So you just got a new piercing — yay! 🎉
Now your body is immediately kicking into healing mode, working hard behind the scenes to seal and strengthen that tiny little channel. How smoothly it goes is entirely up to you.
Good aftercare = happy piercings.
Bad aftercare = bumps, irritation, and chaos.
Here are the exact tips and tricks I give my clients to help their piercings heal beautifully with a whole lot of less drama.
1. Wash Those Hands
Before you touch your piercing, your earrings, your ear, or even think about checking it — wash your hands with warm water + soap. Simple and boring, but also #1 for a reason.
Clean hands = fewer germs = fewer problems.
2. Clean 1–2x Daily with PiercingProtect® Aftercare Spray (AKA Your Piercing’s BFF)
Your new piercing LOVES consistency. Gently clean the front and back 1–2 times a day using:
✨ PiercingProtect® Aftercare Spray - Hypochlorous Acid
✨ PiercingProtect Swabs
✨ or sterile saline wound wash, if you must
How to do it like a pro:
- Saturate your swab (don't dry swipe - that just irritates).
- Spray the area generously.
- Let it air dry for 30 seconds.
- Blot DRY. Moisture is not your friend (more on that later).
This combo keeps bacteria away without irritating your skin or over-drying the piercing.
3. Hands Off! (Seriously, Stop Touching It.)
I know… it’s shiny. It’s new. You want to poke it.
But touching = bacteria.
And rotating the jewelry?
Absolute NO. ❌
Rotating the post breaks the healing channel, causes trauma, and sets you back days...sometimes weeks. So admire your new piercing hands-free, please.
4. Avoid Harsh Products. Your Piercing is Sensitive Right Now.
No makeup on it.
No hairspray on it.
No perfume on it.
No skincare dripping onto it.
Basically… if it’s not aftercare, keep it far away. Irritants make healing slower, angrier, and bumpier.
5. No Swimming
I know, I know...but trust me! Avoid pools, lakes, hot tubs, oceans, slip ’n slides… anything you submerge in… for at least 2–3 weeks. Bacteria, chemicals, and a fresh piercing are ingredients for a disaster.
For kids:
If they take baths, heads up — no submerging the ears in bathwater.
6. Don’t Sleep on It (Your Piercing Is Not a Pancake)
Cartilage piercings especially do not like pressure. Sleeping on them can:
- Shift the angle
- Cause swelling
- Create irritation bumps
- Prolong healing
- Make your piercer cry inside
Until you downsize your post (AT LEAST), avoid sleeping on that side.
Pro tip:
Use your PiercingProtect® Ear Hole Pillow — designed exactly for this.
Kids, adults, side sleepers… this pillow saves piercings.
7. Keep Your Piercings DRY
After cleaning, showering, sweating, being in humidity — DRY. YOUR. PIERCING. Moisture trapped behind the ear is a bacterial theme park. It can cause large bumps and seriously slow healing.
Best ways to dry:
- Blot with PiercingProtect® Swabs
- Use a clean paper towel
- Blow dryer on cool
- And for the love of all things sparkly, do not sleep with wet hair touching your piercing.
8. Schedule Your Post Downsize Appointment
Your piercer should pierce you with a longer post initially. This is intentional: It leaves room for swelling. As long as your swelling is gone, you should be able to safely schedule a post downsize appointment:
6-8 weeks after cartilage piercings
8-12 weeks after lobes
Skipping this step can cause snagging, bumps, and angle changes. Don’t skip it. Your future self will thank you.
NORMAL VS. INFECTION. Don't panic! Just learn the signs.
Normal healing symptoms:
- Light bruising
- Mild swelling
- Small amount of bleeding (1-2 days)
- Clear/yellowish fluid
- Tenderness
- Itching
Signs of infection:
- Extreme swelling
- Redness that worsens
- Feeling hot to the touch
- Intense pain
- Pus
- Fever or feeling unwell
If you suspect infection, don’t ignore it. Make an appointment with your primary care physician. Untreated infections can escalate quickly.
If You Suspect a Minor Infection:
- Clean 4-6x/day
- Apply a warm compress
- Keep your jewelry in
- Use a topical antibiotic for no more than 3-5 days
If symptoms worsen... call your doctor. Professional Piercers (including me!) are not medical professionals.
HEALING TIMES
Healing takes time and cartilage takes the longest. Here’s what to expect:
Lobes: 8-12 weeks
Nostril: 4-6 months
Helix, Flat, Conch, Tragus, Rook, Forward Helix: 6-12 months
Daith: 12-18 months
Think of these as minimums — everyone heals differently.
Final Thoughts from Lorin
You invested in a beautiful piercing. Now protect it! Using proper Aftercare while following this routine gives your piercing its best shot at healing smoothly, quickly, and bump-free.
