Body Piercing and Aftercare
The excellent service at Punktured includes an initial consultation and advice about piercings, written aftercare instructions are given and follow up appointments arranged. None of this is necessarily required but is standard at Punktured, thus raising our profile amongst other piercers.
To make an appointment, call the piercing studio on 01273 688144.
Below is a general overview to what happens within your body once you have had a piercing - epithelisation and haemostasis. For specific information and aftercare on the body piercings we perform, please select a piercing from the left hand menu.
Epithelisation and Haemostasis
When a piercing is performed, the blood vessels at the site will narrow to prevent blood loss. This is called haemostasis and in turn will set off a sequence of reactions to heal the piercing.
Sticky blood platelets will collect around the cut to form a 'platelet plug'. Here an insoluble protein called fibrin, forms a mesh of threads in which red blood cells will become trapped. These dry to form a clot/scab. It is important not to pick at scabs - however tempting - as scabs not only stop further blood loss, but prevent bacteria from entering the wound which could cause infection. It is also important not to have drunk any alcohol prior to your piercing as this will prevent the platelets becoming sticky and a scab will not form.
Inflammation is required to bring white blood cells to the site where they remove damaged tissue cells and excess fluid. This will be flushed away with lymphatic fluid and/or secreted through the skin as pus. Gentle massage near to the piercing site will encourage lymphatic drainage. The fibrin will start to contract to seal the cut and pull the edges together. Production of collagen fibres, extremely tough connective protein, occurs to give strength to the healing wound.
Next comes the migratory stage during which new skin cells beneath the clot grow into the usual surface skin layers. This process occurs through the piercing to form a 'tube' of skin around the jewellery. Oral and genital piercings heal in the same way but with the production of a mucous membrane layer also.
The fibrous tissue is gradually absorbed, the full thickness of skin restored and normal blood supply will resume. This maturation process can take months and is called epithelialisation. Until epithelialisation has occurred through a piercing we don't consider it healed. If jewellery is removed before the surface skin has grown through, the site will heal over, thus losing the piercing. If fibrous tissue isn't absorbed, scars are formed, appearing as pale areas / lines. In time these lines will look 'puckered'. If scarring does appear, rubbing on vitamin E regularly may help to reduce it's appearance.
Further questions? Drop us a line.