So you took the plunge and got a brand new piercing. Congratulations; you now have an open wound to heal!

In all seriousness, that's actually the way you have to think about it if you're going to care for it properly. Until your piercing is fully healed, it's an open wound that's vulnerable to bacteria, infection, and damage. The good news? Like most minor wounds, it's pretty easy to care for if you're smart about it. It'll take a little longer to heal than other minor injuries because you've also got jewelry through it, but it will heal, and you will go on to enjoy your brand new body piercing to the fullest (and maybe get a few more because, let's admit it, it's fun!). 

Here's what you need to know to care for your new body piercing: 

• Cleansers
• How to clean it
• Day to day care
• What to expect 
• Things to avoid
  
  

Cleansers for your piercing:

You can use either of these two cleansers for your body piercing: 

• Sterile packaged saline solution
• Anti-microbial or germicidal liquid soap 
  
  

Saline

Saline is really just a fancy word for salt water, but don't be fooled; regular table salt  and tap water will not give you a sterile saline solution. You need to use non-iodized sea salt, which you can buy in most drugstores and even many grocery stores. Just be sure to read the label to make sure it contains no iodine or other additives. To make your solution, take 1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon of your salt and dissolve it into 1 cup (8 oz) of warm, sterile water (either bottled or distilled). Remember, more salt does NOT equal a better mixture; it could potentially irritate your body piercing, and you don't want that. Your best option? Buy pre-mixed sterile saline solution.

Anti-microbial or germicidal liquid soap 

You'll find this at any drugstore among the first aid products (not in the soap section). Look for unscented as perfumes can be irritating to a new piercing.