Piercing Aftercare & Healing Guide

What to Expect

During healing, it is normal to experience:

• Mild bleeding, swelling, redness, bruising, and/or tenderness

• Discolouration, itching, and a white-yellow fluid that dries into crust on the jewelry

• Tightness of the tissue around the jewelry as healing progresses

• Scabbing, cracking, dry skin, and flaking after a few days

• Itching and irritation

• Jewelry that does not move freely — do not force it

• Piercings may look healed on the outside before they are healed internally

  • Piercings heal from the outside in, and internal tissue remains fragile even when the surface looks healed

You do not need to rotate your jewelry.

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What to Do

• Wash your hands thoroughly before touching your piercing.

• Clean the piercing using the recommended aftercare spray, or:

  • Soak the piercing for 2 minutes using sea salt and purified water.

• Gently remove any visible crust or debris from the jewelry.

• Do not touch, play with, twist, or force the jewelry to move.

• Do not remove or change the jewelry for at least 6 weeks.

• If you have questions or concerns, contact your piercer at:
  905-544-1222 or piercing@grimstudios.ca

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When to Seek Medical Attention

Contact your doctor immediately if you experience:

• Fever

• Red, spider-web-like veins spreading from the piercing

• Shortness of breath

• Green pus with a strong, foul odor (often described as “rotting potatoes”)

• Excessive swelling

• Dizziness or blurred vision

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Oral Piercing Aftercare

What to Do

• Wash your hands thoroughly before touching the piercing.

• Brush your teeth twice daily.

• Rinse your mouth for 30 seconds after eating, drinking, or smoking using:

  • The recommended mouthwash, or

  • Sea salt and purified water.

• Do not drink alcohol for two weeks, especially beer.

• Do not touch, play with, or force the jewelry to move.

• Do not remove or change the jewelry for at least 6 weeks.

• No oral sex or making out for at least 2 weeks.

• Contact your piercer with questions or concerns at:
  905-544-1222 or piercing@grimstudios.ca

Seek medical attention immediately if any of the warning signs listed above occur.

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Recommended Healing Times

Healing times vary by individual and anatomy. These are general estimates:

• Earlobe: 6–8 weeks

• Ear cartilage: 6 months–1 year

• Eyebrow: 6–8 weeks

• Nostril: 6 months–1 year

• Septum: 6–8 weeks

• Bridge: 8–10 weeks

• Tongue: 4–6 weeks

• Lip / Labret: 6–8 weeks

• Nipple: 6 months–1 year

• Navel: 6 months–1 year

• Surface piercing: 6 months–1 year

• Microdermal / Surface anchor: 2–6 months

• Prince Albert: 6–8 weeks

• Reverse Prince Albert: 4–6 months

• Frenum: 6–8 weeks

• Scrotum: 6–8 weeks

• Foreskin: 8–10 weeks

• Ampallang / Apadravya: 4–8 months

• Inner labia: 4–6 weeks

• Outer labia: 3–6 months

• Clitoral hood: 4–6 weeks

• Christina: 6–9 months

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What to Avoid

• Avoid touching the piercing except when cleaning.

• Avoid trauma from clothing, friction, playing with jewelry, or aggressive cleaning.
  These can cause scar tissue, prolonged healing, and complications.

• Never use the following on a piercing:

  • Vaseline or petroleum jelly

  • Coconut, almond, or other natural oils

  • Essential oils

  • Scented moisturizers

  • Goat’s milk products

  • Dettol, Betadine, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide

  • Baby oil

  • Table salt or Epsom salts

• Do not over-clean.

• Avoid prolonged water exposure:

  • Pools, saunas, hot tubs, and natural bodies of water

• Do not use perfumes or makeup on the piercing until fully healed.

• Do not hang charms on the jewelry until fully healed.

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Sea Salt Soak Mixture

• Dissolve ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon of non-iodized (iodine-free) sea salt
  into 1 cup (8 oz / 250 ml) of warm distilled or bottled water.

• Use twice daily for 2 minutes, or as recommended by your piercer.

• A stronger mixture is not better.
  Over-concentrated saline can irritate the piercing.

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Thank You

Thank you for choosing GRIM Studios.
We hope you had a great experience and look forward to seeing you again.

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If you have any questions, concerns, or issues, please contact us:

• Phone: 905-544-1222

• Email: info@grimstudios.ca

• Facebook or Instagram

If you enjoyed your experience, please consider leaving us a review:
http://g.page/grimtattoo/review?rc