’re wondering..
How do you know your piercing is healed?
Do you have to change your piercing after it’s healed?
Do you still clean a healed piercing?
Can you still sleep on a healed piercing?
…Then this post is for you!
After your piercing, your piercer will give you aftercare instructions and a general timeline of when your piercing should heal. Keep in mind each persons body is different that is typically why there’s such a broad healing period. For example for your cartilage, a piercer would recommend an 8-12 week timeline. That’s a FOUR week window of when your piercing could possibly heal. Yes, some people may heal sooner but some people will take longer to heal. With that being said it’s important to not assume your piercing is healed because you’re in the beginning of that time frame.
How do you know your piercing is healed?
Your piercing shouldn’t hurt or be sore in anyway - in other words in should feel like nothing there. Almost like you even forgot had new piercings. Your piercing shouldn’t be tender.
The skin around your piercing should match the rest of your skin - no redness.
No crusting or secreting any type of fluid.
Do you have your change your piercing
Often people think they HAVE to change their piercing or it’s safe to remove the jewelry and leave it without anything inside. Even an old piercing can shrink in minutes - everyone is going to be different and every piercing is different but I wouldn’t assume just because the rest of your piercings stayed open that a new one will too.
As far as changing your piercings into different jewelry..
If it fits properly, meaning it’s not too long that to the point it will snag and irritate your piercing - then you can wear it for as long as you want. Keep in mind that piercers typically pierce with a longer piece of jewelry to accomodate for swelling but again, if it fits fine after your piercing is healed, you can wear that piece of jewelry indefinitely.
If you would like to change your jewelry after the healing period you can - you can either go to a piercer to help assist you with the first change or do it yourself. Make sure the jewelry your using is a high quality metal and make sure your hands are clean.
If your skin is sensitive and you have never been tested for a metal allergy then unfortunately you’re not going to know which metals you’re sensitive to until you put it in a new piece of jewelry. If you notice any redness, itchiness, swelling - then I would change back to original piercing jewelry.
Speaking of jewelry.. just because it’s “piercing jewelry” doesn’t mean it’s trash or you HAVE to change it. I used to hear that people throw away their jewelry - GOLD JEWELRY - because it was “piercing” jewelry. LIKE WHAT!?
Do you still clean your healed piercing?
Once your piercing is healed, you don’t have to continue using any type of piercing cleaner like saline wound wash. Using soap and water like you would clean any other part of your body in the shower will do.
Can you sleep on a healed piercing?
Piercings no matter how long you’ve been pierced can still get irritated so don’t get all wild now in bed.
