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Clean it. Leave it Alone. Repeat.

Healing a piercing is mostly about getting out of its way. Your body knows what to do - you just need to keep things clean, avoid irritation, and come back to us if something feels off.

01

The One Rule

Sterile saline wound wash only. Spray it, let it do its thing, walk away. That's it. Anything stronger - alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Neosporin, essential oils, ear care solution - is strong enough to damage the new skin cells trying to heal around your jewelry. Don't use it.

02

Do This

  • Clean once or twice a day with sterile saline

  • Shower normally - that's fine and necessary

  • Sleep on clean pillowcases

  • Check threaded jewelry ends periodically to make sure they're snug

03

Not This

  • Touch, rotate, or play with the jewelry - ever

  • Submerge in any water - pools, lakes, oceans, baths, hot tubs

  • Let pets sleep in your bed while healing

  • Apply makeup, lotion, hairspray, or any product near the piercing

  • Remove the jewelry - even healed piercings can close faster than you think

04

How Long

There's no universal answer - every body heals differently. Earlobes generally take three to six months. Cartilage can take up to a year or longer. Keep cleaning once a day for as long as you have the piercing. Don't assume healed means done.

05

Something Look Off?

More often than not what looks like an infection is irritation. The good news? Irritation is fixable with small adjustments. A true infection is relatively rare and comes with sudden inflammation, heat, and discharge of actual pus. If you're unsure, contact us. We're reachable by email after hours and offer free follow-up consultations. When in doubt, come in.

06

Oral Piercings

Rinse with alcohol-free mouthwash after eating. Stay hydrated, it's the single best thing you can do for swelling. Avoid hot food and drinks, spicy food, and kissing until fully healed. Don't play with the jewelry. Your tongue will thank you.

07

Intimate Piercings

All the standard rules apply, plus one more. All intimate piercings are an open channel to the bloodstream. Use a barrier during sexual activity until fully healed. Go easy. Heal first.

Still have questions? We'd rather you ask than guess.

Reach us at dahliapiercing@gmail.com — we're here after hours too.

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