Standard piercings should be kept clean, dry, and uncovered as much as possible the initial two weeks. They should be soaked with saline solution (see below for recipe)2-4 times a day, minimum. Products that should not be used under any circumstances include; Rubbing Alcohol, Hydrogen Peroxide, Neosporin, Bacitracin, triple antibiotic ointment, and most other multi-chemical compounds.

After the initial two weeks of saline soaks the cleaning regimin may be relaxed somewhat to 1-3 times a day until the piercing is no longer aggravated (usually about 4-8 weeks in for standard piercings). The piercing may continue to heal past this point but may not require constant treatment. However, aftercare should be performed until the piercing is no longer sore, discolored, "crusty", or irritated in any way.

Typically Jewelery may be changed in the first 4-8 weeks, but should only be done if the piercing appears well healed and there are no complications. It is reccomended you visit your artist to judge whether you are ready to change it.

Microdermals should be taken care of more or less the same as standard piercings with a few differences. Saline solution should still be used with the same frequency, but the area should be dried afterward to prevent moisture buildup in the subcutaneous pocket. Additionally, for the first two weeks while the base is settling into position it's strongly recommended that a breathabe waterproof bandage such as tegaderm is applied and kept in place as often as possible. The downward pressure from the bandage should help the base root as deep as possible and the smoothing provided by the bandage should prevent snags.

Cuttings should be kept clean with antibacterial soap at least 6-8 times a day for the first 3 days. Dry fully and leave uncovered when possible. NEVER cover cutting with suran-wrap, as this is conducive to a bacterial breeding ground on your fresh piece. Scabs should not be peeled, as this may lead to disfiguration of the edges. A light rub with a toothbrush and hydrogen peroxide in the shower will help agitate the wound, but is not necessary.

Commonly large "plugs" of teflon, PTFE, stainless steel, pyrex, or titanium are inserted during healing. Once healed sufficiently, organic (wood, bone, amber, etc...) can be worn along with stone or silicone "skins".

  Stretching from a smaller gauge piercing to a larger one is a very long process involving much time and patience. I recommend waiting for the piercing to stretch itself naturally and not using a taper to achieve the required boost in size. You should always wait at least 2 months after the initial piercing and not stretch more frequently than once every 2 months. Some people prefer to wrap their jewelery with bondage or PTFE tape (Never use electrical tape or any tape with adjhesive!). A tape wrap layer is added every 2-3 days or however long it takes for the ear to recover until the goal size is reached.

Combine 1tsp of non-iodized salt (sea salt) with 8oz of clean warm water. mix thoroughly and taste. The solution should vaguely taste like tears, only mildly salty. If the mixture tastes more like actual sea water or if salt still sits on the bottom of the cup then there may be too much salt, and more water should be added to dilute it. Saline solution may also be purchased in a pre-mixed form from most stores which stock first aid or medical products.