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When is a piercing healed? A comprehensive guide to care and healing.
Piercings aren't just decorative, but also a procedure that requires proper care, patience, and understanding of the healing process. One of the most frequently asked questions by those considering piercings is: when is a piercing healed? The answer depends on many factors, such as the piercing location, care method, and individual body characteristics. This article will provide you with all the information you need to understand the healing process and recognize when your piercing is truly healed.
STAGES OF PIERCING HEALING
Every piercing goes through three main stages of healing:
1. Inflammatory phase (first days after piercing)
- Duration: 3–7 days.
- During this time, the body reacts to the piercing as if it were a wound. Swelling, redness, and slight lymphatic drainage may occur. In some cases, bruising may occur, but it disappears on its own. This is most common with eyebrow or lip piercings. Bruising also occurs on the ears and nipples.
- Good hygiene is crucial to prevent infection. Avoid bodies of water, including swimming pools and saunas, until healing is complete.
- It is important to avoid vigorous physical activity for a week to prevent swelling around the piercing.
- Avoid flying due to high pressure in the plane, which can cause severe discomfort and swelling.
2. Regeneration phase (several weeks to several months)
- During this phase, tissues begin to regenerate and rebuild around the jewelry.
- Itching may occur and the skin around the piercing may appear dry.
- This process is most sensitive to irritation, so avoid touching the piercing with dirty hands.
- In this phase, the earring should be shortened to prevent the piercing channel from becoming distorted, it is recommended to change bedding more frequently and avoid using saunas, swimming pools, water reservoirs such as rivers, lakes, oceans, etc.
- You should not go to a solarium for at least 6 weeks.
- You cannot apply cosmetics, creams or SPF to an unhealed piercing.
3. Maturity phase (full healing)
- Duration: from several months to a year, depending on the piercing location, hygiene, illness, medications taken, mechanical damage; the healing process may also be affected by the general condition of the body (e.g. anemia) - significant deficiencies in vitamins and minerals may prolong the healing process.
- A fully healed piercing does not hurt, does not release fluids, and the skin around it is healthy and smooth.
Piercing healing stages
Every piercing goes through three main stages of healing:
|
Type of piercing |
Approximate healing time |
|
earlobe |
4-6 months |
|
Ear cartilage |
6-12 months |
|
Eyebrows |
9-12 weeks |
|
Nostril(nose lobe) |
4-6 months |
|
Septum (nose septum) |
3-5 months |
|
Tongue |
6-9 weeks |
|
Lip |
3-4 months |
|
Belly button |
6-12 months |
|
Nipples |
6-12 months |
|
Genitals |
4-12 months |
Please remember that the times provided are approximate. Every body is different, and many factors influence the healing process.
How can you tell if a piercing is healed?
A piercing can be considered healed if:
- Healthy skin appearance: The skin around the piercing is smooth, without redness, swelling or discharge.
- Jewelry stability: Jewelry moves freely in the piercing channel without causing irritation.
- No secretions: Lymph, plasma or blood no longer appear.
Very important! If you're not sure your piercing is fully healed, it's best to consult with your piercer .
Factors influencing healing
The healing process is individual and depends on many factors:
- Hygiene: Regular cleaning of the piercing with saline or products recommended by the piercer will aid in its recovery.
- General Health: People with good immune systems tend to heal faster.
- Type of jewelry: Jewelry made of high-quality materials such as titanium or gold minimizes the risk of irritation.
- Avoiding irritation: Too much touching, wearing tight clothing, or contact with cosmetics can delay healing.
- Avoiding excessive physical activity: If you have a navel piercing, you cannot exercise the lower parts of your abdomen, and it is best to avoid the gym or other activities related to physical activity until you have fully healed.
How to care for a piercing to heal faster?
- Cleaning:
- Use saline or products recommended by your piercer.
- Avoid alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and other irritating substances unless your piercer recommends otherwise.
- Avoiding irritation:
- Don't play with jewelry.
- Avoid sleeping on the pierced site if possible.
- Swimming pools, saunas and water reservoirs are still prohibited
- Healthy lifestyle:
- A healthy diet, hydration and adequate sleep support the regeneration process.
- Regular checkups:
- It is worth visiting a piercer to check whether the piercing is healing properly.
- It is necessary to shorten the earrings within the time recommended by the piercer - ear is mainly 4-6 weeks, nipples 4-6 weeks, face eyebrow bridge, nose 4-6 weeks, oral: tongue 2 weeks - often shortened twice, lip 3-4 weeks.
- It is crucial to shorten oral piercings because if they are not shortened for a long time, they can lead to abrasion of the enamel or gum recession.
What to do if your piercing isn't healing properly?
If you notice symptoms such as persistent redness, irritation bumps (red or pink lumps filled with plasma), pus discharge, spontaneous throbbing pain, or swelling, consult your piercer or doctor. These may be signs of infection or irritation. It's also important to ensure that the jewelry is of appropriate quality and does not cause allergic reactions.
When is a piercing healed? It depends on the piercing location, individual body characteristics, and care regimen. The key to success is regular contact with your piercer and following their recommendations. It's worth being patient, practicing proper hygiene, and avoiding irritation. It's also important to remember to shorten the piercing, which is also crucial. If you're planning a piercing or have any concerns about the healing process, visit a professional piercing studio like Nemearis Piercing in Krakow , where experienced piercers will be happy to answer all your questions and ensure your comfort.