Aftercare
Saline twice a day. Leave it alone.
Sterile saline, twice a day. Do not twist the jewellery.
Initial jewellery is ASTM F136 titanium or solid gold. Healing still needs saline and hands off.
Clean twice daily. Leave it in. Email info@pariah.au if something looks wrong.
While it heals
Hands, saline, no twisting. Leave the jewellery in.
Wash your hands before you touch the piercing, the jewellery, or the skin around it.
Sterile saline (0.9% NaCl) twice daily — morning and evening. Nothing else.
Do not twist, rotate, or fiddle. That is how people wreck a heal.
No harsh products — no alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Bactine or other BZK products, tea tree oil, Dettol, Savlon, ointments, or antibacterial soap.
Leave the jewellery in for the full healing period. Even a piercing that looks healed can close or migrate if you pull it early.
Email a clear photo if anything concerns you. Check-ups are by reservation once we are seeing clients.
Cleaning
Twice a day. That is the routine.
Wash your hands
Before you do anything else, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Clean hands are non-negotiable.
Apply sterile saline
Spray or apply sterile saline (0.9% sodium chloride) to the front and back of the piercing. Saturate the area gently. No need to move the jewellery to get saline around it.
We use NeilMed piercing aftercare: a sterile, preservative-free 0.9% saline spray. Do not mix your own salt solution.
Let it soak
Allow the saline to sit on the piercing for 30 to 60 seconds. This softens any dried lymph fluid (crusties) and allows gentle cleansing to take effect without force.
Pat dry gently
Using a piece of non-woven gauze or clean kitchen roll, gently pat the area dry. Do not rub.
Avoid cotton wool pads and cotton buds — the fibres snag on jewellery and can introduce micro-irritation. Woven fabric (like a flannel or towel) carries the same risk.
Repeat morning and evening
Twice daily is ideal — more frequent cleaning is not more effective and can actually dry out and irritate the piercing channel. Consistency matters more than quantity.
In the shower
Allow clean, warm shower water to rinse over your piercing naturally at the end of your shower. This helps clear away any build-up. Do not direct the shower head at the piercing with force, and avoid getting shampoo, conditioner, or body wash on it.
Normal, and not
Swelling and lymph crust are common. Spreading redness, fever, and thick coloured discharge are not — email us.
Normal
- Mild swelling and puffiness for the first week, particularly with cartilage piercings
- Light bleeding or spotting on day one, or occasionally after a knock
- Clear or pale straw-coloured fluid — this is lymph, not infection, and it is a sign of healing
- Occasional tenderness when the piercing is bumped or snagged
- Itching, particularly in the second or third week as the tissue begins to settle
- Crusties forming around the jewellery — this is crystallised lymph fluid and is completely normal. Soften gently with saline before removing.
Email us
- Spreading redness that extends beyond the immediate piercing site
- Excessive heat around the piercing, particularly if worsening over days
- Thick green or dark yellow discharge with an unpleasant odour
- Prolonged or severe pain that is not improving with time
- Significant or increasing swelling after the first week
- Fever, chills, or general feelings of being unwell
If you notice any of these signs, email us immediately at info@pariah.au. You may also wish to visit your GP or a walk-in healthcare professional. Do not remove the jewellery without guidance — this can trap an infection.
Healing times
Guides, not promises. A piercing can look healed outside and still be raw in the channel.
Lobe
3–6 months
Helix / Flat
6–12 months
Tragus
6–9 months
Conch
6–12 months
Daith
9–12 months
Rook
9–12 months
Industrial
9–15 months
Nostril
4–9 months
Septum
2–4 months
Navel
9–12 months
Nipple
9–18 months
These times are until the fistula (the skin channel) is formed — not until it stops hurting. A piercing can feel fine long before it is healed. Changing jewellery or stopping saline too early is a common cause of irritation.
Downsize
Initial jewellery uses a longer post or barbell than healed jewellery will. That extra length takes the swelling of the first weeks. Once swelling drops — typically around 4 to 8 weeks — the extra length starts to catch, move, and irritate.
A long post or barbell sitting loose against healing tissue snags and puts pressure on the channel. That can mean irritation bumps, a slower heal, or migration. Downsizing replaces the initial piece with a shorter post or barbell that sits flush.
This is not optional. A long post starts to catch once swelling drops. Preview the Collection, then email the piece you want held. The swap happens at a downsize appointment.
Why
-
Prevents irritation
A flush-fitting post removes unnecessary movement and pressure against the healing channel.
-
Reduces snagging risk
Shorter posts are far less likely to catch on hair, clothing, or bedding.
-
Discourages migration
Excess movement in a healing piercing can cause the piercing to shift position over time.
-
Typically at 4–8 weeks
We will advise you at your piercing appointment. Once we are open, reserve a downsize when initial swelling has settled — until then, email us.
What wrecks a heal
Pools, sea, twisting, unwashed hands.
Aftercare FAQ
If yours is not here, email info@pariah.au.
A bump near a piercing is almost never an infection — it is far more commonly an irritation bump (sometimes called a hypertrophic scar). These form in response to trauma, pressure, snagging, or incorrect jewellery fit. They are very common and, in most cases, fully reversible once the cause is identified and addressed.
Signs of a true infection include spreading redness, warmth, fever, and thick coloured discharge with odour. If you are unsure, email us and we can help you identify what you're dealing with and how to address it.
The surface appearance of a piercing heals faster than the underlying tissue channel. A piercing can look and feel completely fine on the outside while the fistula is still fragile internally. We always recommend waiting until the minimum healing time for your piercing type has passed before attempting any jewellery change.
Until the studio is open, email a photo. Once we are open, reserve a jewellery change — we check the piercing is ready and swap it with the correct tools.
No. A few missed days will not ruin a healing piercing. Resume saline twice a day.
Consistency over weeks and months matters far more than perfect compliance every single day. The occasional lapse is nothing to worry about.
Glasses are generally fine as long as they do not rest directly on a healing piercing. If the arms of your frames press on or near the site, consider adjusting the fit or padding the frame temporarily.
In-ear earphones and over-ear headphones that press directly on a healing helix, tragus, or conch should be avoided where possible during the initial healing period. Wireless earbuds can be introduced once the piercing is past the acute phase — usually a few weeks in — but be gentle and clean the area after use.
Email about healing
info@pariah.au — a photo helps. Check-ups by reservation once we are open.