Copyright Black Widow Unlimited
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 and slightly
red for a few weeks, or may itch a bit.
- 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 swell the tongue or lip. This will be most uncomfortable
for the first 3 - 5 days.
How Should I Clean My Piercing?
- Always wash your hands
thoroughly with antibacterial soap before ANY contact with your
piercing.
- Your tongue has a natural healing ability!! Rinse your mouth
with mouthwash three times a day to help keep bacteria down.
- If you are a smoker or drink alcohol, it is recommended that
you rinse with mouthwash after each use.
- Brush your teeth with bottled water and a new or boiled
toothbrush after meals and snacks.
- Drink plenty of liquids (water, fruit juice)
- If you have a lip piercing, you must also clean the outside
with an antibacterial soap such as provon (chlorexylenol). Use a
cotton swab to remove any crusted matter (blood plasma and Lymph)
and work the solution into the piercing. Allow the soap to remain
in the piercing for 2-3 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Do this
twice a day.
- On external piercings such as lip or labret, apply Bacitracin
three times a day.
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.
- Cut down or stop smoking. Smokers may experience a considerably
longer healing time.
- Suck on ice for the first 2 days to reduce swelling. You may
also wish to take an anti-inflammatory nonprescription medication
containing ibuprofin.
- Avoid alcoholic beverages and anything irritating such as
spicy, sugary, or highly acidic food and drinks, peroxides.
- After the initial healing phase it is important to downsize
your jewelry to reduce the risk of tooth and gum damage. Don't be
in a hurry to downsize your jewelry. Your piercer will know when
the time is right.
- Latex Barriers are a must for oral sex. You have an open wound
in your mouth and body fluids from your partner may cause
infection, even if you are in a monogamous relationship.
- Avoid rough sexual activity and do not play with your tongue
piercing during the initial healing time.
- Carefully Brush your tongue when you brush your teeth. This
will remove mucous, bacteria and dead skin from around the
piercing. Use a soft toothbrush.
- After the first 3 - 4 weeks you should downsize the barbell or
labret stud to minimize damage to your teeth or soft palate.
- The threads on your jewelry should be checked daily (with clean
hands) for tightness. Over a period of time the balls may become
loose and if not checked, could result in ingestion of the
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
- Except for downsizing Jewelry should not be changed during the
initial healing period.
- If your jewelry must be temporarily removed,, please call your
piercer.
- It is no problem to permanently remove the jewelry. In most
cases, only a small indentation will remain. We encourage you to
call your piercer. He\She will be happy to assist you.
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.
- 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.
- We are not doctors or nurses and we never want to discourage
you to visit a physician if you are worried about your piercing.
However, 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.
- The effectiveness of an oral antibiotic depends on selecting
the right one for the job. In this case physicians are the only
authority for choosing prescription medication. A topical
antibiotic may be used sparingly, for no more than 3 - 5 days.
Many people are very sensitive to antibiotics, particularly
Neomycin; Bacitracin is the least problematic ointment.
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
Estimated Initial Healing Times
- Everyone heals at a
different rate. These are the average times for which you should
follow our aftercare suggestions.
- Tongue 3 - 4 weeks
- Lip, Labret 2 - 3 months
THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING BLACK WIDOW UNLIMITED AS YOUR PIERCER AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW PIERCING!