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Body Piercing Problems
About this symptom
Most body piercing wounds can be cared for at home. If you received written instructions from the person who did the body piercing, follow those instructions carefully. This will help prevent problems and promote healing.
If you did not receive instructions for care of the piercing site, try the following:
- Stop any bleeding by applying direct pressure to the piercing site.
- Apply a cold pack to help reduce swelling or bruising. Never apply ice directly to the skin. This can cause tissue damage. Put a layer of fabric or cloth towel between the cold pack and the skin.
- Wash the wound for 5 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day with large amounts of warm water and any antibacterial soap, such as pHisoHex or Dial.
- Elevate the piercing area, if possible, to help reduce swelling.
- After the first 48 hours, if swelling and bruising are not present, soak the wound in warm water for 20 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day. The warmth of the water will increase the blood flow to the area, which helps reduce the risk of infection. If it is too hard to soak the wound, apply a warm, moist compression pack to the site.
- If you have a mouth or tongue piercing, use an antibacterial mouthwash, such as Listerine or Scope, 3 to 4 times a day to help the healing process. Avoid smoking, and don't drink alcohol or eat spicy foods until the piercing site is fully healed.
- Clean your jewelry with alcohol or hot, soapy water.
- Use of an antibiotic ointment has not been shown to affect healing. If you choose to use an antibiotic ointment, such as polymyxin B sulfate (for example, Polysporin) or bacitracin, apply the ointment lightly to the wound. If a skin rash or itching develops, stop using the ointment. The rash may be caused by an allergic reaction.
- Avoid tight clothing over the piercing area. Tight clothing may irritate the piercing site. If irritation develops, it is best to bandage the site. Piercing sites usually will heal well with or without a bandage.
- If the piercing site is red or you are worried about getting an infection, remove the jewelry. Soak the site in warm water for 20 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day. If it is too hard to soak the piercing site (for example, if you had your belly button pierced), apply a warm, moist cloth instead. If the site looks or feels worse during home treatment, use the Check Your Symptoms section to find out if you need to see your doctor. If the site does not get better after 48 hours of home treatment, call your doctor.
How fast the wound heals depends on the piercing site. The wound may take 4 to 6 weeks or longer to heal. Some sites may take up to a year to heal fully.
| Try a nonprescription medicine to help treat your pain: |
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Talk to your child’s doctor before switching back and forth between doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. When you switch between two medicines, there is a chance your child will get too much medicine. |
| Be sure to follow these safety tips when you use a nonprescription medicine: |
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Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment
Use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate your symptoms if any of the following occur during home treatment:
- You develop signs of an infection.
- You develop an allergic reaction.
- Your symptoms are not improving after 2 weeks.
- Your symptoms become more severe or frequent.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: September 7, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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