Question About Soaks

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Sunday October 18th, 2009 @ 3:07 PM

Filed under: Nose

I got my nostril pierced yesterday by a reputable piercer and wanted to make sure that from the get-go I was taking care of it properly. The aftercare instructions I received included applying a saline solution twice daily (and whenever the piercing may have been exposed to dirt, sweat, etc.), soaking it in hot water at least once a day for 10 minutes (and stated that the more it was soaked the better off it would be), and other than that to just LITHA. I was wondering if distilled water was a necessity or if I would be fine just using tap water for the hot water soaks? Also, how many times daily should I soak the piercing? Thanks in advance.

Piercers tend to have very differing aftercare, unfortunately.
I think you’re on the right track with your current regime. Here’s where I differ:
-Rather than soak the piercing in hot water, I tell my clients to stick their nose directly under a warm running faucet for about 5 minutes. This still encourages circulation and drainage from the piercing site, but with a constant flow of fresh water.
If you’d like to irrigate the piercing out with saline after that, go for it!

For the same reason piercers suggest not to submerge fresh piercings in bathtubs is the same reason I don’t like the idea of sticking a body part into a cup of water.

As far as the distilled water thing goes, depending on where you are: sure. Where I come from has some of the best tap water in North America.
Remember that there aren’t a lot of regulations for bottled water - so whereas the water may be treated and distilled and whathaveyou, the bottles rarely have a standard as to how they’re handled and treated beforehand.

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