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If you experience pain after getting a new piercing, there are a few ways to ease the discomfort. Pain, swelling, and minor bleeding should resolve in a few days to a week. During this time, cool drinks and compresses can help reduce pain. It's also essential to care for the piercing site to promote healing and prevent infection. Once healed and infection-free, the piercing will typically cause less discomfort.
Steps
Immediate Pain Relief
Try using a chamomile tea compress. Many people recommend applying a chamomile tea compress to soothe the piercing site and prevent scarring. You’ll need a chamomile tea bag.
- Boil some water and steep the tea bag in it. Remove the tea bag after a few minutes.
- Allow the tea bag to cool for a few minutes, then place it on the painful piercing area.
Try using cold food and drinks to ease lip piercing pain. If you've recently gotten a lip piercing, consuming something cold can be quite helpful. Try drinking cold water, sipping on chilled beverages, eating ice cream, frozen yogurt, or other cold treats to soothe the pain. You can even suck on small ice cubes to reduce the discomfort around the pierced area on your lip or tongue.
- Some foods can irritate the piercing site. If any food seems to cause irritation, switch to something else.
Sasha Blue
Professional Piercer
Professional Piercer
Experts say: After getting a mouth piercing, drinking cold water or sucking on ice cubes can help reduce swelling.
Take over-the-counter pain relievers. A simple over-the-counter pain medication can help alleviate pain at the piercing site. Try medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen if the pain persists. These drugs can help with pain and reduce swelling.
- Make sure to check if the pain reliever interacts with any medications you're currently taking.
- Read the medication label to ensure you're taking the correct dosage.
Caring for Your Piercing to Heal Quickly
Follow all instructions carefully. After getting your piercing, you'll receive a set of aftercare instructions. It's crucial to follow these instructions carefully to ensure proper healing. The piercing will take longer to heal if not cared for correctly.
- Typically, you should clean the piercing at least once a day. In some cases, more frequent cleaning may be required. Before cleaning, make sure to wash your hands with warm water and antibacterial soap.
- Your piercer will give you specific cleaning guidelines. Usually, you'll clean the piercing with warm water and saline solution. Use a clean tissue to gently pat the area dry after cleaning.
- The cleaning step is essential as it helps eliminate bacteria that could cause infection.
Warning: Do not use cotton swabs to clean the piercing, as they can irritate the wound and potentially prolong healing, even causing scarring.
Resist the urge to fiddle with the piercing. You might feel the temptation to touch or twist your new piercing. This can irritate the wound and cause more pain. Additionally, touching the piercing with dirty hands significantly increases the risk of infection.
Sasha Blue
Piercing Professional
Piercing Professional
Experts advise: Swelling is a natural response to a piercing. The less you fiddle with it, the faster your piercing will heal.
Keep the piercing in place. Do not remove the piercing before the wound has fully healed. The piercer will provide you with a timeline for how long the piercing should remain in place. Avoid removing it for any reason before this period ends, as it will hinder the healing process, and reinserting the piercing may cause pain.
Do not use hydrogen peroxide. If you suspect an infection in your piercing, consult a doctor or visit your piercer. Avoid attempting to treat the infection with hydrogen peroxide. It destroys healthy cells and could cause scabbing around the piercing.
Prevent pain from infection
Wash your hands before touching the piercing. If you need to touch your piercing, always wash your hands beforehand. Use clean, warm water and antibacterial soap. Touching the piercing with unclean hands is a leading cause of infection.
- Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds.
- Ensure your hands are thoroughly clean, including the backs of your hands, under your nails, and between your fingers.
Soak in saline solution. Regular saline soaks can accelerate healing and help prevent infection. You can use the saline solution provided by your piercer or buy a saline spray from a pharmacy. To make your own, dissolve 1/8 teaspoon (1.34 g) of salt in 240 ml of water.
- Soak the piercing directly in the solution, or dip a clean cotton cloth or paper towel in the solution and gently apply it to the piercing for a few minutes at a time.
- Soak for 5-6 minutes.
- Perform this treatment twice daily for about a month or until the piercing is fully healed.
Warning: If making your own saline solution, it’s crucial to measure the salt accurately to avoid a concentration that’s too high. If the solution is too salty, it can irritate the skin and do more harm than good.
