So, you just got pierced. Here comes the hardest part- which is properly healing your piercing. Patience, using the proper cleaning solutions and keeping your filthy paws off it! We cannot stress this enough. Aftercare is the most important part of getting pierced. Although extremely tempting- any picking, scratching, twisting or just simply placing your unwashed fingers on your new piercing is a HUGE “No, No!”
It’s very easy to forget or lose all self-control when it comes to fidgeting with your newest body modification- we totally get it and see it all the time- you see some dried-up pus or oozing grossness hanging off your piercing and now it’s a green flag to touch it. That’s a big mistake, people! Following the proper steps to clean your piercing will result in a beautiful, quickly healed piercing. Failure to do so, will lead you down a long, dark road of painful misery, much regret and a piercing that could potentially not set right. Oh, and not to mention- a prolonged healing process that you think will never end.
Bumps and lumps are common, especially with cartilage piercings. Do not try to pop these bad boys. They’re called keloids. And they don’t necessary appear due to an infection. They are normally just a rapid formation of scar tissue or collagen. Yeah, they’re ugly and annoying- but be kind and be patience. Keep your hands off your piercings and eventually they will go away. Chances are, it’s going to come back after you clean it properly. Just keep doing those procedures daily and before you know it- your piecing will be completely healed without any complications.
A solution made up of sodium chloride and water, called “saline”, is normally used when healing and is highly recommended to clean and take care of any piercing. Salt water and warm water is ideal for piercing a navel piercing, however, you want to constantly use saline throughout the healing process for any piercing, including the navel. Try avoiding alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or any concoction/witch craft you might come up with.
To put it simply, treat your piercings as you would with any wound, scrape or cut. Always wash your hands with soap and warm water (you know the drill) before handling the jewelry or cleaning the piercing and you will have the most gorgeous, perfectly healed piercing!