Your piercing should only be fed quality jewelry. After all, you went through enough pain to get it, it should never hurt after it has healed! Any jewelry you buy should be surgical stainless steel, real gold or titanium. You should inspect every piece you buy for nicks, scratches and metal slivers before wearing and again everytime you wear it.
Never try to "upsize" your piercing without consulting a pro first. Stick with the gauge of jewelry you were originally pierced with. This will save you alot of pain later on!
Even after your piercing has healed, it still needs TLC. Cleanse daily with an antibacterial cleanser and dry well. Continue to follow your piercer's recommendations in the care and maintenance of your piercing and jewelry.
As tempting as it may be after your new piercing starts feeling better, NEVER change your jewelry before your piercer's recommended time frame. They didn't come up with these on a whim ya know! A fresh piercing is basically a wound, the same as a cut or scratch and changing too soon can introduce infectious bacteria into that wound! Prime breeding ground for a massive infection!
When the big day finally comes and you are ready to try on that new "Just Ducky" jewelry, be sure to cleanse the jewelry and your piercing well when changing over. Use freshly washed hands anytime you handle your piercing and/or your jewelry. You can use antibacterial soap or rubbing alcohol.
It is not recommended that you use any type of antibacterial ointments on your piercing. From what my favorite piercer has told me, these actually cause an "occlusive barrier", that is, they block vital oxygen from getting where it is supposed to be. If you suspect your piercing has become infected, seek medical attention from a professional. Do not use this website as the final authority and do not return to your piercer. Neither one of us is an MD, we can give advice but cannot prescribe medications!
Carefully investigate the piercing establishment you choose before you pierce! Reputable artists will gladly take the time to discuss your desires and should be willing to furnish credentials and samples of previous work. All items used for your "pierce" should be single-use and sterile! They should also comply with the regulations of whatever state they are in and show proof of license if required.
Lastly, but most importantly....DO NOT EVER TRY TO PIERCE YOURSELF! This can cause major infection and permanent disfigurement to your beautiful body! All piercing should be done by a trained professional with proper credentials, this is also true for tattoos! The pros have been trained in anatomy as well as the actual piercing technique.
