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Piercing FAQ's
Is it going to hurt?
Most likely, not as much as you think. The piercing only takes a second. However, a piercing is not totally painless. Pain perception is relative to the individual and what one person may perceive as very painful another person may not. Normally the pain you feel during a piercing is nothing you cannot handle.
How long will it take to heal?
Providing you do not have any complications, healing depends on blood supply and your body’s own healing nutrients which are carried in the blood, A tongue piercing and most oral piercings (which have a “great blood supply”) heal very quickly because healing nutrients are carried to the injured area through the blood. Belly button and surface piercings take much longer because your subdermal layer is most likely fat tissue which is very poorly vascularized. Ear piercings are middle of the road “good blood supply”. Genital piercings heal super-fast, because again there is a much “greater blood supply”.
What can I do during the healing period to help my piercing heal faster?
Your Piercing is a wound, listen to your piercer, and follow the aftercare instructions carefully. There are no products or things you can do with your fingers to help your piercing heal faster. You must realize it is your body that heals a piercing, not products, or fingers. Eat well-balanced meals, get the rest you need, maintain a healthy lifestyle and most of all be patient.
How long before I can change my jewelry?
You can change your jewelry after the healing period, which can vary from person to person. You must have a complete layer of skin throughout your entire piercing. If you change your jewelry too soon you can reopen the wound and cause an infection. A good rule is when you can manipulate your jewelry with no pain or tenderness it MAY be time to change your jewelry. However, you may want to consult your piercer before changing your jewelry for the first time.
Can I take my jewelry out? and if so for how long can I keep my jewelry out?
This depends on the piercing, where it is located, and how long you have had it. You should NEVER take the jewelry out of a healing piercing period. As a rule, every piercing hole will shrink when no jewelry is in it. If you like the size (gauge) of your piercing I recommend putting in a retainer of equal gauge. Nose piercings can close sometimes within hours even if you have had it for years. Because on the inside of your nose is a mucus membrane. Mucus membranes will close very quickly much like an adhesion. Any cartilage piercing has the potential to close even when fully healed. NOTE: The larger the gauge of jewelry and length of time you have had it reduces the possibility of your piercing completely closing.
Should I use alcohol or over the counter products to clean and heal my piercing?
Again, products do not heal your piercing. DO NOT use any type of Alcohol, Bactine®, Peroxide®, Neosporin®, Hibiclense® or Dial soap® to clean your piercing. These products are not meant for long tern internal use, and will only irritate and further complicate the healing process. For more aftercare information please refer to the aftercare sheet you were given when you were pierced or visit www.facebook.com/acrodeco13More detailed aftercare instructions and rationales are pinned to the top of the page
My piercing is red and seems to be infected ... what can I do?
First, make sure that you are NOT using the non-recommended product to clean your piercing such as; Bactine®, alcohol, or Neosporin® Hibiclense® etc.. Second, make sure that you are only using a mild soap and or non-iodized sea salt approved by your piercer to clean your piercing. Third, make sure you are not over cleaning your piercing. All these actions can cause your piercing to mimic an infection such as make it red, inflamed, and painful. Fourth, make sure you have the right jewelry in your piercing. You may have a defective piece of jewelry or a slight allergic reaction to your jewelry. Other jewelry options are available such as titanium or niobium. If you are having problems or think you are having a problem please consult your piercer.
How long should I wait before stretching my piercing?
It is a good idea to wait at least 3 times as long as the healing period before attempting to stretch. This is only a General Rule, so sometimes you can go faster, sometimes slower. It's always a good idea to let your piercer do the stretching as the right tools for the job make it a lot easier
Can I still breast feeding if my nipples are pierced?
As long as the piercings are well healed you would not have a problem with breast feeding. If the piercing had been done correctly and they are at the base of the nipple you should not have a problem. I do recommend barbells so they can be removed during feeding time. I expressly recommend taking them out during feeding time. Sometimes your balls can come loose and the baby could choke if they accidentally came out.
Can I get a yeast infection from drinking beer or eating bread with an oral/tongue piercing
NO!!!! The beer/wine/bread yeast, "Saccharomyces cerevisiae", is not pathogenic as opposed to Candida albicans, which is the most common yeast pathogen found in "yeast infections" also called "thrush" when you have a yeast infection in your mouth. You can however get a yeast infection if you over use an alcohol based mouthwash which can kill the "normal flora in your mouth which keeps Candida albicans in check.
Can we bring in our own jewelry?
No, you cannot bring your own jewelry. We must pierce with 316 LVM surgical steal sterile jewelry NO EXCEPTIONS!
Can you re-pierce in the same spot?
Yes, we can re-pierce in the same spot most of the time. If the piercing did not work for you the first time it may have been pierced in a spot which was not conducive to healing properly. Our piercer may make suggestions that may work better for you.
Do you pierce with a gun, punch or needle?
We will only use the sharpest sterile (one time use) hollow needle money can buy. Our piercer will not even use the same needle twice on the same person. Piercing guns should be banned (and are in many states) because the Jewelry is not sharp and you cannot sterilize a plastic piercing gun
Can a “messed up” piercing be fixed?
Most of the time yes it can be fixed. You may have to remove the “messed up” piercing and let it heal before you can be re-pierced.
I have a bump next to or on my piercing what is this and what can I do about it?
I have done quite extensive research on this subject. First, it could be one of a few things such as hypertonic scarring, piercing pimple or keloid. Fortunately, the interventions are very much the same for each. Here I will include a brief excerpt from my research and interventions to help make them go away.
http://www.medicinenet.com/keloid/page2.htm
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