A body piercing is a fun way to decorate your body and display your unique personality. However, you may be concerned about getting an infection after the piercing as you may have heard has happened to other people. The key to keeping the area healthy over the first few weeks as it heals is to keep the area disinfected and to keep swelling down, both of which will promote healing. Here are five key ways that you can do that.
Saline
Saline is probably the easiest option for cleaning because saline solution can be easily found at many drugstores. An even easier option is to make your own solution with a quarter teaspoon of salt per eight ounces of water. This solution can be used on cotton balls to clean around the area several times per day.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is a well-known natural antiseptic. It gets rid of bacteria and other microbes around the area that could lead to infection if not removed. Plus, it is gentle on new piercings and will not irritate the skin. Be sure to dilute a few drops of tea tree oil with half a cup of distilled water to use it safely.
Aloe Vera
While you may know of aloe vera as a way to heal the skin after a sunburn, it is also an excellent healer for other skin concerns as well. It can also kill bacteria and soothe away any irritation on your skin that you may have after visiting a piercing studio that uses body piercing kits. Try to use aloe from a live plant because it will not be full of added chemicals.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is not just for cooking and baking. When warmed up and soaked into a warm compress, it makes an excellent pack to place on your new piercing. Be sure that the oil is not so hot that it harms your skin. Coconut oil helps to heal cuts in the skin by increasing the production of collagen beneath the surface. Plus, it is a great antibacterial.
Ice
It certainly does not get much simpler than frozen water. While ice packs are not ways to clean or disinfect the area, they still do an important task. Very cold temperatures narrow blood vessels, which helps to take care of any swelling around the area. Be sure to wrap your ice pack carefully so that the very cold temperatures are not directly placed on the new piercing.
There is no need for you to have to take prescription or over-the-counter medications to promote healing or decrease the chance for infection after your body piercing. Instead, you can respect your body by using all-natural products that can be easily found nearly anywhere you go. These five options soothe the tissues, promote fast healing and disinfect the area. Consider using a combination of them for the best results.