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Nekojin_cat

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PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 3:36 am


So today, I got my helix pierced ( whee ), and it's quietly awesome. But during the pre-pierce fretting over OMG-hurting-soon and the post-pierce happiness over OMG-not-hurt-yay I didn't end up catching exactly how long to clean the piercing for, or how often. I've looked online, but I'm still a little confused. The initial healing time is 6-8 weeks, so is that 6-8 weeks of cleaning one or two times per day, with a salt soak every day or so?

Silly question, I know, but I don't want to underclean and get infections, or overclean and stop it healing fast. >.<
PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 4:40 pm


Yes, you should keep cleaning it twice a day for 8 weeks.

In the beginning, since you will have a little bit of discharge from the white blood cells, I suggest cleaning away the crust with either saline solution (like the stuff for contacts) or H2Ocean if you can find it. I think Hot Topic carries the latter. After the salt soak, make sure you rinse it off really well and pat all the water off. I suggest going at the underside with a Q-tip just to make sure it's dry.

Watch out if you have long hair, because it will get caught. When you take a shower, you should try to not let it sit under the water for long periods of time and pat it dry if it does get wet.

Since it is cartilage, it will be sore for a long time.

What you really need to watch out for is swelling, severe redness, and colored discharge. Those are signs of an infection and if you have any of those, contact your piercer. They will most likely need to see it to tell you what you need to do to treat it.

It will be red, tender, and warm to the touch due to the area you pierced, so those are normal and you don't need to worry about those.

If you have any more questions, let me know.

^_^

inflatable girl


Nekojin_cat

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PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 10:01 pm


Thank you! =] I've been given a mild cleaning solution by the piercer, so I'll use that, and sea salt soaks. (Also I don't actually live in America, so I can't go to Hot Topic. XP ) I've been keeping my hair tied up and bobby-pinned away from the piercing to stop it getting caught, or bacteria-covered. It's been throbbing this evening, but there's been minimal discharge so far. I'm guessing it's all pretty normal.
PostPosted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 5:17 pm


What type of cleaning solution?

Yeah, those are normal. I just got a keloid on my ear because I yanked it when I was getting dressed. Those are small red bumps that form around the piercing. They are really easy to get rid of, make a mix of asprin and warm water and leave it on the keloid until it dries. Do that twice a day until it's gone. Just letting you know in case you get one so you don't freak out.

^_^

But if you make your own salt soak, make sure you don't put too much in it.

inflatable girl


Nekojin_cat

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PostPosted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 10:07 pm


Minagi Sakuya
What type of cleaning solution?

Yeah, those are normal. I just got a keloid on my ear because I yanked it when I was getting dressed. Those are small red bumps that form around the piercing. They are really easy to get rid of, make a mix of asprin and warm water and leave it on the keloid until it dries. Do that twice a day until it's gone. Just letting you know in case you get one so you don't freak out.

^_^

But if you make your own salt soak, make sure you don't put too much in it.
I've been measuring for the salt soak - 1/4 spoon with one cup of very warm water - and the solution I've been given is something the piercer gave me. It contains belzalkonium chloride.
PostPosted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 7:34 am


Okie dokie, you''re good then.

^_^

inflatable girl

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