How can I tell if a body piercing is infected? What can I do to prevent an infection?

It gets red around the pierced location, part of the skin can get hard, and it might become white with some puss coming out. How to avoid infection: Easy. Hygiene, hygiene, hygiene.

I presume you've already have the piercing, otherwise that's where hygiene starts. Is the shop clean, is the man piercing clean? (think about it this way: would you date him?) Do they wear clothes, how is the stuff he is using arranged?

All this tells a lot about the hygiene and quality of the piercing shop. They should also be able to tell you a lot about pre- and aftercare. If they don't have the proper answers, walk away, and go to a cleaner, more professional shop.

Remember you let this person pierce you, maybe in very delicate, sensitive and private areas of your body. Aftercare: Wash your piercing, make sure you use either sea salt or antibacterial soap. Don't take out the jewellery, or the piercing will very quickly close up again.

My wife has a piercing in her belly button, but if she leaves it out for a few days, it will have closed again. I hope this helps. There is a lot more info on this page.

You can tell if you have an infection if the pierce is leaking. To prevent infections you should wear gold earrings especially if you have had your piercing done recently. Hope this helped :).

Signs of infection are the same as they would be for any wound. Usually 2 or more of the following signs and I would suggest that you contact a medical professional or your piercer. 1.) Redness or dis-colorization on, near or around the piercing 2.

) Heat where the piercing area seems inflame or fever like 3. ) Swelling 4.) pain that is shooting, throbbing or traveling 5. ) discharge that is unnatural in color like grayish.

Yellowish and/or greenish. Understand that it is not unusual to see some of these signs off and on for in some case up to two weeks as your body accepts the piercing. Also often piercing will go through periods where redness and sensitivity can suddenly happen due to abuse to the piercing.

Often just a little basic care and "babying" the piercing can cause this to end. However if the problems continue you need to see a professional. Whenever in doubt see your piercer and if the problem doesn't go away or you feel like you area not getting a clear answer see your doctor.

Infection can be avoided by choosing a Piercer that practices basic cross-contamination prevention. Here is some common questions you should ask: 1. ) What are you procedures for sterilizing your tools?

Most common method is to soak the tools in a hard surface cleaner for at least 8 hours, then clean, place in a sterilization pouch and then sterilizing in an autoclave.2.) Are you needles and jewelry new and one usages? Needles are so cheap in this day and age that I can't see this being an issue but no one should ever reuse needles. The Jewelry should be brand new and sterilized in an autoclave.3.) Ask to see the piercing area.

It should be clean and if it isn't go to another studio.4. ) Ask if their autoclave is tested and what third party testing company or lab they use for their spore testing. Most studios will run a spore test monthly or every two weeks to insure that their sterilizer is working correctly.5.

) Ask how long the piercer has been piercing and what training/apprenticeship they have had? It's your body and the more training and experience the less the risks. If they say, 2 weeks ask if there is a more experienced piercer on staff.

6. ) Here's an easy question that anyone that uses an autoclave should know. How does an autoclave work?

Answer - Heats up to 121 degree C with 15psi for 15 minutes. This creates an environment that is hostile to a majority of organisms and pathogens. Thus if the tool or other item aka jewelry, needle, forceps, etc... when wrapped or sealed in a pouch is sterile until open when ran through an autoclave cycle.

8. ) What type of aftercare instructions do they give? This should be standard and covered before the piercing is preformed.

Every pierceee should receive a consultation on aftercare right off the bat. It should cover all the steps that will need to be taken to prevent infection.7.) ask, ask, ask. If the piercer doesn't have the answers or seems angry that you area asking, move on down the street.

This is your body and your are paying for a service,. If they aren't going to take the time to answer your questions, more than likely they are not going to take the time to insure you have proper aftercare instructions or be there if you have a problem. Now you leave the studio without an infection but since a piercing will be an open wound in some cases 26 to 52 months, steps to prevent infects needs to be taken.

There really are two schools of thought. One that believes even with the best care the piercee is gong to make a mistake and cases of cross contamination will happen. The other believes that a healthy immune system can combat any cases of cross contamination.

As a professional piercer I lean toward the better safe than sorry and suggest that some kind of anti-septic is used when healing a piercing. This involves cleaning the piercing twice daily in the shower. First doing a soak with a mixture sea salt and warm water(1/8th teaspoon per 8oz of warm water).

Next rinsing the piercing under warm water to remove lymph discharge and the sea salt water. Next cleaning with a mild soap or anti-septic and rinsing.

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