I got my forearm pierced back on 28th last December, and followed by the 2nd & 3rd recently on 30th August. The 1st bar is now 9 months old, and currently no swollen, no itchy, no pain with some dry skin around the piercing.
I decided write down the healing process and aftercare for personal future reference.
Type: Surface piercing
Artist: Frankie Ng (Zoo Body Art, Sungai Wang, KL)
Jewelry: Surface u-bar (surgical metal)
Part: Forearm (right)
Heal: 6-12 months
Cleaning
In my first experience, I didn’t wash my piercing but just roughly rinse it in shower with me for the 1st 2 weeks. I don’t see any bleeding neither swollen, so I don’t really care much about it. Until 2 weeks later, I slept on my piercing and caused small bumps appear around the piercing. Only then I started to wash it with diluted saline solution. Some research from internet says, saline solution is the most effective solution to wash infected wound. So, I bought the saline solution for washing contact lens from Guardian. And it works wonder.
Dip 2 cotton balls in a glass with some diluted saline solution. Then use 1 to wipe around the wound and jewelry, and the another one to soak on the piercing for 3-5 minutes. Thereafter, you may throw away the cotton ball, and use cotton bud to wipe carefully around the wound and jewelry to dry.
That’s basically how I take care of my 1st piercing. However, the healing result doesn’t looks good as I expected. I believe I had over wash the wound with too much salt (saline solution). The wound is clean but opened a big mouth. I think this is the osmosis effect when body cell over soak by salt water.
After the 1st experience, now I wash my piercing 2 times a day during shower by Isoderm Liquid Cleanser. Use finger tip to circle and gently massage around the piercing with Isoderm Liquid Cleanser, then rinse off in warm shower. It is a non-alkaline and soap-free cleanser with pH 5.5, made from selected ingredients to prevent skin irritation and optimum against bacterial infections.
A product of Germany, and the best shower gel ever for my sensitive skin.
Protect the wound
After shower, wipe off water around the piercing carefully with cotton buds or Q-tip. I applied Bactroban Ointment (mupirocin) on the wound (mouth of piercing) after washing on the 1st 2 days because the skin turned dry and tight. However, I no longer need it afterward.
Bacitracin ointment or polysporing ointment is not used in piercings as it tends to be incorporated into the wound and cause significant scarring and tissue reaction. Bactroban (mupirocin) ointment does not have this complication. In general, however the healing is occurring inside out the wound away from the ointment.
So, basically all I need for cleaning new piercing are:
1. Isoderm Liquid Cleanser (250ml)
2. Cotton balls
3. Cotton buds / Q-tips
4. Saline Solution (if needed)
5. Bactroban (mupirocin) 5g
Medicine & Suppliments
I am consuming Amoxicillin 500mg (anti-infection) from my physician, 1 capsule 3 times per day after meal. You need to seek advise from your physician for type of antibiotic that suit you best, because it may vary from different individual.
Some website recommended Ibuprofen 200mg (painkiller) to reduce the swollen and pain. However, I still find antibiotic works better than just painkiller. Moreover, Ibuprofen is not suitable for people with gastric at all. Be very cautious in handling medicine. It is best to ask your doctor first before you try anything at your own risk.
Apart from antibiotic, I also consume Vitamin C 1,500mg per day and Zinc 45mg per day after meal. These reduce bruising, speed up healing and minimize scar tissue.
Referance:
- Patrick Holford (1997). The Optimum Nutrition Bible. ISBN 0-7499-1855-1
