How to Take Care of Your Piercing in Everyday Life

Body piercings serve a purpose beyond being simply accessories; they are representative of personal identity and personal style. Whether it’s a soft helix ring, a classic nose stud, or daring navel piercing jewelry, how you care for your piercing is the most important aspect of ensuring the piercing stays healthy and looks great. I have been involved in body piercing and aftercare for over 20 years, so I have seen how a little daily care can make a big difference in healing time, comfort, and looking overall good. Here is the whole guide to caring for your piercing in everyday life.

Keep It Clean — Gently and Consistently

Daily cleaning is essential. Cleaning twice a day with saline or sterile wound wash to keep bacteria out of the piercing area is vital. Do not use harsh cleansers, alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide; those will dry out your skin and slow your healing time.

Pro Tip: Always wash your hands very well before you touch your piercing. The contamination of unwashed hands is one of the major causes of irritation and infections.

Avoid Excessive Touching or Twisting

Many people have a habit of twisting and playing with their jewelry, especially with a new piercing. Twisting your body jewelry can lead to contamination and cause unnecessary damage to the tissue.

Let your piercing heal in peace—no movement of the jewelry should be untimely while the tissue is in the early healing stages.

Be Mindful of Clothing and Accessories

Your clothing selections can impact your healing. Wearing tight clothing or snag-prone fabrics (such as fabric scarves or clothes with a high collar) can cause aggravation of your piercing site. For navel or nipple piercings, prefer loose, thick, breathable fabrics so air can circulate.

Keep Products & Hair Away

Hair products, lotion, makeup, and perfumes can clog the area and irritate the skin. When applying products, consider everything ranging from lotion to foundation when making sure none makes contact with the direct site of your piercing, especially with facial and ear piercings. Long-haired people can also take care to wear their hair back so it does not catch on jewelry if possible.

Do Not Swim Until Healed

Pools, hot tubs, and lakes may have bacteria that may easily cause infection. Wait until your piercer confirms the piercing is fully healed before swimming. If you must, use waterproof bandages or a piercing cover, and always clean it immediately following.

Lifestyle Habits

Your body heals from the inside out. Eating nutritious foods, hydrating, and sleeping can allow for faster, cleaner healing. Avoid smoking or excessive alcohol, as both behaviors can slow recovery and promote inflammation.

Choose Quality Jewelry

The type of jewelry you wear is just as important as caring for it. Always opt for implant-grade titanium (F-136), surgical steel, or 14k-18k gold for safe and long-lasting wear. They are all hypoallergenic and less likely to irritate or cause an allergic reaction.

Pro tip: If you are sensitive to certain metals, titanium is your best bet to avoid contact dermatitis from metals because it is very lightweight and corrosion-resistant, not to mention biocompatible with the human body.

Do not rush to change your jewelry.

Even if you think the piercing has healed on the outside, it may still be sensitive on the inside. Always wait for your piercer to assure you it is safe to change jewelry. If your piercer approves the change, you must be patient. When you change jewelry too early, it may reopen the wound and cause irritation.

Look out for signs of trouble.

Mild redness and swelling are assumed to be normal at first. However, symptoms such as persistent pain, pus, or foul smells or odors may be infections. Should this happen, do not remove the jewelry—it may keep bacteria inside the wound. Always contact your piercer immediately or a medical provider.

Make aftercare a regular habit.

Even after it’s healed, once in a while your piercing will still need care. Regularly and routinely clean your jewelry, especially the gemstones, or if it has attached charms that will get bulky and make it hard to clean. Checking the tightness of threaded pieces is a good practice as well; otherwise, you may lose some of your pieces. Routine care will keep your piercing healthy and your jewelry shining and looking its best.

Final Thoughts

Looking after your piercing isn’t rocket science. It’s relatively simple: routinely, wash it, and follow these good tidying tips and you’ll be able to avoid infection and irritation and your piercing will still look as great as the day you got it.

Remember: your piercing is still a part of your body, treat it nicely, and your piercing will stay beautiful and serve as a source of confidence.