Take your after care seriously. The better you take care of your piercing the easier time you will have healing. It is always appropriate to ask a knowledgeable piercer questions you may have. It is always appropriate to get help or see a piercing friendly physician if you think you have a serious problem. While piercers who are not physicians may not diagnose, prescribe or claim to treat anything under current laws, understand that good piercers can be very knowledgeable about piercing related problems. Also, just because you have M.D. after your name doesn’t mean you know everything. As a general rule, allopathic physicians tend to over-prescribe and over-treat conditions. Especially, when it comes to using anti-biotics.  A free trip to Tribal Rites may be able to save you an expensive trip to the doctor.

Notes about cleaning solutions we suggest:

• Wound Wash Saline: Tribal Rites carries Blairex wound wash saline.  We like it because it comes in a sterile bottle, it is designed, specifically, for wounds and has no other ingredients other than sodium chloride solution.  You can make saline with non-iodized salt and water, but we think wound wash saline is a much better choice because you do not have to worry about mixing correctly or using contaminated water.  If you must make saline use 1/4 teaspoon non-iodized sea salt and 1 cup distilled water (or sterile water) not tap water.  For more info about mixing saline click here.

• Satin Soap:  Satin soap is a safe and effective antiseptic wash for external piercings.  It has Chloroxylenol (PCMX) as its active ingredient.  This is more effective and safer than standard hand washing soap which use Triclosan.  You must rinse the Satin thoroughly from the wound as the soap can irritate the piercing.    

• Tech 2000:  This a very good non-alcoholic mouth wash.  However, most non-alcoholic mouth washes are suitable for oral care.  We often suggest Crest's brand for oral care.

External Piercings:  Nose, Eyebrow, Navel, Nipple, Ear, Etc.

Clean your piercing 2 times per day every day.  Use wound wash saline and/or Satin soap. Use the saline generously.  Take a cotton swab and swab the wound and jewelry very well.  Remove all debris and crust build up then move the jewelry a bit to make sure the saline fully irrigates the piercing.  It is also a good idea to soak with warm saline about 5-10 minutes 1-2 times daily.  While saline has some natural anti-biotic properties due to the salt content, it is mostly used for irrigation of wounds.  If you desire disinfection of the wound use the Satin soap.  After rinsing your piercing soap up the wound and jewelry with Satin.  Leave the soap on for about 30 seconds then rinse thoroughly.  Failure to rinse properly can cause the soap to irritate the piercing.    

Oral Piercings:  Tongue, Lip, labret Etc.

 Note: Piercings that have both oral and external parts such as lip and labret should use both the external and oral after care for those each respective part of the piercing.

PLEASE stay away from drinking alcohol, smoking, and spicy foods, at least, until the swelling has receded.  Use a non-alcoholic mouthwash, such as Tech 2000 after meals and drinking sugar based liquids.  To control swelling you may use cold water, ice, or take an anti-inflammatory (Ibuprofen) as directed. 

Follow the same advice as external piercings except do not use any chemicals.  This includes staying away from the Satin as the genital areas are more sensitive then other parts of the body.  Use only saline, and continue good hygiene practices.  Remember that you have an open wound in your genitals and you are more susceptible to STD's.

Mix your own Saline Solution:

As a courtesy to those customers who would prefer to mix their own saline, here is Tribal Rites' suggestions and caveats for doing so.  We understand that buying saline and other after care products can be expensive.   This is one of the reasons why we offer piercings at discount prices.  If you choose to go this route please mix your solution properly.

1)  Do not use too much salt.  This can result in damage to your piercing.

2)  Do not use tap water.  Tap water may already have impurities or germs present that may cause harm to your piercing.

3)  You may mix up to a gallon of solution at 4 teaspoons to 1 gallon of water.  It is best to keep your solution refrigerated.  also, it can be useful to warm a small amount of the solution before use.

4)  Using saline solution as an exclusive after care product can be okay.  However, this is considered primarily irrigation of your piercing and has only mild anti-microbial properties.  For better cleaning use in conjunction with Satin soap.  

Mix 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt to 1 cup (8oz.) of distilled or sterile water.