Symbiosis with a piercing

Alcohol – (applies to lip and tongue piercings) during the first two weeks, you can have a few alcoholic drinks, but do not overdo it. Excessive alcohol use can cause the body to swell, and a fresh lip or tongue piercing can start to swell more than expected, which can lead to jewelry ingrowth. Alcohol also dilates the blood vessels, so the piercing may start bleeding more.

Allergies – if you are allergic to nickel, we recommend using jewelry made of titanium or bioplast. Surgical steel 316L contains trace amounts of nickel but is still cleaner than gold and silver, so if you do not react to these metals, you should not react to steel either. People who get an allergic reaction to 24K gold, cutlery, metal buttons, clothing buttons, etc., should avoid steel.

Cigarettes – (applies to lip and tongue piercings) you can smoke as before piercing, just follow the cleaning instructions.

Coffee – (applies to tongue, lip, smiley, and tongue web piercings) does not pose any problems for fresh piercings, provided it is not very hot because hot drinks can increase swelling in tongue piercings and trigger bleeding.

Cosmetics – (powders, creams, perfumes, shaving foam, etc.) do not apply any cosmetics to the area around a new piercing because it can cause irritation and inflammation. If you apply powder or cream over the gemstones on your jewelry, they may darken and lose their shine (depending on the model and brand of the purchased jewelry). Using powder to conceal redness around a piercing is not a great idea.

Doctors – if you need to remove metal jewelry for an X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or surgery, instead of steel and titanium, you can use bioplast jewelry, provided you ask your doctor beforehand if such jewelry might in any way interfere (e.g., you cannot have bioplast jewelry on your tongue if a catheter is inserted through your mouth during surgery).

Unfortunately, in Croatia, most doctors cannot separate their private opinions from their professional ones, so they do not view piercings favorably. It often happens that you have a health problem that is not related to a piercing or a tattoo at all, but the doctor will tell you that your problem was caused by that. If this happens, seek expert advice from another doctor.

In defense of healthcare workers, we understand that the only piercings they see in their work are the inflamed, swollen, ingrown, poorly done, and worn-out ones… because you do not go to the Emergency Room to show off that you have had a piercing for three years and it has healed wonderfully. You go to the doctor when the piercing studio is closed or not on your way, and the problem with the piercing doesn’t seem to “go away on its own.” Of course, there are weekend visits to the ER after a crazy Saturday night when some unfortunate piercing was the victim of alcohol-induced violence.

Jokes aside, in case you have an urgent problem with a piercing and no piercing studio is open, of course, it is better to go to the Emergency Room than to suffer at home. However, since most (older) doctors do not want to know anything about piercings, as if it is a plague that will disappear one day, it would be good to know some basic things about the piercing you have – what type of jewelry you have and how it is removed. At your next visit to the piercing studio, ask your piercer to show you.

Tanning beds – sunlight and tanning beds do not affect new piercings. Avoid self-tanning creams, sunscreens, or after-sun lotions on the area around the piercing.

Travel – piercing jewelry is made from implant grade materials, so you can easily pass through metal detectors. Keep in mind that a fresh piercing can cause pain and discomfort for the first few days, and it can be easily irritated. If possible, it’s best to get a piercing after your travels. We definitely do not recommend getting a new piercing just before going to festivals or concerts.

Pregnancy – during pregnancy, the body undergoes various changes that can lead to issues with piercings in different positions (most commonly with tongue, nipple, and navel piercings). There are no specific rules regarding pregnancy and piercings; every body is different, and some women may have issues with their piercings, while others may not. We recommend removing navel piercing at the latest around the 5-6th month of pregnancy because the growing belly stretches the skin and pushes the jewelry outward. In most cases where any jewelry is left in during the entire pregnancy, piercing canal expands or the skin holding the jewelry thins, which can result in the piece of skin tearing and leaving a scar. If you have had a piercing for several years, there is a chance that the canals will not close up without the jewelry. After giving birth, when you’re ready, you can schedule an appointment to attempt to reopen the canals (the service is free, and you can bring your own jewelry or purchase it from us). If you’ve had the piercing for less than a year, the canal will most likely close up, but after you finish breastfeeding, you can get repierced if you want.
We recommend removing nipple jewelry around the 6th month of pregnancy to clear the canals of lymph and allow them to close before breastfeeding begins. We do not recommend retaining the piercing (removing the jewelry before each breastfeeding and putting it back afterward) because it irritates the piercing and can lead to increased lymph and blood discharg. In combination with irritation from breastfeeding, this can lead to further complications with the piercing. After you finish breastfeeding, you can repierce your nipples if you desire.
If your body swells significantly during pregnancy, your tongue may become swollen as well. The jewelry can be retained, but you need to use a longer barbell. After childbirth, when you’re ready, you can change back to a shorter barbell.

Sea – seawater helps with the healing of a piercing because it acts as a natural saline solution and gently cleanses the piercing during bathing. After swimming in the sea, rinse the piercing with plain water to prevent dried sea salt from irritating the piercing.

Sex – you should avoid contact between a new piercing and the bodily secretions of others for at least 2 weeks after piercing (or longer, depending on the position and healing period, as well as your individual pain tolerance when moving the jewelry). When it comes to new genital piercings, always use condoms during intercourse for at least 2-3 weeks after piercing. Be cautious to avoid hitting or snagging the piercing, and be careful during hair removal.

Sports – engaging in sports can sometimes lead to complications with piercings. Be careful not to receive a blow to the piercing, not to press on it during exercise (e.g., doing sit-ups or lying on your stomach after a navel piercing), and avoid bringing fresh piercings into contact with pool water (due to chlorine and bacteria). Certain precautions should be taken all the time; a blow to the piercing can cause problems regardless of the piercing’s age, while other precautions depend on the position and healing period of the piercing (e.g., if you have a tongue piercing, you don’t need to avoid swimming in a pool, etc.).

Sweat – if you regularly follow the piercing aftercare instructions, sweat should not be a problem. After physical activity, rinse the piercing with plain water, and then clean it according to the aftercare instructions provided in the piercing studio. Some people have slightly stronger and more acidic sweat, which can irritate the piercing if you sweat more. In that case, visit the piercing studio for an examination.

Swimming pool, jacuzzi, river, lake – it is advisable to avoid them for at least the first month after piercing. Pools are full of bacteria and chlorine, which can result in inflammation or infection of a new piercing. If the piercing is located above the neck area (eyebrow, lip, ear, etc.), you can swim in the pool but make sure to rinse the piercing thoroughly with clean water after swimming and disinfect it before bedtime (e.g., Septasol or Octenisept).