One way to help your new piercing stay healthy is to soak it in a sea salt or saline mixture. Doing this can keep your wound clean and promote healing. Some piercing experts tell their customers to consider a sea salt soak to help your piercing heal.

Packaged sterile saline (with no additives, read the label) is a gentle choice for piercing aftercare. This is often labeled as “wound wash saline” and is available on most first aid aisles. Contact lens saline, eye drops, and other saline products should never be used on a body piercing.

To clean use warm water with a cleansing agent of antibacterial soap. (ie, Phisoderm, Bactine, or liquid antibacterial soaps such as Dial, Lever 2000, or Softsoap) and avoid perfumed products. Dilute 50/50 with water if irritation occurs.

Boil 250 ml of water and add between 1/4 and 1/2 teaspoon sea salt. Don't add too much salt for the best result. Dissolve the salt entirely by swirling the solution for a little while. Let the solution cool down to a lukewarm temperature and pour the saline solution into the glass.