Body piercing is a very popular form of body art in today’s time. Everyone from teenagers and their mothers and fathers are lining up to get body piercings done. If you are planning to get a part of your body pierced, it is important that you know all that is there to know about piercing care. Healing a body piercing requires a lot of care and attention.

When you get a piercing done, it may bleed a bit. After keeping it covered in sterile gauze for some time, the pierced body part should be left alone. When you go to sleep, you can keep it covered in clothing. After the first few days of piercing care of this sort, you can keep it uncovered safely.

It is very important that you always clean your hands well with soap and water before touching your piercing as it may lead to piercing infection. This should continue for as long as the piercing is fresh and has not heeled properly so as not to transfer renegade germs from your hand.

After you have passed the first night, you will need cotton gauze, sterile cotton or any other sterile material. Boil a little water on the stove or use distilled water to soak the cotton and let it cool for a while. Now, very carefully, clean any blood or seepage you may find around the pierced body part and also from the jewelry. For proper piercing infection care, if you find that the piece of jewelry can be easily turned, clean each section of it carefully by turning it slowly. This will mean that you cleaned the site properly and prevent piercing infection.

If you are getting an oral piercing done, such as on the lip, tongue or labret, it is essential for you to take extra piercing infection care as the possibility of getting infected in these areas is very high. Use antiseptic mouthwash to wash your mouth. Mix together 3 parts mouthwash with 1 part water and use it to rinse your mouth every time the piercing comes in contact with anything external. Use it after smoking, drinking and eating.

Getting your genital pierced may also cause serious piercing infection.  Piercing infection care for genital parts is extremely tough. It is not possible for you to avoid touching them with your clothes unless you are not working or you live on your own alone. You have to be very sure that the clothing you bring in contact with the pierced areas is very clean and has no residue of coloring agents, perfumes and detergents. Also, cleaning can be a very deterring task because you need to make sure that you don’t tug at the jewelry that you have used to adorn the area with. For at least 6-10 weeks, sexual activity should be totally stopped.

You will typically have to continue with your piercing care for a week to about 6 months depending on the kind of piercing you have got done.