Frequently Asked Questions

Begin by washing your hands before cleaning your piercing.

It is recommended to clean your new piercing 2 times a day. 

Using a q-tip and warm water, clean the skin surrounding your piercing, ensuring to use a new q-tip for the front/back to avoid cross contamination. Gently remove any dry matter that has built up but do not force a scab to come off. 

Disinfect the piercing with a saline solution, either by misting or using a new q-tip. Once thoroughly applied, rinse the saline solution off with warm water. 

Be sure to dry thoroughly with (another) clean q-tip. 

It is not necessary to rotate the piercing during healing, if you feel that it must be adjusted, do so with clean hands. 

Below is a list of average healing times for various piercings. Human bodies differ, so healing times will vary and can never be “guaranteed.” When in doubt, clients should continue aftercare for at least the minimum time listed below. 

Conch 6-9 Months or longer 

Daith 6-9 Months or longer 

Ear Cartilage (helix variations) 6-9 Months or longer 

Earlobe 6-8 Weeks or longer 

Rook 6-9 Months or longer 

Tragus 6-9 Months or longer 

Nose 6-9 Months or longer 

Navel 6-9 Months or longer

Healing a piercing doesn't have to be a pain. Follow these simple tips for an improved healing experience, and come see us if you are experiencing any unusual pain or swelling. 

- Clean your new piercing 2 times a day 

- Do not sleep on your new piercing (try a travel pillow if you need to lay on that side) 

- Be mindful when getting dressed not to catch your clothing on the new piercing 

- Do not touch your new piercing other than to clean it (with clean hands) 

- Book a downsizing appointment for 4-6 weeks after the initial piercing

- Do not submerge your new piercing in unclean bodies of water (pools/hot tubs/baths/lakes etc.) 

- Do not apply makeup, perfumes, hairsprays or other contaminants to your piercing site 

Initially: some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness, and/or bruising. 

During healing: some discoloration, itching, secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid (not pus) that will form some crust on the jewelry. The tissue may tighten around the jewelry as it heals. 

Once healed: the jewelry may not move freely in the piercing; do not force it. If you fail to include cleaning your piercing as part of your daily hygiene routine, normal but smelly bodily secretions may accumulate. 

When a new piercing is performed, the piercer will use a long earring post to accommodate for anticipated swelling. Once your piercing has settled and the swelling has gone down it is important to change the earring post to the proper size for your ear. A long post that is left in can start to migrate/change the angle of your piercing and can result in irritation bumps. The piercing is still in the healing process at this time and is not ready for all styles of jewelry. 

Irritation bumps might appear as a red bump at the entrance of your piercing. They are usually a result of agitation caused by repetitive bumping, sleeping on your piercing or improper jewelry. It is important not to pop an irritation bump as this could worsen it and increase infection risk. 

If you develop an irritation bump refer to our daily cleaning guidelines and avoid further agitation. Please come into the shop for proper aftercare instructions if needed. 

Do not change out your jewelry before your piercing is fully healed as that is a main contributing factor to irritation bumps. 

At Prick Body Adornment, all piercings are performed with ASTM F-136 implant-certified titanium.

Titanium (Ti) is an extremely inert and lightweight element. It can be anodized to create jewelry of different colors. These colors are created by producing an oxide layer. The thickness of the layer will reflect light differently, thus giving various colors. This does not affect the biocompatibility of the metal. Colors may fade with time and certain types of chemical exposure, but this does not affect the safety of the jewelry. 

The British Columbia Ministry of Health states that any person under 19 years of age is considered a minor and requires parental/guardian permission. 

Prick Body Adornment will not perform any piercing on individuals under 19 years of age without a parent/guardian present. 

There is no minimum age requirement however Prick Body Adornment reserves the right to refuse piercings to anyone. Clients should be old enough to provide consent, understand the responsibilities and risks of being pierced and be old enough to properly care for their new piercing.