Healing Times:
- Nostril Piercing: Typically, it takes around 4 to 6 months to heal fully. However, healing times can differ depending on how quickly your body heals and how well you follow aftercare instructions.
- Septum Piercing: Typically heals in about 3 to 4 months. Like nostril piercings, healing times can differ from person to person.
Avoid Swimming While Healing:
- Infection Risk: Swimming in pools, hot tubs, or natural bodies of water can expose your piercing to bacteria and germs, which increases the risk of infection. Contaminated water can also slow down healing and lead to complications.
- Chemical Irritation: Pools and hot tubs use chlorine and other chemicals to keep the water clean. These substances can irritate and dry out your piercing, causing discomfort and extending the healing time. They may also interfere with the healing process.
- Contaminants in Natural Water: Natural bodies of water, like the sea, rivers, and lakes, may have pollutants, algae, and other contaminants. These can disrupt the healing of your piercing and increase the chance of complications.
Be Patient: It’s important to wait until your nose piercing is fully healed before swimming. This helps avoid infections and ensures proper healing. Follow your piercer’s aftercare instructions closely for a smooth recovery.
Swimming After Healing:
- Use Special Jewellery: You can swim more confidently once your piercing has healed. Opt for waterproof or hypoallergenic nose rings or studs that are designed for swimming. These are less likely to cause irritation and are built to handle water exposure.
- Rinse After Swimming: After swimming, wash your nose piercing with clean water to get rid of any chlorine, salt, or other residues.
- This helps to keep your piercing clean and prevents irritation or infections.
- Continue Aftercare: Even after your piercing has healed, it’s essential to maintain good aftercare practices. Regularly clean your piercing with an aftercare solution recommended by your piercer to ensure it remains healthy and infection-free.
Getting Your Ears Wet After Piercing
Initial Aftercare:
- Avoid Full Immersion: During the first 6 to 8 weeks of healing for earlobe piercings, and longer for cartilage piercings, keep your ears out of water. This means avoiding swimming in pools, hot tubs, or natural bodies of water like the sea or lakes. Submerging your ears can introduce bacteria and other contaminants that may lead to infections and complications.
- Showering and Hair Care: You can shower during healing, but be cautious. Avoid letting intense water pressure directly hit your newly pierced ears. After showering, gently pat your ears dry with a clean paper towel. This helps to prevent the introduction of bacteria from regular towels, which may harbour germs.
- Avoid Regular Towels: Use disposable paper towels to dry your ears instead of regular towels, as they can carry bacteria that might interfere with the healing process.
Precautions for Swimming:
- Opt for Waterproof Earrings: If you need to swim while your piercing is still healing, choose waterproof or hypoallergenic earrings made for swimming. These are designed to minimise irritation and avoid reactions with pool chemicals.
- Waterproof Dressings: Sometimes, you might use waterproof dressings or bandages to cover your piercings while swimming. Consult your piercer for advice on the best products and how to apply them correctly.
- Rinse After Swimming: After swimming, wash your ear piercings with fresh, clean water to get rid of any chlorine, salt, or other impurities. Then, clean them with the aftercare solution your piercer recommended keeping them healthy.
After Healing:
You can swim with fewer concerns once your ear piercings have fully healed (around 6 to 8 weeks for earlobes and longer for cartilage piercings). However, practising good hygiene and aftercare ensures your piercings remain clean and healthy.
Summary:
- While Healing: Avoid swimming to reduce the risk of infection and irritation. You can shower, but do so carefully and dry your ears with a clean paper towel.
- After Healing: You can swim once your piercings are fully healed. Use exceptional jewellery designed for swimming, rinse your piercings after swimming, and continue with aftercare to keep your piercings healthy.
For personalised advice and specific recommendations, always consult your professional piercer.