Professional Piercers of Maine 

             

CLEANING Instructions

We recommend you clean consistently for at least 10 weeks to allow for a complete healing process:

1. WASH YOUR HANDS!  With soap… a.b.c. or happy birthday (to yourself) DO NOT TOUCH PIERCING WITH DIRTY HANDS.

2.  SOAP; (Anti-bacterial):  When cleaning, lather up a pearl size dope of soap lather and

 apply to wound and jewelry rub or scrub gentilly to remove (custies) or loose skin 

cells and discharge. Then rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of soap.

1. SOAK: To clean with a salt solution, (IT MUST BE A SOAK) no spritz or sprays.

 Dissolve ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon of (iodine-free) Sea Salt into one cup of bottled or

 distilled water. Place  mixture into a clean container and submerge piercing, this

 allows the salt to clean and soften loose skin cells and discharge to be rinsed and removed. Soak piercing for 3-7 minutes (CAUTION: A STRONGER MIX IS NOT BETTER). 

1. DRY: With disposable paper products such as guze or paper towels. Be cautious of hand towels,  fibers tend to catch and pull at jewelry. 

2. ORAL: Make a 50/50 mix of mouthwash (any kind) and bottled or distilled water in a container that you can carry with you. Rinse after everything orally but no more than 10 times a day.

 ICE ICE ICE!!!! Ice chips, popsicles, slush puppies, ect. 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off. The more ice the less swelling, the less swelling the faster it heals.

What to expect…

•    Initially : (first 2-3 weeks) Some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness or bruising and redness. After this swelling goes down enough to start to change most piercings/Jewelry in soft tissue/oral piercings. 

• During Healing: (6-10 weeks) Redness, Itching, Discharge of a whitish-yellow fluid (not pus) that forms a crust on the jewelry when dried. The whole tissue may tighten around the jewelry as it heals. This is when you can start to change Jewelry for cartilage and/or ear piercings.

• Healed Completely: (6 months to 1 year) Full heal can take longer… be patient. KEEP clean Jewelry may stick or be hard to move, do not force it, it might smell that is normal, clean it clean it clean it!  This is where you can start to change to fancier Jewelry (Gold, .925 Silver, Platinams, Plastics and/or color coated)

• CLEAN EVERY DAY EVEN IF HEALED. 

WHAT TO DO….

• Wash hands prior to touching any piercing. 

• Leave it alone (DO NOT PLAY WITH IT) The more iteration the longer it takes to heal. The only time you move the jewelry is when you are cleaning it.

• Make sure bedding is clean and changed regularly - clothing against piercing should be clean.

• Showering is preferred… baths and bathtubs can harber and spread contaminants.

• KEEP IT CLEAN

WHAT NOT TO DO….

• TOUCH IT WITH DIRTY HANDS

• Use any of the following ALCOHOL, HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, NEOSPORIN, H2,OCEAN, spritzes, sprays,  tea tree oil or sticky ointments. 

• Over cleaning .... Too much of a good thing can be bad.

• Unnecessary contact: excessive rubbing/touching, bodily fluids or licking.

• Submerging in lakes, streams, ponds, pools and hot tubs (for 4 months)  When in doubt, wash it out.

We use only 316LVM IMPLANT GRADE SURGICAL STAINLESS STEEL JEWELRY during our/your healing process. If and when you want to use your jewelry or jewelry bought elsewhere, keep it in the package and let us take a look.

Additional Hint and tips:

    Leave jewelry in during healing. Unless there is a problem with size, style, or material of the initial jewelry, leave it in place for the entire healing period. A qualified piercer should perform any necessary jewelry changes during healing. If temporary removal is necessary, contact your piercer. If a medical procedure or sporting event requires removal: there are non-metallic jewelry alternatives to keep the piercing open. Leave jewelry in at all times. Even old, well-healed piercings can shrink or close in minutes after having been there for years! Re-insertion can be difficult or not possible. 

Keep your balls tight. Check balls with clean hands: regularly check threaded ends on jewelry for tightness.(Righty-tighty, Lefty-loosey) Carry spare jewelry! In case of loss or breakage keep clean , spare parts with you to replace piercings.

Ready to Remove?? If you decide you no longer want the piercing, seek professional help to remove jewelry and continue cleaning the piercing until the hole closes. In most cases only a small indent will remain. 

NEVER REMOVE JEWELRY DURING AN INFECTION! 

  If the surface heals over, the infection can be trapped inside and can complicate further treatment.

DO NOT CLEAN WITH A Q-TIP: 

   Strands from the q-tip cand wrap around the jewelry and cause contamination or even infection. 

 

Nose Piercings

   Cover with a small, round band-aid at night to avoid knocking or pulling out the jewelry during sleep. 

   There is a 24-hour window to save a piercing in the event of jewelry loss! Come in ASAP.

Navel Piercing / Surface

    Protect the area from restrictive clothing such as tights, leggings, belt lines, and

    excessive irritation and impact during physical activities such as contact sports. 

    Do not expose yourself to lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, pools or hot tubs for 3-4 months.

    Remember no color coated, prong settings or dangly jewelry for 10 weeks.

Ear/Ear Cartilage 

    Maintain cleanliness of telephones, headphones, eyeglasses, helmets, hats or anything that comes in

    contact with the piercing. Use caution when styling your hair.  

     Please inform your Hair-Stylist about new piercings to avoid caching and irritation.

     Use the T-shirt trick, dress your billow in a lage, CLEAN t-shirt turn it over or inside out nightly, 

     one clean shirt can give up to 4 clean nights of sleeping surfaces. 

Nipple Piercing 

     Provide protection with the support of a tight cotton tank top or sports bra at night to prevent flipping or caching

     during sleeping or exercise. No oral contact for 6-10 weeks.

Genital Piercings

      Wash your hands before touching on or near the piercing. In most cases, gentle and safe sexual activity is fine 

       in two or three weeks or as soon as you feel ready. Comfort and hygiene are vital. To increase comfort and

       decrease trauma, soak piercing in warm sea salt soak to remove any crust bild up prior to any sexual activity.

       Use barriers such as condoms, dental dames, ect. To avoid contact with partners bodily fluids, even in  

       long-term relationships. Use a new sterile bottle or packet of water based lubricant. Prince Alberts and 

       Apadravya piercings can bleed freely for the first few days using a femin pad at night in tight underwear can 

       help with nocturnal bleeding. If you can urinate after cleaning it will help with healing.

 

EACH BODY IS UNIQUE AND HEALING TIMES VARY CONSIDERABLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS,    

ISSUES CONSULT US IN STORE AT PROFESSIONAL PIERCERS OF MAINE.

    WE WARRANTY : If there is an issue or problem you must come into the shop physically, and have us remove or repair the piercing. We then will issue a redo card to use at a later date after 6 to 10 weeks of heal time to prevent further issues.

 

• Bill Bernard

• (J.B.) James Bernard 

 

• (207)-689-3238 1205 Lisbon st. Lewiston Maine