Piercing Aftercare

Use Sterilear Step 1: Clean Piercing Spray for the first two weeks post piercing.

• Spray front and back twice a day, directly over the piercing and jewellery.
• Contains the optimal concentration of salts to promote healing.
• Sterile solution helps prevent bacteria from forming around the piercing.
• Helps to safely clean and wash away dried discharge, crust or secretions around the piercing.
• Avoid eye contact. Not for oral use. External use only.

What not to do:

• Do not twist, turn or rotate the jewellery
• Avoid swimming for the first two weeks after a piercing. If you must go swimming, we recommend covering your piercing with a waterproof band-aid and spray with Sterilear Step 1: Clean after exiting the water and removing the band-aid.
• You should not remove the jewellery from your body piercing before your changeover time (initial healing period) as the piercing hole will immediately start to close and you may not be able to get jewellery back in.
• If you must change your jewellery we recommend visiting a professional body piercer in your local Essential Beauty salon to help select the correct jewellery and insert it for you.
• Do not use Dettol, Betadine, hydrogen peroxide, disinfectants, soaps, tea tree oil and alcohol to clean your piercing. These products can dry out, irritate and burn the pierced area.
• Avoid using personal care products on or around the piercing including makeup, body lotion and perfumes.

Use Sterilear Step 2: Care Piercing Spray from week 3 onwards.

• Spray front and back twice a day directly over the piercing and jewellery.
• Enhanced formula enriched with aloe vera, lavender and vitamin E to soothe the skin and promote healing.
• Contains peppermint oil to provide anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.
• Avoid eye contact. Not for oral use. External use only.

What not to do:

• Do not twist, turn or rotate the jewellery
• You should not remove the jewellery from your body piercing before your changeover time (initial healing period) as the piercing hole will immediately start to close and you may not be able to get jewellery back in.
• If you must change your jewellery we recommend visiting a professional body piercer in your local Essential Beauty salon to help select the correct jewellery and insert it for you.
• Do not use Dettol, Betadine, hydrogen peroxide, disinfectants, soaps, tea tree oil and alcohol to clean your piercing. These products can dry out, irritate and burn the pierced area.
• Avoid using personal care products on or around the piercing including makeup, body lotion and perfumes.

Jewellery changeover and healing times are two very different things. Depending on your piercing, healing may take up to 24 months. Jewellery changeover times refers to the timeframe you should wait until you downsize your initial piercing jewellery. However, you should always maintain jewellery in the piercing at all times. Taking out your jewellery for even a few minutes may result in the piercing closing over.

Always changeover your jewellery in a clean, sterile environment. Within the first 24 hours, care must be taken when changing jewellery over (if bleeding occurs, please use Sterilear Step 1).

Healing times can vary from person to person, and will also depend on how you follow our recommended aftercare. We recommend keeping jewellery in your piercing for 24 months post appointment to avoid your piercing from closing over.

How long until I can change my jewellery?

6-12 weeks*

*Please note: these times are general and healing varies for the individual. If you are unsure, visit our Piercing Experts to consult and advise.

After the time listed above, you may be able to remove your jewellery for a short time for a changeover. However, your piercing may begin to shrink. We cannot give you an exact time for how long you can remove your jewellery before it becomes difficult to reinsert. This varies between people.

All jewellery purchased from Essential Beauty comes with a free jewellery changeover, visit your local Essential Beauty salon to redeem.

• Some discharge or secretions around the jewellery and piercing is normal. This is the body’s natural defence system working to repair and protect the piercing. Any scabs or dried discharge will wash away when Sterilear piercing spray is used regularly.
• Skin can “stick” to the jewellery. It will dislodge once the outer layer of skin around the piercing has healed.
• A small amount of swelling is normal, providing the jewellery does not sink into the skin. We pierce with larger jewellery to allow for possible swelling.
• Some minor pain.
• If you have any concerns call your local salon.

Please Note: Even in the strictest conditions, infections can occur. If you notice any changes in your piercing please visit your nearest Essential Beauty salon as soon as possible. If you follow all aftercare instructions, the chances of infection are very low.

Sleeping with new piercings

Keep your sheets and pillows clean. Bacteria can all be transferred from bedding and get inside your fresh piercings. Make sure your sheets are cleaned and changed quite frequently to prevent any problems.

If you’ve had your ears pierced, sleeping on your back is ideal, but you can also use a U-shaped travel neck pillow or our specially deigned Ear Piercing Pillow so that you can sleep on your side by placing your ear in the pillow hole.

Jewellery Changeover

Unless you’re experiencing a problem with the size, style, or material of the jewellery you’ve been pierced with, leave it in for the entire jewellery changeover period. Visit your local Essential Beauty salon for our Piercing Experts to perform any jewellery changeover that becomes necessary.

Visit your local Essential Beauty if your jewellery must be removed for a medical procedure. There are jewellery alternatives available such as clear Bioplast retainers that are not visible in x-rays and can be worn during most surgeries.

Downsizing your jewellery

Most piercings require jewellery that is longer in length if a labret or barbell or wider in diameter for rings to allow room for swelling around the piercing. This is a necessary precaution to prevent jewellery from sinking into the skin if swelling occurs.

It is important that you don’t leave larger jewellery in for an extended period of time after your piercing as healed. Visit an Essential Beauty salon to purchase downsized jewellery. All jewellery purchased from Essential Beauty comes with a free jewellery changeover.

Leaving large jewellery in after your piercing has finished healing will make it prone to catching or snagging on your hair and clothing, and pushing down on the skin when sleeping. This trauma may cause piercing bumps that can lead to migration of your piercing.

Piercing Bumps

Piercing bumps or trauma bumps can be caused from friction from clothing, towels, loofahs, playing with the jewellery, knocking the piercing, and overcleaning. If you do experience a piercing bump, we highly recommend our Calm Piercing Bump Treatment Dots, perfect to wear over your piercing.

Tongue & Lip Piercings

Rinse with an alcohol-free mouthwash and Difflam Anti-inflammatory Gargle (separately) at least 3 times a day, after eating. Avoid smoking or drinking alcohol during healing. Swelling and discomfort are to be expected for a few days.

Dermal or Surface Piercings

Leave the dressing on for 24 hours then remove it. The dressing should be worn during the night for the first 7–10 nights. Do not undertake any form of tanning while the piercing is healing.

Septum Piercings

In weeks 1 & 2 after your septum piercing spray with Sterilear Step 1: Clean, spray 2 – 4 times on each side of your piercing twice a day, tilt your head over the sink to avoid making a mess. Switch to Sterilear Step 2: Care in weeks 3 & 4 to promote healing. Throughout the healing process do not pick or scratch off any scabs that form, scabs will naturally dislodge once the outer layer of skin around the piercing starts to heal. Ensure you take extra care when blowing your nose while your piercing is healing.

Do not flip your jewellery up for the first two weeks as this can prolong healing time. If you must have your jewellery flipped up for school or work, tell your piercer during your appointment, they will flip it up for you, but you will need to wear it that way for at least 2 weeks.

Intimate Piercings

Keep your genital piercing clean by spraying with Sterilear Step 1: Clean no more than 1-2 times a day for the first two weeks after piercing.

You will need to take a short break from sex after getting a Christina, VCH, Prince Albert or any other intimate piercing. Oral sex should be especially avoided during the healing period (approx. 2 weeks), as germs and bacteria from bodily fluids can enter the piercing which can lead to infection and prolonged healing time.

Wear breathable underwear that is not too tight, and steer clear of restrictive jeans or activewear. You can also wear a panty liner to protect the area from friction.

If you are using soap on your intimate piercing, ensure you’re using a gentle, fragrance-free soap without any harsh chemicals.