- The Crypt Staff
Infections
Infections only happen when bacteria has entered into a piercing. So long as you
Don't touch it with dirty fingers,
Only touch it when you are cleaning it,
Always wash hands before cleaning it,
Don't let any body suck on it, tug on it, or play with it,
Don't get any body fluids on it,
Do clean twice daily,
Do give it lots of love,
Do stay healthy,
Do call your piercer with any complications,
your chances of infection will be greatly minimized.
5 Signs of Infection Are
Heat, Swelling, Redness, Sensitivity and Discharge.
Healing Time
Always ask your piercer the estimated healing time of your piercing. At the Crypt, a return visit to
check up on your piercing about halfway through the estimated healing time is included free of charge when you get a piercing through us. When
you get a piercing, your body thinks you have a sliver and forms a pocket of fluid around it. So an amount of discharge is normal. It is also normal for it to be red where the
ring enters and leaves your body. This is part of your body's natural healing
process and should not be confused with an infection.
Complication Prevention
If you follow proper daily cleaning procedures, the chance of complications is minimal. The main way to get an infection is to neglect your
piercing. That said, there are several options for decreasing the chance of infection and aiding the healing process. Make sure you check with your Body Piercer before using any of these. Not all are appropriate for use on all piercings.
Tea Tree Soap is a natural antiseptic and fungicidal agent which can be purchased from many health stores. Tea Tree Soap is diluted Tea Tree Oil and Castile Soap and is much more appropriate to fresh piercings than Tea Tree Oil itself which can be too strong if used undiluted. Tea Tree Soap can be made from Tea Tree Oil by using 5% Tea Tree Oil to 95% foaming glycerine base. It should always be rinsed out of the piercing after use.
Mouthwash Use as suggested by your piercer but no more than twice daily and preferrably 50% diluted by water. Mouthwashes with low alcohol content are best as high alcohol content ones quickly dry out your mouth's mucous layer. This will often be apparent as a white discoloration of the tongue. If your mucous layer becomes dried out, it upsets the pH balance of your mouth and can lead to the depletion of healthy bacteria of the mouth, causing thrush, an oral yeast infection. If your mouthwash is alcohol based, dilute 50% with distilled water. Always rinse with distilled water after mouthwash use to help alleviate mouthwash residues and dryness.
Lavender Oil is a good antiseptic, bactericidal, fungicidal, anti-inflammatory and healing agent with immuno-stimulent and mild anaesthetic properties. Use 1-2 drops on the piercing every day and gently blot up excess with a clean tissue to prevent irritation associated with excessive use. Lavender Oil also works well diluted in a Sea Salt solution (2 drops Lavender to 1 cup hot water to 1 tsp Sea Salt) and applied as a compress.
Witch Hazel is recommended for some facial piercings. Ensure that it is distilled Witch Hazel and ethanol-free. Use as directed by your piercer. Witch Hazel is an astringent and will make the piercing look more healed than it is.
Sea Salts or Rock Salts are invaluable for soothing a piercing and for drawing out an infection. They can be used either in a bath (use 1/2 cup of salts), or applied
directly to the piercing with a cotton swab after being dissolved in a bowl of hot water (1/4 tsp per glass of hot water). With either method you should ensure cleanliness (i.e. your hands
and bathtub should be clean) and you should apply the salts for at least 20 minutes. Make sure that you rinse out your piercing after using sea salts/rock salts, to avoid
having the salts crystalize inside the piercing.
Chamomile may be used to quickly bring down swelling. Simply dip a chamomile tea bag in hot water and
hold it against the piercing for 10-15 minutes. Rinse the piercing with warm water afterwards. Please note: some people may be allergic to Chamomile. If this is the case, do not use or discontinue use of it immediately.
Allergic Reactions
The jewelry that the Crypt uses is constructed of implant grade (surgical) steel (ASTM 316LVM FI38-00), a metal that rarely causes reactions. However, there are a few individuals who may still experience a reaction to this jewelry. Signs of such a reaction are redness and dryness and an appearance that the skin is actually pulling away from the jewelry. If you have a suspicion that this is occurring with your piercing, contact your local piercer immediately so that they can remedy the problem.
Daily Cleaning Process (2-3 Times Daily)
1) Wash your hands thoroughly before you touch your piercing, preferably with an anti-bacterial soap.
2) Rinse all dry matter or 'crusties' off of the piercing and jewelry. It is very important that all of this matter is
removed as it is quite hard and sharp when dried so accidentally turning it through will re-open and injure your piercing.
3) Apply recommended after-care solution to the jewelry and the surrounding area. Rotate the jewelry back and forth through the
piercing several times. The goal is to get the solution inside the piercing itself.
4) Rinse all after-care solution out of the piercing using warm water. Rotate water through
the piercing twice as many times as you did with the solution. If you put solution through
twice, then put water through four times. Solution left in the piercing could irritate it,
so make sure you rinse properly.
5) Once the piercing has been cleaned, leave it alone.
Disclaimer
Body Piercers are not doctors. If you have concerns about your piercing that your local Body Piercer cannot help you with or if you have a severe reaction to the piercing, contact a
physician immediately.
