bestpiercing

Aftercare

How to look after a new piercing: what to clean it with, what to avoid, when to downsize, and per-piercing routines for ears and noses.

Updated September 9, 2026

Aftercare is simpler than the internet makes it look. Sterile saline twice a day, hands off, and do not change the jewelry early. That is most of it.

Almost everything that goes wrong with a piercing comes from one of four causes:

  1. Too much cleaning, or cleaning with the wrong thing.
  2. Pressure or movement, usually sleeping on it.
  3. A jewelry change made too early.
  4. Poor-quality jewelry.

None of those are bacterial, which is why more aggressive cleaning products make things worse rather than better.

Start with the complete aftercare guide, then use the per-piercing routines below for the practical details that differ: what to do about earbuds and pillows on an ear, and about makeup and nose-blowing on a nostril.

If something has already gone wrong, go to piercing problems instead, and check healing times before you judge whether your piercing is behind schedule.

Aftercare guides

How to clean a nose piercing

The two-minute daily routine for a nostril or septum piercing, what to use instead of alcohol and tea tree oil, and how to work around makeup.

How to clean an ear piercing

The daily routine for lobes and cartilage, why butterfly backs cause problems, and how to stop headphones and pillows undoing your healing.

Piercing aftercare: the complete guide

What to clean a new piercing with, what to avoid, how often, and how to shower, sleep, swim and exercise without setting your healing back.

When can I change my cartilage piercing?

The real timeline for changing helix, conch, tragus, rook and daith jewelry, the four readiness tests, and what to do if it will not go back in.

When can I change my nose piercing?

The honest timeline for nostril and septum jewelry changes, the four tests that say you are ready, and what to do if the jewelry will not go back in.

Frequently asked questions

What is the single most important aftercare rule?

Leave it alone. Sterile saline twice a day and no touching, twisting, rotating or changing beats every product on the market. Most piercing problems are caused by doing too much rather than too little.

Do I need a special piercing aftercare product?

No. Sterile saline wound wash, 0.9% sodium chloride with no other ingredients, is what professional piercers recommend. Most branded piercing sprays are the same thing at a higher price, and some contain additives you do not want.

Can I shower with a new piercing?

Yes, from day one. Showers are good for piercings because warm water softens crust. Baths, pools, hot tubs and open water are not, until it is fully healed.

Sources

  1. Association of Professional Piercers - Suggested aftercare for body piercingshttps://safepiercing.org/aftercare/
  2. Association of Professional Piercers - Oral aftercarehttps://safepiercing.org/oral-aftercare/
  3. American Academy of Dermatology - Caring for pierced earshttps://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/tattoos/caring-for-pierced-ears