After Care Information - Cartlidge/Septum

CARTLIDGE/SEPTUM PIERCINGS

Jewellery

Surgical Stainless Steel or Titanium ring: 16 to 12 gauge, 10mm+.
Surgical Stainless Steel or Niobium septum retainer: 16 to 12 gauge.
The Septum should be examined for suitability before the jewellery is selected.

Cleaning Solutions

Ear care (benzalconium chloride solution) or another antiseptic cleaning solution such as Betadine (this must be diluted), Antibacterial Softwash, Sapoderm Soap or any low Ph soap. Do not use products containing Chlorohexaine Gluconate (Hibiclens G, etc) to clean facial piercings.

Healing Period

Initial healing is usually completed within 2 to 5 weeks. After this period has expired, characterized by the absence of blood plasma secretions, the jewellery can be changed. Do not leave the jewellery out for extended periods until the piercing is well healed (usually 8 to 12 months), or the piercing may shrink or closed entirely.

Aftercare Procedure

  1. Always wash your hands thoroughly before cleaning or handling your new piercing. Keeping the piercing clean is the key to speedy healing and minimizing the chance of infection.
  2. Wash your hands with an antibacterial hand wash such as Softwash Antibacterial.
  3. Moisten a clean cotton bud and use this to scrape off any dried debris (blood plasma, pus, etc) from the jewellery around the entrance of the piercing. Ensure that the ring is perfectly clean. If dried blood plasma is rotated into the piercing it can scratch and open up the epithelium (newly formed skin cells) and open the piercing to infection.
  4. Apply your after care solution to your jewellery and around the entrance of the piercing and rotate the cleaned section of the jewellery in.
  5. Moisten a fresh cotton bud and clean the debris from the section of ring that has now rotated from inside the nostril
  6. Now apply more after care solution and move your jewellery back and forth through your piercing so that the after care solution penetrates the entire piercing. Make 5 or 6 rotations to ensure that the inside of the piercing is thoroughly coated.
  7. If using a detergent based after care solution please ensure that you rinse your piercing thoroughly. Any left over traces of detergent can irritate and aggravate the piercing.
  8. Pat dry your piercing with a disposable paper towel. Cloth Towels often harbor bacteria.

Infection Control

During the healing period your piercing will secrete an off-white sticky substance that will form a crusty build up around the openings of your piercing and on your jewellery. The secretion is blood plasma, which is a normal part of the healing process and should be confused with an infection.

A mild infection is characterized by discomfort, swelling, redness, inflammation and a discharge of yellowish pus. Should these symptoms become apparent, clean your piercing with your aftercare solution 2 to 3 times a day, after squeezing the piercing in several different directions to fully remove the discharge. You may wish to apply an antibiotic ointment, and if so this should only be done after the piercing has been thoroughly cleaned, and then only sparingly. If there is no improvement in the condition within 3 days, please consult a doctor, who may recommend a course of antibiotic tablets.

If your piercing does become infected, leave your jewellery in. If the jewellery is removed with the piercing in this condition, the openings of the piercing will close, blocking the drainage of pus. This often results in the formation of an abscess, characterized by a darkening of the surrounding tissue.

Hints and Tips

Over cleaning your piercing should be carefully guarded against. This can cause the openings of the piercing to dry up and crack. Also be alert for any allergic reaction you may have to your cleaning solution, characterized by a rash of small bumps and burning or itching sensation when the product is applied.

Swimming should be avoided during the healing period if at all possible. Whilst some people have experienced no problems swimming in the sea, the risk of exposure to unknown elements is great. Public pools and spas should be well avoided. There is far too great a risk of exposure to bacteria