Piercing Aftercare


Piercing Aftercare & Healing Guide

Quality Jewelry. Proper Care. Healthy Healing.

At ARAKNA Body Jewelry, we believe a beautiful piercing starts with quality jewelry and proper aftercare. Our Montréal studio specializes in professional piercing services, implant-grade titanium, and solid gold body jewelry.

Follow these simple guidelines to help your new piercing heal comfortably and minimize complications.

1. Cleaning Your Piercing

Keep it simple — less is more!

  • Clean with sterile saline wound wash containing 0.9% sodium chloride, once or twice daily as needed.

  • Gently rinse away softened buildup and pat dry with clean, disposable gauze.

  • Never twist, rotate, or unnecessarily move your jewelry.

  • Avoid overcleaning, which can cause dryness and irritation.

Avoid: Alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil, harsh soaps, ointments, homemade saltwater, and aspirin or Advil pastes.

2. Protect Your Piercing

Most irritation comes from pressure, friction, or unnecessary handling.

  • Wash your hands before touching your piercing.

  • Avoid sleeping directly on it. A travel pillow can help with ear piercings.

  • Be careful with clothing, hair, headphones, and accessories.

  • Avoid swimming pools, hot tubs, lakes, and oceans while healing.

  • Don't change your jewelry prematurely.

ARAKNA Tip: Leaving your piercing alone is one of the best things you can do for healthy healing!

3. Jewelry Quality & Downsizing

Properly fitted, biocompatible jewelry is essential for comfortable healing.

At ARAKNA, we specialize in ASTM F136 implant-grade titanium and suitable solid 14K–18K gold jewelry, including premium Canadian-made designs.

Many piercings require a shorter post once initial swelling decreases. This is called downsizing and helps prevent excessive movement, snagging, and irritation.

Have your jewelry professionally assessed before changing it during healing.

4. What's Normal During Healing?

Some tenderness, mild swelling, redness, itching, and small amounts of clear or whitish discharge are common during healing.

However, not every irritated piercing is infected!

Common Irritation Possible Infection
Mild, localized redness Spreading or worsening redness
Slight swelling or tenderness Severe or increasing swelling and pain
Light-colored healing crusts Thick, pus-like discharge
Small irritation bumps Significant warmth, fever, or chills

Seek prompt medical attention if you suspect an infection, particularly with cartilage piercings, or if symptoms worsen. Severe swelling, red streaks, or systemic symptoms require urgent assessment.

Do not remove jewelry from a suspected infected piercing without medical advice.

5. Approximate Healing Times

Piercing Healing Time
Earlobes 6–8 weeks or longer
Nostril 4–6 months or longer
Septum 6–8 weeks or longer
Ear Cartilage (Helix, Conch, Tragus, etc.) 6–12 months
Eyebrow 2–3 months
Tongue 4–8 weeks
Lip / Labret 2–3 months
Navel 6–12 months or longer
Nipples 6–12 months or longer

Healing varies by anatomy, placement, and individual factors. A piercing may look healed before the internal tissue has fully recovered.

Oral Piercings: Maintain good oral hygiene, rinse with water after meals, avoid playing with jewelry, and schedule a professional downsize when appropriate. Difficulty breathing or swallowing requires emergency care.

Questions About Your Piercing?

We're happy to help with aftercare questions, jewelry adjustments, downsizing, and professional piercing consultations.

ARAKNA Piercing & Bijoux Corporels

4900, rue Sainte-Catherine Est
Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Montréal

Private Studio — By Appointment Only

Website: www.ARAKNA.ca
Email: info@araknabodyjewelry.com
Instagram: @arakna.body.jewelry

Services available in French & English.

Thank you for supporting our small Montréal family business!

This guide is for educational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice.