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how do i take care of my new piercing?

Don't touch your new piercing unless you have washed your hands well first. That goes for other people touching the piercing too.
Don't use alcohol-based cleaning solutions. They will slow healing and may cause skin irritation.
Don't share jewellery with friends, even in healed sites.
Don't insert non-sterile jewellery or jewellery made of metals other than those recommended by the operator.
Don't allow the body fluids of others to come into contact with your piercing until the site is completely healed.
Do listen to the care advice you are given by the body artist, and follow it.
Do return to see the body artist when advised, or if you are having problems.
Do avoid swimming until the piercing is healed, contaminated water is likely to pose a risk of infection.
Do avoid having sex for at least a week after a genital piercing; check with your body artist as some genital piercings take longer to heal.
Do see a doctor at the first signs of infection; don't wait until pus forms or jewellery can't be removed.
Do be aware that you may experience tissue rejection which means the piercing site may swell, the skin colour changes and the area becomes itchy. This is different from infection where there is pus and usually pain.

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