General Body Piercing Care

Twice a day, lubricate the piercing with a healing solution or sea salt water. Move the
jeweler gently to loosen, then dry the area with a clean tissue. Normal bathing is permitted although you should not lie in the bath too long or your piercing will go soggy. Showering is better.

• Whilst showering or bathing, move the jeweler
  Do not move it whilst it's dry!
• After bathing, dry the area thoroughly.
  Always use a tissue, not cotton wool or towels.
• Healing times are between four to eight weeks for most piercing.
  Do not remove the jeweler until the piercing has healed completely.
• Always allow air to circulate around the piercing and never cover the piercing with plasters.
  Any external pressure or knocks can lead to distortion of
  the piercing or even cause the piercing to grow out.
• In the event of infection, treat the area with a solution of equal parts water and hydrogen peroxide.
  Do not remove the jeweler.
  Do not use hydrogen peroxide for more than one week.
• Do not over clean. Over cleaning is like over watering a plant

Belly ring piercing aftercare

1. Soak the area in a diluted salt & water solution for 5-7 minutes to cleanse any dried material from the wound.
2. Clean the area thoroughly (but gently) with a mild antibacterial soap, rotating your belly ring (which for a new piercing is usually a captive-ball type ring) for at least 60-90 seconds.
3. Rinse out the piercing thoroughly (make sure you get all the soap out).
4. Pat Dry.

Ear Piercing After Care

• It is better to wear earrings at all times after the initial healing period as the piercing can close down if left open.
• Make sure your hands are clean before touching the earrings or ears.
• Apply one drop of ear care solution or sea salt water to the ears twice a day.
• After wetting the ears, turn the studs a little, from the front only.
• Dry the area thoroughly with a piece of tissue.
• Never use cotton wool on your new piercing.
• Try to avoid pressure on your ears, as this can affect the healing process.
• Do not remove the jeweler, even if you have problems.
• If you do have problems with your ears then do come back to The Piercing Shop or ring for advice.

Nose Piercing After Care

• Do not remove the stud for eight weeks.
• Do not keep touching the stud unnecessarily.
• Morning and night, gently clean the piercing using a wet tissue, then dry with a tissue.
• Apply one drop of care solution or sea salt water inside and out. Do not use anything else. Dry thoroughly with a tissue. Never use cotton wool on your new piercing.
• Nose piercing can close over within hours, so never leave the piercing without jeweler
• The special nose stud is designed to be worn with the stem pointing up the nose. This is not normally uncomfortable. If it does irritate, move the stud slightly until a comfortable position is found.
• If the stud causes persistent irritation, then contact The Piercing Shop for advice and adjustment.

Tongue Piercing After Care

• The tongue usually heals in two to three weeks. During that time, it can swell
  considerably. The barbell that has been inserted is 50% longer than the thickness of the tongue to allow for this.
• When the tongue returns to normal a shorter bar should be fitted so as not to knock the teeth.
• During the first few weeks, suck ice cubes and eat ice cream to reduce swelling. Keep talking to a minimum.
• Try to avoid smoking.
• Eat softer foods as sharp foods such as crisps can irritate.
• Several times a day, especially after eating, wash the mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash or sea salt dissolved in warm water.
• The jeweler should be checked periodically to make sure that the balls have not worked loose.
• Always wash hands before touching your piercing.
• If you have any problems then you should contact The Piercing Shop for advice or ring us. We are always happy to help.

Healing Times

Ear lobe - 6 to 8 weeks--Ear cartilage - 4 months to 1 year--Eyebrow - 6 to 8 weeks
Nostril - 2 to 4 months--Nasal septum - 6 to 8 months -- Nasal bridge - 8 to 10 weeks
Tongue - 4 weeks--Lip - 2 to 3 months--Nipple - 3 to 6 months--Navel - 4 months to 1 year

Some Piercing History

PIERCING CARTILAGE OF THE EAR:
This is found in Africa, North America and South America, Indonesia, and India. It is meant to signify beauty and wealth. New types of cartilage piercing are called "DIATH" and "ROOK".

CHEEK PIERCING: Men from Aleutian Islands used cheek piercing when they went seal hunting. By piercing their cheeks with rods, they looked like they had whiskers. Their intent was to imitate the appearances of the seal and they felt this increased their chances for a successful hunt.

EAR: This type of piercing was meant to mark life stage changes in group affiliation.

EYEBROW, and NAVEL: The Egyptians used this as a sign of royalty.

LIPS: This is also a ritual to celebrate the passage from childhood to adulthood. It also mimics facial beauty marks. This type of piercing comes from Australia, New Guinea, Africa, India, North and South America, and Indonesia.

NOSE PIERCING: The people of India view this a sign of beauty.

SEPTUM: Aborigines used bones in their pierced septum. This signified a warrior status.

TONGUE: The Maya's performed this type of ritual when they wanted to talk to their ancestor's spirits.

History of Piercing of Genitals

FEMALE GENITALS: There are two different kinds:

1. Labia: Trukese women pierced their labia and hung a little bell from their labia to attract a male partner.

2. Clitoris: This is a modern technique that is done to enhance female orgasms. (so they claim, the jury is still out on that one).

FEMALE NIPPLE: In the 14th century Bavarian women had diamond studded rings through their nipples and passed gold chains through them.

MALE GENITALS: The main reason for this type of piercing is increased sexual enhancement as well as initiation into adulthood. It is meant to establish male sexual identity. There are the many variations.

1. Dydoe: This is a piercing of the gland along the coronal ridge of the penis of a circumcised male. This originated in Southeast Asians and India and was felt to enhance female pleasure during intercourse.

2. Foreskin: This was used by Roman athletes to keep their attention on the games. It had a metal ring on their foreskin, which was welded shut and called a "fibula". This prevented erections. This was also used on the foreskin. It was used also used on their slaves to prevent procreation. The Greeks also used it on their athletes. They fastened a ribbon around the foreskin and tied the end to the base of the penis. This decreased chafing and "flapping" during the games and during the Olympics, which were then played in the nude.

3. Guiche: The Samoan men pierced the flesh between their testicles and their anus. This was a ritual of puberty and was believed to stimulate the prostate gland.

4. Kandoekoe: Tribes of Borneo used round-like marble devices and implanted them under the skin on the shaft of the penis. This was meant to increase the stimulation of the vagina, and increase the girth (circumference) of the penis.

5. Palang: This method used a rod that transected the gland of the penis . This is to increase blood flow causing the gland to swell. It also was felt to make erections last longer and orgasms are more intense. In Borneo some tribal women refused to marry a male that had not had this type of piercing done. Kama Sutra recommends this for impotence.

6. Rhinoceros penis: A rigid cross bar is placed 4 inches behind the tip of the penis and projects 2 inches on either side, looking like a rhinoceros. This method of piercing is from China and Borneo.

7. Scrotum: French soldiers used this to signify passage from childhood into adulthood.

MALE NIPPLE: This signified masculine status in Roman centurions. This was seen as a sign of courage.