How much will a piercing cost?
There are actually 2 costs with piercings – the site cost and the jewelry cost. The site cost depends on where on your body you get pierced. For example, ear and nose piercings usually cost less than tongue, nipple, or genital piercings. Gold jewelry costs more than stainless steel or another metal. You should shop around and check prices at different piercing salons before you decide on where to have your piercing done.
How should I clean my new piercing?
Follow these steps to prevent infection:
1. First, wash your hands well with soap and water before touching or cleaning the pierced area. (Don’t let anyone else touch the pierced area until it is healed.)
2. Remove any crusty material from the site and from the jewelry with warm water.
3. Gently wash the area around the piercing with a fragrance free mild liquid soap and water every day.
4. When showering, use a drop of fragrance-free antibacterial liquid soap to clean the jewelry and the piercing. Do not leave it on the piercing for more than 30 seconds.
5. Gently rinse all of the soap and any crusty scabs, leaving no suds or residue – DO NOT rub or pull the crusty material as the skin around it may bleed. As the piercing heals, the material will dry and fall off on its own. You do not have to turn your jewelry around the piercing.
6. Gently dry the area with a paper towel or plain white napkin. Do not use towels as bacteria can be a problem. Also jewelry tends to get caught on towels but won’t on disposable paper products.
7. Avoid over cleaning. This will likely break down your skin and delay healing.
8. Do NOT use antibacterial ointments because they don’t allow air to get to the area and they trap bacteria.
9. Do NOT use hydrogen peroxide, Betadine®, Hibiclens®, Bactine® (and other products containing Benzalkonium Chloride or BZK), rubbing alochol, or strong antibacterial soaps because they can irritate the skin around the piercing and prevent the tissue from healing.