The world is divided into two types of people: those who get their piercings on a whim and those who think it through. No matter which camp you fall in, making the decision is only half of the commitment. The maintenance is just as important. When fresh, you go out of your way to take care of it, ensuring a smooth heal. Once it’s healed, however, the care ends…but it shouldn’t.
A healed piercing may no longer be an open wound, but is still part of your skin — and it is exposed to much of the same daily debris as the rest of you. “It may no longer need the intensive aftercare, but it still benefits from regular hygiene and maintenance,” says Dr Halah Taha, board-certified dermatologist at Dubai’s Anara Clinic. Like the rest of your skin, it’s exposed to sweat, dead skin and sebum. Answering the question “how often should you clean your piercings” is important, especially with the growing list of products we apply around them.
“Over time, dead skin, sweat and bacteria can gradually accumulate around the piercing; also, skincare products, makeup and hair products can accumulate in this area,” explains UAE-based dermatologist and founder of Milena Aesthetics Clinic Group, Dr Milena Al Mansuri. That buildup can also explain the familiar odour that appears when you remove your earrings. “The combination of dead skin cells, sweat, bacteria and product residue can create the familiar piercing odour and irritate the surrounding skin,” she adds.
But this isn’t necessarily a sign of infection. Irritation can also come from friction, pressure, jewellery or sensitivity to certain metals. Dr Al Mansuri cautions against assuming every piercing bump is an infection. “It may be mechanical irritation, contact dermatitis, granulation tissue, a hypertrophic scar or, in some people, a keloid. Nickel in jewellery, for example, is a well-established trigger for allergic contact dermatitis.”
How often should you clean your piercings
Unlike a skincare routine, cleaning your piercings doesn’t necessarily have to be a daily affair. Neither does it require an elaborate Sunday deep-clean ritual. “For healed piercings, gentle cleaning once or twice a week is usually enough, alongside normal showering,” advises Dr Taha.
Dr Al Mansuri agrees that there is no universal rule requiring an intensive clean every seven days. Instead, healed piercings can simply be incorporated into regular skin hygiene, with a more thorough clean when there is visible build-up or when jewellery is particularly intricate.
Other than the skin, the jewellery as well deserves attention. “If we clean the skin but never clean the jewellery sitting against it every day, we’re only addressing half of the equation,” says Dr Al Mansuri. Sebum, dead skin and cosmetic residue can collect around backs, clasps and intricate details of the trinkets.
The safest way forward
For a completely healed piercing, both dermatologists agree that the safest approach is rather simple. Dr Taha recommends gently cleaning around the piercing and jewellery with warm water and a mild, fragrance-free cleanser, ensuring a thorough post-rinse. Use sterile 0.9 per cent saline in case irritation or redness occurs.
Dr Al Mansuri too recommends warm water and a mild fragrance-free cleanser, while cautioning against alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, iodine and harsh antibacterial products. Tea tree oil, despite its natural reputation, isn’t automatically gentler: essential oils can irritate the skin and trigger contact dermatitis.
Some piercings also need more consideration than others. “Cartilage piercings generally require more attention than a traditional earlobe piercing,” says Dr Al Mansuri. “Cartilage has different blood supply characteristics and jewellery in these areas is also more likely to experience pressure during sleep or become caught on hair, clothing or headphones.”
