Good things to know for all piercings:

Jewelry quality is incredibly important during the healing of your piercing! Keep the high-quality starter jewelry in place for the recommended healing time. If you desire a change of jewelry, consult with your piercer for the available options to facilitate healing. (see “Clean, new, high quality jewelry” in the FAQs).

Some piercings will have an expected jewelry downsize appointment to ensure that the jewelry fits appropriately to facilitate healing. For these piercings, the downsize is very important as it reduces the likelihood of migration of the piercing, and reduces the chances of snagging your jewelry. Expected downsize appointments are:

Nostril: 2-4 months

Lip: 2-4 weeks, then again at 6 months

Helix and flat started with a post, eyebrow: 4 weeks, and again at 6-9 months

Other cartilage started with a post (conch, flat, tragus, forward helix, ect): 4-8 weeks, again at 9-12 months

Cartilage started with a ring or curved barbell (daith, rook): 3 months, again at 9-12 months

Tongue: 2-4 weeks, and again at 6 months

Keep your body jewelry in at all times, including during cleaning.

DO NOT pick, pull, tear, or “pop” any tissue from around your piercing. Do not rotate or spin your jewelry in the piercing channel. This will intensely aggravate your piercing, increasing both your healing time, and the likelihood of extra scar tissue build up.

Scar tissue bumps, commonly misidentified as keloids, are incredibly common during healing. They come up quickly, typically in response to damage, and can take months to go away. If one comes up, the best remedy is keeping up with a GENTLE daily aftercare and a follow up with your piercer. DO NOT pick at it, or try to pop it. The less the irritated piercing is touched, the better it will be.

Piercings experience irritation far more than infection. If you are unsure what you are experiencing, leave your jewelry in and see your piercer for evaluation. If you are concerned more than unsure, always go to a doctor first.

Avoid cosmetics, lotions, and sprays within 3/4 of an inch of your piercing for the entirety of the estimated healing time to prevent these products from causing complications with your healing.

Don’t play with or move your jewelry in the piercing channel any more than necessary for cleaning.