Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Keep your piercing clean in the bath
• Method 2 of 3: Cleaning the piercing
• Method 3 of 3: Taking care of the piercing
• Warnings

If you have a new piercing, you also know how important it is to keep it clean and healthy. If you can, taking a shower is better than a bath to keep the piercing clean, but if you feel the need to take a bath, that's a possibility too. You have to take some precautions so that you don't get an infection. Then take proper care of your piercing by cleaning it twice a day and disinfecting everything that comes into contact with it.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Keep your piercing clean in the bath

1. Wait at least 24 hours before taking a bath. The first 24 hours after getting a piercing, it is involved in the healing process and making a protective crust. It is best to wait at least a day before entering the tub to make sure your piercing has the most protection possible.
2. Thoroughly clean the bathtub before using it. Wet the tub with a glass or the shower head. Spray the tub with a disinfectant spray especially for showers and bathtubs, scrub everything down to the bottom with a sponge or nylon brush. Rinse the tub with clean and hot water.
   • Do not use abrasive cleaners or sponges, as these can damage the enamel of the tub.
3. Fill the bathtub with water only. You can determine the temperature yourself, but make sure you can hold your hand comfortably in the water for a few minutes before entering the bath. Do not use a bubble bath or bath soaps if they contain fragrance and your piercing is below the waterline as these can irritate the piercing.
   • You can bathe for as long as you want.
4. Scrub your hands before touching the piercing. Make sure your hands are clean before entering the bath. Scrub your hands with warm water and soap and rinse with clean water. Scrub for at least 20 seconds.
   • Use fresh water to clean your hands.
5. Wash the piercing with liquid soap while in the bath. Gently rub liquid soap into the piercing. Do not twist or tilt the piercing. Use clean water to rinse off the soap and get it all out.
   • Choose an odorless and gentle soap. Find one that has the statement "For sensitive skin."
6. Rinse the piercing with clean water and saline solution when you get out of the bath. Use fresh water to rinse the area around the piercing when you get out of the tub. Then, either soak the area in saline solution or place a paper towel in the saline solution and apply it to the piercing for a few minutes.
   • Cleaning the piercing after getting out of the bathtub can help flush out the germs that could be causing an infection.
7. Dry the piercing with kitchen paper. Fabric towels can contain germs even when freshly washed. Use clean kitchen paper to blot the piercing on both sides, then throw the paper in the trash. Do not rub the piercing - this can cause irritation!
   • You can then towel dry the rest of your body as usual.

Method 2 of 3: Cleaning the piercing

1. Wash your hands for 20 seconds before cleaning the piercing. If you need to clean the piercing, scrub your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. When you're done with this, dry your hands thoroughly with a clean paper towel.
   • You won't touch your piercing the rest of the time.
2. Clean the area once a day. To get rid of it, you can do this in the bath or shower. You just have to wash away the crusts. Gently massage a small amount of liquid soap - about the size of a pea - on both sides of the piercing and then rinse thoroughly.
   • Choose an odorless soap, especially for sensitive skin.
3. Soak the piercing in saline solution twice a day. To clean it, soak the area in saline solution for 5 minutes. If it is difficult to keep the piercing in the solution, you can instead soak a paper towel in the solution and hold it against the piercing for 5 minutes.
   • Paper towels are better than cotton balls or cotton pads because they don't leave much residue on the piercing.
4. When you're done, pat the area dry with a paper towel. Gently pat both sides of the piercing with a clean paper towel until dry. To avoid redness or inflammation, do not scrub the piercing with it.
   • Do not use regular towels to dry it as they can contain germs.

Method 3 of 3: Taking care of the piercing

1. Wear loose clothing with the piercing when covering it. Tight clothing can irritate the piercing, causing it to become red and inflamed. Go for a piece of clothing that fits slightly over the area to keep the piercing happy.
   • Soft and breathable fabrics such as cotton are best for this.
   • If it is a belly button piercing, do not put on tights or tight underwear until it is healed.
2. Clean anything that will come in contact with the piercing. This could be your phone, your glasses, earplugs or even a bicycle helmet. Clean them with soap and water (when possible) and wipe with antibacterial wipes, paying special attention to the area that will come in contact with the piercing.
   • Likewise, keep things like hats or T-shirts clean when you put them on.
   • If you have an ear piercing, put a clean T-shirt over your pillow and turn it over the next night. The night after, turn it inside out to turn it over again the last night. After this you do use another clean T-shirt.
3. Wash the piercing if you have been sweating a lot. If you have been extra sweaty, run water over the piercing to rinse it off. Leaving the sweat on the piercing can cause irritation. You can do this with clean water, but if you have a saline solution, you can use that too.
4. Do not enter hot tubs, pools, and lakes until the piercing has healed. Public swimming areas are full of germs and could contaminate your piercing. Even if you have a hot tub or pool in your backyard, you shouldn't use it. It's quite difficult to keep germs at bay in water, especially hot water.
   • Depending on where the piercing is located, it can take anywhere from four weeks to a year to heal. Cartilage piercings, such as in the top of your ear, will take longer to heal; the same also applies to nail, nose and nipple piercings.
5. Watch for signs of inflammation, including redness and growth. You can expect some redness and swelling after getting a piercing. However, if the piercing becomes inflamed, the redness and swelling will increase over a few dates instead of decreasing. It may also become more painful and soften over time, or you may notice a burning sensation. Pus or other discharge is a sign of inflammation.
   • If you think you have inflammation, make an appointment with your doctor. If you really have an infection, your doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics.

Warnings

• Remember, a piercing is something you can enjoy for years to come. You can afford to skip bathing or swimming to protect your piercing while it heals.