Which aftercare product do we recommend for all piercings, except oral piercings?
We recommend ready-made sterile saline solution (0.9% sodium chloride) because it is the safest and most effective way to clean a piercing without damaging the delicate new tissue.
What are the benefits of using sterile saline solution on a healing piercing?
The use of sterile saline solution is well established in medical wound care principles. Since a piercing is technically a wound, it can be treated as such. The benefits of using sterile saline solution on your piercing are as follows:
• Non-Cytotoxicity:
Unlike products such as alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, which kill both bacteria and the healthy cells needed for repair, saline is non-toxic to regenerating tissue.
• Isotonic Compatibility:
A 0.9% concentration is “isotonic,” meaning its salt level matches your body’s natural fluids (like blood and tears). This prevents the solution from drying out or damaging living cells through osmosis.
• Effective Irrigation:
It gently loosens and flushes away “crusties” (dried lymph fluid and blood) and environmental debris without requiring you to touch or twist the jewelry, which can cause micro-tears.
• Optimal Healing Environment:
It helps maintain a moist, clean environment that is essential for the migration of new skin cells (epithelial cells) across the piercing channel.
• Osmotic Drainage
Saline can help “wring out” excess fluid from swollen cells, aiding the body’s natural process of removing waste while bringing in fresh white blood cells to fight infection.
What are potential downsides of using sterile saline solution on a healing piercing?
Usually, sterile saline solution has many benefits when used on a new piercing. However, in some instances, it can also have downsides during healing. The downsides of using sterile saline solution on your piercing are as follows:
• Dryness and Flaking:
Overuse of sterile saline solution, or failing to rinse it off properly, can leave behind a fine salt residue. This can dehydrate the surrounding skin, causing flaking, itching, and peeling. This can be prevented as much as possible by rinsing your piercing thoroughly with water after using saline solution.
• Delayed Healing
Cleaning too frequently can disrupt the delicate new skin cells (epithelium) that are trying to line the piercing channel. This can be prevented as much as possible by limiting how often you use sterile saline solution on your new piercing. We usually recommend using sterile saline solution no more than 2 times a day.
• Irritation Bumps:
Prolonged moisture on the skin can lead to tissue maceration. This weakens the skin barrier and can contribute to the formation of localised piercing bumps. This can be prevented as much as possible by taking the time to dry your piercing properly.
Where can I buy sterile saline solutions?
The easiest way to obtain sterile saline solution is to purchase it directly from the studio. We always keep sterile saline solution in stock. You can buy it during your appointment, or visit us during opening hours to purchase it separately. We currently stock the following sterile saline solution bottles:
• OTZI (by Easy Piercing) 50 ml – €8,50
• NeilMed Fine Mist 75 ml – €11,00
• NeilMed Fine Mist 177 ml – €16,00
Another way to obtain sterile saline solution is through pharmacies, drugstores, or online shops. Regardless of the brand, it should be safe to use if it only contains Aqua (Water), Nitrogen, and Sodium Chloride, has a concentration of 0.9%, and is sterile.
How should I use sterile saline solution?
Sterile saline solution obtained from our studio always comes in a bottle with an atomizer. This makes it possible to spray the sterile saline directly onto your piercing.
Spray the sterile saline on both sides of your piercing and let it soak for a period of 5 minutes. Once the 5 minutes have passed, it is important to rinse off the sterile saline thoroughly. This can be done at the sink or in the shower.
It is then important to dab your piercing as dry as possible. Do not use your towel to dry off your piercing, as towels can be full of bacteria. These bacteria can then be transferred to your piercing. It is best to use something that can only be used once, such as a sterile gauze, paper towel, or a cotton bud.
Drying your piercing is the most crucial part of aftercare because bacteria require moisture for cell division. The drier you keep your piercing, the smaller the chance of bacterial cell division. I advise you to take your time with the aftercare of your piercing, as this reduces the chance of complications.
We usually recommend using the sterile saline solution 2 times a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.
