A new piercing is a small wound with jewellery in it, and how you care for it decides how smoothly it heals. Here’s our piercing aftercare guide from Candy Ink in Sunnyridge, East London: typical healing times, how to clean a new piercing, what to avoid, and how to tell normal healing from a problem. Always follow the specific aftercare we give you on the day.
Typical piercing healing times
Everyone heals differently, and a piercing can look fine on the outside long before it’s healed on the inside. As a general guide:
| Piercing | Typical healing time |
|---|---|
| Earlobe | 6–8 weeks |
| Helix & other ear cartilage | 6–12 months |
| Nostril | 4–6 months |
| Septum | 2–3 months |
| Lip & labret | 2–3 months |
| Eyebrow | 2–3 months |
| Tongue | 4–6 weeks |
| Navel (belly button) | 6–12 months |
Cartilage and navel piercings are the slowest — be patient with them.
How to clean a new piercing
- Wash your hands before touching anywhere near the piercing.
- Rinse with sterile saline (a wound-wash saline spray is easiest) once or twice a day.
- Gently soften any crusties with saline and let them rinse away — don’t pick them off.
- Pat dry with clean, disposable paper towel or gauze. Bath towels harbour bacteria and snag jewellery.
- Leave it alone the rest of the time.
Oral piercings (tongue, inside of the lip): rinse with an alcohol-free mouthwash or saline after eating, drinking anything other than water, and smoking.
What to avoid while it heals
- Twisting or turning the jewellery — old advice that only irritates the piercing.
- Touching it with unwashed hands.
- Harsh products: alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial ointments, tea tree oil and DIY salt mixes.
- Sleeping on it. A travel pillow is a cartilage piercing’s best friend — sleep with your ear in the hole.
- Swimming in pools, the sea, rivers and hot tubs.
- Pressure and snagging: headphones, helmets, hats, tight clothes over navel piercings, and hair brushes.
- Make-up, hair products and perfume near the piercing.
- Oral piercings: kissing, smoking, alcohol and very hot or spicy food in the early days, and playing with the jewellery against your teeth.
What’s normal while healing
- Some redness, swelling, tenderness and warmth for the first few days to weeks.
- Clear or whitish-yellow fluid that dries into “crusties” around the jewellery.
- Occasional itching.
- A piercing that seems healed, then gets irritated again — healing isn’t always a straight line.
Signs of trouble
Irritation bumps are common, especially on cartilage and noses, and are usually caused by pressure, snagging, sleeping on the piercing or jewellery that doesn’t fit. Remove the cause, keep up gentle saline cleaning and get in touch so we can check the jewellery.
See a doctor or clinic if you notice signs of infection:
- Spreading redness or swelling, increasing pain or heat
- Thick green, yellow or grey discharge, or a bad smell
- Red streaks spreading from the piercing
- Fever or feeling unwell
Don’t take the jewellery out if you suspect an infection unless a medical professional tells you to — removing it can trap the infection inside. You can always WhatsApp us a photo on 084 263 2974.
Changing your jewellery
- Don’t change it yourself too early. Wait until the piercing is fully healed.
- Downsizing: many piercings start with a longer bar to allow for swelling. Once the swelling goes down, a shorter bar is often fitted so it doesn’t snag or move around — ask us when to come in.
- Quality matters. Cheap jewellery can cause irritation and reactions. We’ll help you choose jewellery suitable for your piercing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take my piercing out for a day?
Not while it’s healing — new piercings can start closing within hours. Even healed piercings can shrink if left empty.
Can I use salt water I mix myself?
Sterile saline is better. Homemade mixes are easy to get wrong and too much salt irritates the piercing.
My piercing has a bump — what do I do?
Most bumps are irritation, not infection. Stop sleeping on it, avoid pressure and snagging, keep cleaning gently with saline, and send us a photo so we can check whether the jewellery needs adjusting.
How do I book a piercing?
We work by appointment only. See our piercing services, then book via the booking form or WhatsApp. Planning your next tattoo too? Read our first tattoo guide and tattoo aftercare guide.
