Common during healing
Depending on the tattoo or piercing, you may notice temporary:
- Tenderness
- Mild redness
- Itching
- Dryness
- Flaking
- Minor swelling
Protect your art. Support the healing process.
Body Piercing Aftercare Guide
Good aftercare is part of the work. How you clean, protect, and leave a new tattoo or piercing alone shapes how it heals and how it looks years from now. Synergy Body Art cares for clients in Lakewood, Denver, and the surrounding Colorado communities — and we’re here after your appointment, too.
Piercing aftercare
Body piercing aftercare instructions
Piercings heal best when they’re kept clean and otherwise left alone. Follow the routine your Synergy Body Art piercer gave you for your placement.
- Wash your hands before touching or cleaning the piercing.
- Don’t use alcohol, Neosporin, or Betadine to clean the piercing, as they can cause irritation.
- Avoid removing jewelry during healing, as the hole may close quickly.
- Avoid turning or rotating jewelry to aid healing.
- Don’t apply creams, makeup, moisturizers, or perfumes directly on the piercing.
- Be cautious in the shower, keeping soaps and shampoos away, and rinse thoroughly.
- Avoid picking or pulling at dried matter, it may be connected to healing tissue.
- Be careful not to irritate the piercing, and try not to sleep on it.
Piercing healing
How long does a piercing take to heal?
Healing time varies a lot depending on the type and location of the piercing. Some placements settle relatively quickly, while cartilage and other placements can require several months or longer — and a piercing can look healed on the surface well before it truly is.
Ask your Synergy Body Art piercer what to expect for your specific piercing, and stop by when it’s time for a downsize or a jewelry change. Planning another placement? See piercing services or read how to prepare for a piercing.
Healing check
Normal healing vs. when to get help
When to seek professional help
If you experience any signs of infection — such as excessive redness, swelling, or pus — seek medical attention immediately. Contact an appropriate healthcare professional if you notice concerning or worsening symptoms such as:
- Redness that keeps spreading
- Significant or worsening swelling
- Severe or increasing pain
- Skin that becomes increasingly hot
- Pus-like discharge
- Red streaking
- Fever or chills
- Anything else that concerns you
For piercings, don’t automatically remove your jewelry because you suspect an infection — seek guidance from an appropriate healthcare professional and/or your professional piercer.
If you’re unsure whether what you’re experiencing is part of normal healing, contact Synergy Body Art. Our team can help you determine whether you should visit the studio or seek medical care.
Answers
Aftercare FAQ
How do I clean a new piercing?
Always wash your hands before touching or cleaning your piercing. Don't use alcohol, Neosporin or Betadine, and keep creams, makeup, moisturizers and perfumes off the area. In the shower, keep soaps and shampoos away from the piercing and rinse thoroughly. Don't remove or rotate the jewelry while it heals.
Should I rotate my piercing jewelry?
No. Avoid turning or rotating your jewelry while it heals, since it irritates the tissue and can bring in bacteria. Leave it alone apart from gentle cleaning with clean hands.
How long does a piercing take to heal?
Healing time depends heavily on the placement. Lobes usually heal faster, while cartilage, navel and other placements can take several months or longer. A piercing often looks healed on the outside before it is fully healed inside, so keep following aftercare and check with your Synergy Body Art piercer before changing jewelry.
When can I change my piercing jewelry?
Don't remove or change the jewelry while it is healing. When your piercer says it's ready for a downsize or change, stop by the studio and the team will handle the swap with quality jewelry.
What should I do if my piercing looks irritated?
Don't remove the jewelry yourself. Contact Synergy Body Art for guidance. If you see signs of infection, such as excessive redness, swelling or pus, seek medical attention immediately.
Studio support
Questions about your tattoo or piercing?
Your appointment doesn’t end when you leave the studio. The Synergy Body Art team is here to help you understand the healing and aftercare process — for clients across Lakewood, Colorado and the wider Denver metro area.
Colorado Mills Mall — 14500 W Colfax Ave 551A - 103, Lakewood, CO 80401 (inside Phenix Salon Suites)
More answers on the studio FAQ, or read the full tattoo and piercing aftercare guide.
Disclaimer: this aftercare guidance is general education, not medical advice, and it does not diagnose infections or guarantee results. If you have health concerns or symptoms that worry you, contact a qualified healthcare professional.