After care of piercings
On this page, we have gathered clear aftercare instructions for different types of piercings. Good and careful aftercare is an essential part of a smooth and successful healing process.
At Neoskull Tattoo, we take care of every piercing hygienically, professionally and with great attention to detail. We always use high-quality jewellery and perform all piercings with a sterile needle.
Once you leave our studio, however, the responsibility for your piercing's daily care is yours. How you care for your piercing at home plays an important role in how well it heals. Keep the area clean, follow the aftercare instructions and give your piercing time to heal properly.
If you are ever unsure or concerned about your piercing, please don't hesitate to contact us. We are always happy to help!
After care instructions
Ear Piercing Aftercare A new ear piercing is a fresh wound, so good hygiene and avoiding unnecessary irritation are essential. How to care for it Always wash your hands before touching your piercing. Clean with sterile 0.9% saline solution 1–2 times a day. Let any dried discharge soften naturally. Do not pick it off. Gently dry with clean disposable paper or sterile gauze. Do not twist, spin or move the jewellery unnecessarily. Keep pillowcases, phones, headphones and anything touching the piercing clean. Especially with cartilage piercings Cartilage piercings can be sensitive and may take longer to heal. Avoid sleeping directly on the piercing and be careful with headphones, hair, hats and anything that can catch on the jewellery. Do not change the jewellery too early yourself. If a downsize is needed during healing, have it done by a professional piercer. Avoid swimming pools, hot tubs, lakes and the sea during healing makeup, hairspray and other cosmetics around the piercing unnecessary touching sleeping directly on a fresh cartilage piercing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and harsh disinfectants. Some tenderness, mild swelling, itching and a small amount of clear or pale fluid can be normal during healing.
Eyebrow Piercing Aftercare Eyebrow piercings are easily irritated by pressure, makeup, hair and unnecessary touching. How to care for it Wash your hands before touching the piercing. Clean with sterile saline 1–2 times a day. Gently dry with clean disposable paper or gauze. Do not twist or move the jewellery. Keep hair, hands and your phone clean. Avoid makeup and skincare products around the piercing hair catching on the jewellery playing with the jewellery sleeping directly on the piercing swimming during healing. If the jewellery appears to be moving closer to the surface or the skin around it becomes noticeably thinner, contact us as soon as possible.
Tongue Piercing Aftercare Tongue piercings require particularly good oral hygiene. Swelling during the first few days is normal. How to care for it Brush your teeth normally with a soft toothbrush. Maintain good oral hygiene at least morning and evening. Rinse your mouth with water after eating. Use an alcohol-free mouthwash if desired. Avoid playing with the jewellery. Once swelling has gone down, have the jewellery checked and downsized by a professional piercer. A bar that is too long can damage teeth and gums. During the first few days Cool drinks and foods can help with swelling. Avoid very hot, spicy, acidic or very salty foods and drinks during the first few days. Avoid biting or playing with the jewellery alcohol-based mouthwash smoking and vaping as much as possible drinking through straws kissing and direct oral contact during healing oral sex during healing. Severe swelling or difficulty breathing requires immediate medical attention.
Nose Piercing Aftercare Nose piercings usually heal best when they are left alone and protected from unnecessary irritation. How to care for it Wash your hands before touching it. Clean with sterile saline 1–2 times a day. Let dried discharge soften naturally. Gently dry with clean gauze or disposable paper. Do not twist or pull the jewellery. Be careful with tissues, towels, clothing and hands, as they can easily catch on nose jewellery. If a small irritation bump develops, do not squeeze or pop it. Contact us instead so we can assess the situation. Avoid makeup around the piercing unnecessary touching catching the jewellery with towels or clothing swimming during healing.
Navel Piercing Aftercare Navel piercings are easily irritated by clothing, waistbands and movement, so protecting the area is especially important. How to care for it Wash your hands before touching the piercing. Clean with sterile saline 1–2 times a day. Rinse gently with clean water in the shower when needed. Dry carefully with clean gauze or disposable paper. Leave the jewellery alone. Keep the skin and clothing around the piercing clean. Be careful with clothing Avoid tight trousers, waistbands and clothing that rub or press against the piercing. Be careful during exercise so the jewellery does not catch on clothing or equipment. Avoid swimming pools, lakes, the sea and hot tubs during healing tight clothing and constant friction hanging anything from the jewellery creams, oils and cosmetics around the piercing. A navel piercing can look healed on the outside before the inside has fully healed, so do not stop aftercare too early.
Nipple Piercing Aftercare Nipple piercings can be tender and swollen during the early stages of healing. Protecting them from friction and unnecessary pressure is important. How to care for them Wash your hands before touching the piercings. Clean with sterile saline 1–2 times a day. Let dried discharge soften before gently removing it. Dry with clean gauze or disposable paper. Leave the jewellery alone. A clean, supportive cotton shirt or sports bra can feel comfortable and help protect the piercings, especially while sleeping. Avoid tight or rough clothing swimming during healing pulling or twisting the jewellery sexual contact that causes pressure or friction creams and cosmetics around the piercings. Nipple piercings can take a long time to fully heal, even when they look fine on the outside.
Lip Piercing Aftercare Lip piercings need care both inside and outside the mouth. How to care for it Outside: Wash your hands before touching it. Clean with sterile saline 1–2 times a day. Gently dry with clean gauze. Inside the mouth: Maintain good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth normally. Rinse with water after eating. Use an alcohol-free mouthwash if desired. Once the swelling has gone down, the longer initial jewellery will usually need to be replaced with a shorter piece by a professional piercer. This helps reduce contact with teeth and gums. Avoid biting or playing with the jewellery makeup and skincare around the piercing alcohol-based mouthwash smoking and vaping as much as possible kissing and oral sex during healing.
Bridge Piercing Aftercare A bridge is a surface piercing on the face, so avoiding pressure, pulling and unnecessary movement is especially important. How to care for it Wash your hands before touching the piercing. Clean with sterile saline 1–2 times a day. Gently dry with clean gauze. Do not twist or move the jewellery. Keep glasses, hair, towels and anything touching the piercing clean. Important Bridge piercings can become irritated or start migrating if they experience constant pressure or pulling. If you notice: the skin becoming thinner the jewellery appearing closer to the surface the position of the piercing visibly changing contact us immediately. Avoid makeup around the piercing pressure from glasses or other objects moving the jewellery sleeping face-down swimming during healing.
Smile / Frowney Piercing Aftercare Smile and frowney piercings are located inside the mouth, making good oral hygiene especially important. How to care for them Brush your teeth normally with a soft toothbrush. Maintain good oral hygiene. Rinse your mouth with water after eating. Use an alcohol-free mouthwash if desired. Do not twist or bite the jewellery. Leave the jewellery alone as much as possible. Avoid playing with the jewellery pulling on the frenulum biting the jewellery alcohol-based mouthwash smoking and vaping as much as possible kissing and oral sex during healing. Constant contact between jewellery and your teeth or gums can cause damage. If you notice changes to your teeth, gums or the piercing itself, contact us.
Important – good aftercare is your responsibility Every piercing we perform is done with a sterile needle – never with a piercing gun. We always use high-quality, safe initial jewellery, selected according to the piercing and your anatomy. However, healing also depends on how you care for your piercing at home. Good hygiene, clean hands and leaving the piercing alone help reduce irritation and the risk of infection. It is your responsibility to keep the area clean and avoid unnecessary touching, pressure and contamination. If you wish, you can purchase professional piercing aftercare products and/or sterile saline solution from us to make proper aftercare as easy as possible. When should you contact us? If anything about your piercing worries you, please contact us – we would always rather hear from you too early than too late. We are happy to help you assess the situation and advise you on what to do. If the area becomes severely swollen, hot or increasingly painful, redness becomes significantly worse, there is pus-like discharge, or you develop a fever or feel generally unwell, seek medical attention. Do not remove the jewellery yourself unless advised to do so by a healthcare professional. If you want us to check your piercing, change your jewellery or help you with aftercare, you can always contact us. Appointments can be booked directly through our website. Neoskull Tattoo & Piercing Professional piercing. Proper aftercare. Always here when you need us.