DURING THE FIRST FEW WEEKS THESE ARE NORMAL:
- redness around the piercing, especially around the hole
- yellowish fluid (lymph) - the quantity depends on your immunity
- itching - if unbearable, apply a cool compress
- slight burning sensation
- dry and crusty skin around the piercing
- swelling - tongue (strong), lip (strong), bridge (mild), cartilage (mild), earlobe scalpelling (strong)
- hematoma, bruising
- light bleeding, up to 3 days
- pain
- sensitivity to touch
- change in smell/taste (nose, septum, tongue)
- yellowish and/or mucous crusts around the jewelry
You should take care of your piercing, but don't panic around every little thing. If you touch and examine it every 10 minutes, you'll start seeing things that aren't there.
YOUR PIERCING DOESN'T LIKE:
- constant laying on it - it cuts the blood flow and it can lead to jewelry migration
- playing with jewelry - constantly chewing on it, pulling it and twisting it can result in various problems
- touching it with dirty hands - bacteria are easily transmitted because they are (drumroll) invisible
- taking the jewelry out and putting it back all the time
- putting makeup on it
- pools - unless they're really really clean
- tight clothes
- excessive cleaning
- low quality jewelry
- too heavy, too big, or too small jewelry
Piercing jewelry will always be a foreign item in the body so some of these might occur even years later.
