Piercing Aftercare
Healing takes time
A piercing heals differently from a regular wound. Because jewellery remains in place during the healing process, your body needs to create new tissue around the jewellery itself. This process can take several months, depending on the piercing and your individual healing.
A healthy healing process depends on many factors, including your overall health, sleep, nutrition, stress levels and aftercare routine.
Healing is not always perfectly linear. Mild redness, tenderness, swelling and occasional crusting can be part of normal healing, especially during the first weeks.
When To Contact Us
Please reach out if:
- swelling continues to increase instead of decrease
- the piercing becomes increasingly painful
- you suspect the jewellery may be too long or too short
- you’re unsure whether your piercing is healing normally
- you think it may be time for a downsize
We’re always happy to help.
Need advice?
Do’s
Daily care
✓ Clean your piercing with a sterile saline solution.
✓ Carefully dry the piercing after showering or cleaning.
✓ Keep the area clean and free from cosmetic and hair products.
✓ Follow the aftercare advice provided during your appointment.
Downsizing
Your piercing is often placed with a longer piece of jewellery to allow room for initial swelling.
Once swelling has reduced, the jewellery should be replaced with a shorter, properly fitted piece. This is called a downsize.
Downsizing helps prevent:
- irritation
- migration
- crooked healing
- excess movement
The correct timing depends on both the piercing and your individual healing process. Your piercer will advise when this should happen.
Don’t’s
✕ Do not twist, rotate or move the jewellery.
✕ Do not sleep on your piercing.
✕ Do not remove the jewellery during healing.
✕ Do not apply ointments, Sterilon, Betadine or other disinfectants unless specifically advised.
✕ Do not cover the piercing with a plaster (except when specifically instructed for a dermal anchor).
✕ Avoid swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas and steam rooms during the healing period.
✕ Avoid tight or dirty clothing against the piercing.
✕ Do not change the jewellery yourself before the piercing is fully healed.
Every piercing heals at its own pace. While some piercings may feel comfortable after a few weeks, internal healing often takes considerably longer. Following proper aftercare instructions, avoiding unnecessary irritation and allowing the body time to recover are all important parts of the healing process.
At Dodeka Ink, we recommend cleaning new piercings with sterile saline solution, avoiding unnecessary touching and allowing the jewellery to remain in place throughout the healing period. Consistency is often more important than over-cleaning, and patience is one of the most important factors in achieving a healthy end result.
If you experience persistent discomfort, excessive swelling or have questions about your healing progress, we recommend scheduling a piercing check-up appointment. Early advice can often prevent unnecessary complications and help keep your piercing comfortable throughout the healing process.
Whether you’ve recently had an ear piercing, facial piercing or body piercing placed, our goal is to help support a healthy healing journey and jewellery you can comfortably wear for years to come.