How to Care for a New Piercing, According to Dermatologists

Because aftercare is very important.

Medically reviewed by Hadley King, MD

Whether it’s a second (or third) hole in your ear, a cute little nose stud, or a piercing elsewhere on your body, the idea of being able to sport new jewelry is always exciting. That being said, the time in between the piercing and when the skin is fully healed is crucial—doing everything you can do to ensure the area heals properly is paramount in order to ensure you don’t end up with an infection or even scarring. After all, a piercing is an open wound, points out Geeta Yadav, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of FACET Dermatology in Toronto. Luckily, while aftercare is important, it’s not that complicated. Here, top dermatologists share the five most important things to do when caring for a piercing.

Clean the area regularly.

The importance of this simple step cannot be understated. Start by making sure your hands themselves are clean, then wash the area with a gentle, fragrance-free soap a few times per day or rinse it with a saline solution, suggests Michele Farber, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in Philadelphia. (FYI, it’s especially important to clean it after sweating or if you’re wearing makeup around the area, adds Dr. Yadav.) It’s also a good idea to avoid hot tubs—which Dr. Yadav says are often “a hotbed of bacteria” and to change your bedsheets and pillowcases at least once a week. “If you’ve gotten a mouth or tongue piercing, use mouthwash after every meal and be sure to brush your teeth twice daily to ward off bacteria,” she says. Follow this cleaning protocol until the piercing is fully healed (more on that timetable in a moment). For areas other than your mouth, you can also apply a petroleum-based ointment at least once a day; this will help keep the spot moist which will promote faster healing, Dr. Farber explains.

Keep the piece of jewelry in until the area is healed.

Similarly, avoid removing or changing the piece of jewelry that was placed in the piercing until the skin has fully healed. “Removing it too soon could cause the piercing to close,” Dr. Yadav explains. How do you know the healing process is complete? “You'll know if your piercing has healed if it's no longer emitting any discharge, the piercing edges look smooth and the hue of your natural skin color as opposed to raw, red, or inflamed, and the piercing can move easily within the piercing as opposed to getting ‘stuck’  on the healing tissue,” she says.

Remember that different areas heal at different rates.

To that point, exactly how long this takes will depend largely based on the area you had pierced. Tongue piercings will heal the fastest, usually after about one to two months, thanks to the rich blood flow in the area that helps speed up healing, Dr. Farber notes. “The earlobe usually takes roughly six weeks, while ear cartilage or nose piercings can take six  to 12 months to heal, and the belly button about nine to 12 months,” she adds. 

Avoid putting excess pressure on the piercing.

Along with keeping it clean, you’ll want to avoid applying any extra pressure or trauma to the area. That means avoiding laying on it and not touching or twisting it, says Dr. Farber. In the case of something like a belly button piercing, it’s also a good idea to avoid tight clothing, which can snag on the piercing and cause further irritation, notes Dr. Yadav.

See a doctor if you experience any signs of infection.

Both experts we spoke with caution that redness, warmth, tenderness, and/or oozing  are all tell-tale signs of an infection and warrant a visit to the doctor. You’ll also want to see your doc if the area is itchy or you see a bump forming as this can be indicative of a potential allergy to something in the jewelry itself, Dr. Yadav cautions.

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