Copyright Black Widow Unlimited

Suggested Piercing Aftercare

Care For Facial Piercings

Your piercing was performed professionally and appropriately. Follow these simple suggestions, and your healing period should go smoothly. Although not physicians, Black Widow Unlimited piercers are available whenever you have questions about aftercare. Please call us any time!

A Normal Piercing
- May be tender, itchy, or bruised for a few weeks.
- May be slightly red. Redness may persist for several months.
- May bleed a little for the first few days.
- May secrete a whitish-yellow fluid which crusts on the jewelry. This is not pus.
- May tighten around the jewelry as it heals, making turning difficult when dry.

How Should I Clean My Piercing?
- You will need an antibacterial soap, such as Provon (chlorexylenol).
- Always wash your hands thoroughly with an antibacterial soap before touching your piercing.
- Your piercing should be cleaned thoroughly twice a day EVERYDAY for the entire healing time. Prepare the area for cleansing by removing the NORMAL secretion of Blood Plasma and Lymph (crusties). This is easily accomplished by soaking the piercing in warm water for 1 to 2 minutes. When the crust has softened , use a Q-tip to Gently remove the matter. NEVER pick at the crust with your fingernails.
- Work a small amount of soap with water and apply to the piercing. Gently rotate the jewelry back and forth through the piercing several times making sure the soap is entering the piercing. Allow the soap to remain in the piercing for two to three minutes. Keep all other soaps, shampoo, and conditioner from entering the piercing. Remember, the soap does not have to lather to be effective.
- Rinse the area thoroughly under running water, while rotating the jewelry back and forth several times to remove ALL traces of the cleanser. Never put any kind of soap on you r piercing without rinsing it off.
- Gently pat the area dry with a Kleenex or other disposable paper product. Use a Q-tip to dry difficult to reach areas.
- Clean the piercing no more than twice a day. Cleaning more frequently may damage the delicate skin cells, and cleaning less frequently may invite an infection. When you're not cleaning your new piercing Leave It Alone.

What Else Can I Do?
- Many piercees have found that Vitamin C (3ooo mg in mineral ascorbate form), Multivitamins, and a zinc supplement (women:60 mg, men :120 mg), for about two weeks can accelerate healing and regeneration of tissue.
- Avoid wearing restrictive clothing , irritating clothing, or clothing that limits oxygen flow to the area.
- If your jewelry has threaded ends, you must check the tightness of the balls EVERYDAY (make sure your hands are clean). Failure to do this may result in loss of your jewelry.

When Can I Remove or Change The Jewelry?
- Your piercing will not be completely healed for several years. Even after the piercing has healed, reinsertion can be difficult and sometimes impossible.
- Jewelry should not be changed during the initial healing period.

Do I Have An Infection?
Infections are caused by contact with bacteria, fungi, or other living pathogens. Piercing infections can usually be traced to one of the following activities:
- Touching the piercing with unwashed hands, or letting someone else touch the piercing.
- Oral contact with the piercing, including your own saliva.
- Allowing body fluids to contact the piercing
- Contact with hair, cosmetics, oils, infrequently washed clothing or bedding, or other agents.
- Going into a pool, hot tub, lake, ocean, or other body of water. Baths are OK if you bleach your tub frequently.

How Can I Tell if I have an Infection?
While these symptoms may also indicate other problems, look for the following indications of infection:
- Redness and swelling (after the first several weeks)
- A sensation of heat at the piercing site.
- PAIN, especially throbbing or spreading pain.
- Unusual discharge. May be greenish or yellowish.

I Think I have an Infection. What Should I Do?
- If you think you have an infection contact your piercer right away.
- Do not remove your jewelry. This may aggravate the problem by closing off the drainage for the matter.
- The piercers at Black Widow Unlimited are not physicians and we never dicourage anyone from contacting a physician if you think you have an infection.
- Please understand that most doctors have little training in body piercing, and may have no experience with piercings. As a result they may offer inappropriate advice.

Things To Keep In Mind
- How your piercing heals is up to you!
- Treat your body with respect and it will respect your new piercing. Get plenty of rest, Eat healthy, and don't subject yourself to heavy stress during the healing process.
- Remember, your piercing may look and feel like it has completely healed in a short amount of time. Clean your piercing continuously for the suggested healing time. Most piercings go through a series of ups and downs during the healing process, always be patient.
- Rough sexual activity or excessive movement of the area can cause redness, swelling, discharge, and migration.

Healing times for facial piercings:

Eyebrow 6 - 8 weeks
Ear Cartilage 2 - 3 months
Septum 2 - 3 months
Nostril 2 - 3 months
Earlobe 4 - 6 weeks

THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING BLACK WIDOW UNLIMITED AS YOUR PIERCER AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW PIERCING!