HOW HEALING WORKS
Every piercing passes through the same three stages:
Inflammatory phase (Week 1–2)
Your body responds to the piercing as it would any wound: the area becomes tender, there may be some swelling, some bleeding, some warmth. This is not a problem. This is your immune system arriving on time, doing its job beautifully.
Proliferative phase (Weeks 2–12+)
The body begins to build new tissue around the jewellery, forming the fistula, the tunnel that will permanently house your piercing. During this phase you'll notice the crust and secretions described in What is normal below. The piercing may look healed on the outside; it is not yet healed within. This is when patience matters most.
Maturation phase (Months 3–12+)
The tunnel strengthens and the piercing settles. Healing is complete only when the channel is fully formed and the skin inside is robust. Rushing this phase is the most common reason piercings fail.
HEALING TIMES BY PIERCING
These are general guides. Your anatomy, lifestyle and how well you follow aftercare will all affect your timeline. When in doubt, wait longer.
| Piercing | Minimum Healing Time | Full Healing |
|---|---|---|
| Lobe (standard) | 6–8 weeks | 3–6 months |
| Lobe (thick/lower) | 3–4 months | 6–12 months |
| Helix / Flat | 6–9 months | 9–18 months |
| Daith | 6–9 months | 9–18 months |
| Tragus | 6–9 months | 9–18 months |
| Rook | 9–12 months | 12–18 months |
| Conch (inner) | 6–9 months | 9–18 months |
| Industrial | 9–12 months | 12–24 months |
| Nostril | 4–6 months | 6–12 months |
| Septum | 6–8 weeks | 6 months |
| Navel | 6–9 months | 9–18 months |
| Nipple | 9–12 months | 12–18 months |
| Surface / Dermal | 3–6 months | 6–12 months+ |
Your piercer will give you a personalised estimate based on your anatomy and placement.
THE DOs
CLEAN YOUR HANDS PROPERLY before cleaning the area of your piercing. Ideally soak or spray the piercing to clean it. Always avoid touching the piercing or the area around it with your fingers wherever possible.
KEEP THE PIERCING CLEAN. Hygiene is crucial for successful healing. The most effective way to clean your piercing is to use sterile saline spray or saline solution. We do not recommend using any other solution. Let the external site air dry. Beware of towels. They can harbour bacteria and snag on your jewellery. Be gentle when cleaning new piercings. Over-cleaning can actually delay healing. We recommend a routine of 2 cleanings per day for the external skin area.
It is normal to find a small amount of crust on the entry holes of your piercing. If this does not come away easily after cleaning, leave it alone. It will drop away when the skin underneath is strong enough. If it doesn't come away easily, it isn't ready. Leave it be.
Showers are a safer option than baths in the initial healing period. If you do bathe in a tub (we strongly advise against this for the first 2 weeks), clean your bathtub thoroughly before and after each use, and rinse your piercing with fresh water before getting out.
MAINTAIN A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. Health and diet have a real impact on healing. See this time as a time to nurture yourself. Eat well: choose healthy, anti-inflammatory foods, and drink plenty of water. Avoid hot and spicy foods, which may increase swelling, and foods containing live bacteria (e.g. yoghurts). For the first week or two, reduce caffeine intake. Avoid stress (wherever possible) and recreational drug use, including nicotine. Give yourself enough sleep. It is also worth considering daily nutritional supplements: Iron, Vitamin B, Vitamin C and Zinc.
THE DO NOTs
DO NOT TOUCH YOUR NEW PIERCING. We can't stress this enough. Our hands carry bacteria and it is crucial not to introduce this into what is essentially a fresh wound. Wash your hands thoroughly with an anti-bacterial hand wash before cleaning your piercing, or wear disposable latex gloves. Avoid catching your piercing and do not move the jewellery more than necessary. Even if it doesn't hurt or feel sore, the healing is still taking place internally. Playing with the jewellery during healing can cause scar tissue, migration and other complications. Long-term effects include permanent skin damage and a higher chance of recurring infections and inflammation.
DO NOT LET YOUR HEALING PIERCING TOUCH ANY BODILY FLUIDS. This includes saliva, sweat, and other secretions that can introduce bacteria and compromise healing. Be mindful during intimate contact and physical activity.
DO NOT REMOVE THE JEWELLERY BEFORE IT IS FULLY HEALED. During the healing period your body is creating a fistula, a channel, around the jewellery. Removing it prematurely can cause irritation, infection and scarring. Healing times vary from piercing to piercing, and from person to person. Your piercer will advise you. It is always better to wait longer than to change too early. That is precisely why we created the beautiful piercing pieces that we did.
DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PIERCING WITHOUT JEWELLERY IN, even after the healing period, even for piercings you've had for years. A piercing channel can shrink, fill in and seal very quickly.
DO NOT EXPOSE YOUR FRESH PIERCING TO ENVIRONMENTS WHICH MAY TRIGGER A NEGATIVE REACTION. No swimming pools, saunas or jacuzzis, and no long soaks in the bath for at least 2 weeks after piercing. Submerging a fresh piercing exposes it to excess bacteria, which can result in irritation or infection. Also avoid sun beds, sand, and dusty or dirty environments. Avoid sudden changes in climate. If you're planning to travel, speak to your piercer before getting pierced.
After the initial 2 weeks and until the end of the healing period: if you do go into any of these environments, take a long shower afterwards and use a saline soak or spray. Avoid friction from clothing, excessive motion of the area, playing with jewellery or vigorous cleaning. Avoid all beauty and personal care products directly on or around the piercing: cosmetics, sprays, creams, powders.
DO NOT COVER YOUR PIERCING WITH A PLASTER. Bacteria thrive under plasters. The area needs air. Only cover it temporarily if your piercing is bleeding or to avoid contact with bodily fluids.
DO NOT TAKE OUT THE PIERCING IF IT IS INFECTED. Visit your piercer as soon as possible for a check-up. If the jewellery is removed, surface cells can close up and seal the infection inside the channel, potentially leading to an abscess (which, we promise you, you do not want). Until an infection is cleared, leave your jewellery in.
AFTERCARE IN FIVE STEPS
Everything above, distilled. If you remember nothing else, remember these.
- Wash your hands. Every time, before you go anywhere near the piercing.
- Spray or soak with sterile saline. Twice a day, on the outside only. Nothing else, no other solution.
- Let it air dry. Skip the towel. It harbours bacteria and snags on jewellery.
- Leave it alone. No twisting, no turning, no picking at crust. If crust doesn't come away easily, it isn't ready.
- Look after yourself. Water, sleep, good food, less caffeine and nicotine. A piercing heals at the speed your body does.
WHAT IS NORMAL?
In the first days: a little bleeding, some localised swelling, tenderness or bruising. All normal.
During healing: discoloration, itching, and the secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid. This is not pus. It is sebum, produced by your glands to expel lymph, dead cells and interstitial fluid. It is a sign that you are healing well, and it's what forms the crust on your jewellery.
Even once healed: occasional secretions are normal. This is simply how bodies work. Continue to clean your piercing every now and then.
Signs your piercing is healing well:
- Tenderness and swelling gradually reducing
- A small amount of whitish crust around the entry holes
- The area around the jewellery feels settled and calm
- The jewellery moves freely and without pain once healing is established
A piercing might feel healed before the healing process is actually complete. Tissue heals from the outside in; the interior remains fragile long after the exterior looks fine. Be patient and follow the guidelines through the entire healing period.
SIGNS TO PAY ATTENTION TO
A little redness, swelling and tenderness in the first week or two is completely normal. The following, however, deserve attention:
- Increasing redness or swelling after the first two weeks
- Yellow or green discharge (distinct from the normal clear-white secretions)
- Significant heat, throbbing or pain that is getting worse rather than better
- The jewellery sinking into or being pushed out by the skin
- A bump forming at the piercing site
None of these necessarily mean you need to take the jewellery out. In fact, removing jewellery from an infected piercing can make things worse. Contact us and we will advise you on the right course of action.
WHEN TO CHANGE YOUR JEWELLERY
Only when your piercing is fully healed, and when advised by your piercer. Changing jewellery too early is one of the most common causes of complications and extended healing times. When you are ready, come back to us. We'll make it a moment.
Gold is for life, not just for healing time.
COME AND SEE US
We love piercings and we love being pierced. They are a commitment. Even with a fully healed piercing, if you are run down, exhausted or under the weather, your piercings may start to complain. Which is a very good reason to value yourself, your body, and your piercings, and give them the love they deserve.
Whether you're concerned about your healing, ready to change your jewellery, or simply want to build on your piercing, we are here. If you're unsure about anything, reach out. We'd rather you ask than worry.