How to Heal Your Rook Piercing
Most piercings will be successful when they are well rinsed daily, are not touched frequently, and not subjected to pressure on or around the site.
Rook piercings are no different.
We can expect your Rook piercing to take approximately 24 weeks to heal.
When to Downsize your Rook?
Rook piercings are suggested to be downsized at approximately 12 weeks if needed. Downsizing your jewelry is important and will most likely have an effect on the end product. When we do an initial piercing there will be additional space on your post to allow for the swelling that is associated with a fresh wound. At a certain point that additional space that was left to help will become a source of healing issues.
To avoid potentially wasted trips for you please follow this link to complete the downsize form, be sure to view the example photos so that we can expedite this process.
All healing processes have the potential to vary, so any quoted times on healing and downsizing are what we see most often, but may not apply to every instance.
Aftercare Process
Once Daily Routine:
Once daily, we suggest rinsing in your shower head continuously for 60 seconds. Find a cadence that works for you to be sure you are staying honest. We find it best to pick a portion of a song you can sing either out loud or in your head that measures out to 60 seconds. This should allow most dried matter to rinse away freely, and hopefully limit the use of gauze or cotton swabs. These items may be needed, but you must be certain to avoid leaving any fibers from these products behind as they can work their way into your piercing causing irritation.
Also keep in mind that some of that dried matter may be acting as a scab, and if it is prematurely pulled may cause some irritation to the skin. You can usually tell by where the dried matter is located. If it is completely on the jewelry it should be removed, but if it appears to be attached to the skin it would be best to leave it if it did not rinse away after your 60 second jam session.
Be sure to pay close attention to the areas behind the ends, as these can be collection points for significant buildup. Do your best to avoid moving the jewelry as much as possible. Again be sure to do this with clean hands, and freshly out of the shower will most likely give you the best results.
Twice Daily Routine:
Twice daily, we suggest sterile saline wound wash (you may see it called sterile saline wound flush) to be used as a rinse. Pointing the nozzle toward your jewelry spray around the piercing site being sure to include the area where the jewelry enters and exits the skin. There are many brands and options that can be found in most stores that have a first aid/bandage aisle or through us. The biggest difference in our product is the way the tip expels the saline. Ours is a fine mist, but many store products will be labeled as full stream.
Be aware the full stream uses more saline per use based on the volume dispensed, and may have a surprising amount of pressure for use around the face.
Please be sure that the only active ingredient is .9% sodium chloride.
Twice daily, we suggest making sure the piercing site is dried thoroughly. After your shower, and after your final cleaning of the day are great times to do this.
Set your blow dryer on cool, and dry all sides of the piercing area. Don’t forget to be attentive to any folds, crevices, ridges, and other small areas that can trap moisture.
Reducing the opportunity for moisture to remain around your new piercing will help the initial healing period considerably.
Please do not use any other products on your piercing without consulting with us. Many products used in first aid will be too harsh and result in healing delays or complications, or possible damage to your jewelry.
Helpful Facts
Sleeping with a new piercing:
Avoid sleeping on or applying pressure that distorts the piercing site. This is one of the main causes of irritation and issues with piercings. This would also include snagging, bumping, or jarring the piercing. Be especially mindful when changing your clothing, using washrags, and brushing your hair to not catch or snag your jewelry. Some issues we commonly see stem from wearing hats or headphones that contort the ear, using that ear as your phone ear, and masks.
Many of the issues we see with Rook piercings can be traced back to contorting the ear with hats, headphones, or headbands.
When to touch your piercing:
Checking for end security or tightness is the only time touching your piercing is suggested. This would be when you get out of your shower or bath with clean hands and the piercing has been freshly rinsed. All jewelry has components that may come loose over time and should be checked occasionally for security or tightness. Please follow this link to view examples of how different styles of jewelry function.
Make Up and your new piercing:
Please keep makeup away from the piercing site until it is closed. Makeup can also affect the looks of your jewelry by building up around the open parts of the setting around gems, limiting the amount of light that reaches the stone and dulling its appearance. It can also work its way into a piercing channel causing irritation.
When can you go swimming with new piercing:
As per the CDC guidelines, you should avoid swimming until any wound is considered closed. As we have previously described, that may vary from person to person, and from piercing to piercing.
Please keep in mind that submerging your piercing prior to it being closed may expose you to bacterial or viral infection. The more public the environment the higher the risk.
The CDC does offer the suggestion that wounds can be covered with waterproof bandages prior to them being closed, and while this may be possible with some piercings it is important that the bandage creates a good seal on the surrounding tissue to truly make it waterproof. Prior to applying a waterproof bandage be sure to rinse and dry the area well.
A good indication of your piercing being closed is that you are no longer seeing any discharge or buildup.
What can happen during the healing process:
Some things you may see during your healing period can include swelling, bruising, bleeding, redness, a small amount of discharge that may be clear to a yellowish white, and the “crust” or dried matter this discharge can leave behind.
These don’t necessarily denote an issue with the piercing, but are more than likely a result of the piercing process and subsequent healing.