Piercing Aftercare: How to Clean and Heal a New Piercing
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To clean a new piercing, follow these steps:
Rinse the piercing with warm water.
Wash your hands thoroughly.
Gently cleanse around the piercing using a mild, fragrance-free soap like J. Colby Smith’s piercing cleanser WASH IT.
Rinse completely to remove all soap.
Let it air dry and avoid touching or twisting the jewelry.
This simple routine helps reduce irritation, supports healing, and keeps the area clean without overworking the skin.
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A warm saline soak can help calm sensitive skin and support the healing process.
Mix: ¼ teaspoon non-iodized sea salt + 8 oz warm water.
Soak for 5–10 minutes, or use a warm compress.
Use it when the piercing feels tight, irritated, or needs a little extra care. -
Most piercing bumps come from pressure or movement—not infection.
Try to avoid:Sleeping on the piercing
Snagging it on clothes, towels, or headphones
Touching or twisting the jewelry
The more still the piercing stays, the better it heals.
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n the first weeks, it’s totally normal to see:
Light redness
Mild swelling
Tenderness
Tiny crusties
Healing isn’t linear—good days and slow days both happen.
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Most piercings take 2–8 months to fully settle.
Even if it looks healed on the outside, the internal tissue needs more time.
Only change jewelry when your piercer confirms it’s ready. -
Your body does the healing, so support it with:
Hydration
Balanced meals
Decent rest
Low stress
These small things make a big difference.ion
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There’s no product that heals a piercing overnight.
Consistency and patience is what works. -
To help reduce a piercing bump, follow these steps:
Clean the area twice daily with a gentle piercing cleanser like J. Colby Smith’s Wash It to keep the skin calm and free of buildup.
Brew a cup of chamomile tea using boiled (not microwaved) water.
Let the tea cool to a warm, comfortable temperature.
Apply the warm tea bag directly to the bump as a compress until it cools.
Repeat once each night for about 8 days.
This combination of consistent cleaning and soothing warmth helps calm irritation, reduce swelling, and support the skin’s natural healing process.
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Sometimes a small red bump can form next to a new piercing (usually within the first 8 months). It’s annoying, it looks dramatic, and it almost always comes from irritation or pressure, not something permanent.
Common causes include:
Sleeping on the piercing
Snagging it on clothing or towels
Bumping it
Headphones or hats pressing on it
Flying or sudden changes in humidity
These bumps are often mistaken for keloids, but they’re usually just temporary irritation bumps that can heal with gentle, consistent care.
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Wash It keeps the area clean without stripping or irritating the skin — important because harsh soaps and over-washing often make bumps worse.
Warm chamomile compresses help relax the tissue, increase circulation, and calm redness and swelling.
Together, they help the piercing reset.
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While chamomile compresses are a common at-home soothing method, always avoid squeezing, popping, or aggressively cleaning the bump—those things usually make it worse.
If the bump keeps growing, becomes painful, or doesn’t improve, it’s always smart to check in with a professional piercer for guidance. -
If the bump continues to grow, becomes painful, or doesn’t start improving, check in with a professional piercer. Avoid squeezing or “popping” the bump — that always makes things worse.
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Rinse with warm water, wash your hands, create a light lather with gentle soap, and softly cleanse around the area. Rinse well. Clean twice daily.
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Most piercings take 2–8 months to fully settle. Healing is slow, internal, and not always linear. Wait for a professional before changing jewelry.
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A warm saline soak can help soothe irritation and support healing. Mix ¼ teaspoon non-iodized sea salt with 8 oz warm water. Soak 5–10 minutes when needed.
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Yes. Mild swelling, redness, and tenderness are all normal in the early stages. These usually calm down with consistent cleaning and minimal movement.
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Most bumps come from pressure—like sleeping on the piercing—or from snagging and constant movement. Keeping the area still usually helps it resolve.
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Only once your piercer confirms it’s fully healed. Even if the piercing looks healed on the surface, the internal tissue needs more time.
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No. Twisting or spinning the jewelry disrupts healing tissue and can create irritation.
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Exercise is fine—just avoid friction and sweat buildup.
Swimming is best avoided in the first few weeks, especially pools, hot tubs, and natural bodies of water.