Your piercing doesn't heal alone. This is everything we'd tell you in the chair — how to clean it, what to skip, how long it takes — and an open invitation to reach us the moment anything feels off. Consider us on call for as long as you're healing.
Aftercare here isn't a leaflet you take home — it's us, still looking after you. You have our number, and we'd always rather you asked than worried.
Save it now — 09 949 0940 — and message any time while you're healing. There's no such thing as a question too small.
Your piercing cleans itself in the shower. Let warm (not hot) water run over it daily. That's the foundation of good aftercare. No products required beyond that.
Beyond that, nothing is needed — no sprays, soaks, soaps, or creams. Warm running water once a day and a clean, dry paper towel are the whole routine.
The most common issue we see in clients with persistently irritated piercings: they're using antiseptic cream or tea tree oil. Stopping those and cleaning with warm water alone resolves irritation in most cases within a few weeks.
These products should not be used on a healing piercing:
These damage the cells your body uses to build the fistula. The result is a piercing that stays angry and takes longer to settle.
Warm running water and a clean, dry paper towel — both of which you already have at home.
No sprays, soaks, soaps, or creams. Over-cleaning and added products are the most common cause of irritation we see.
Clean once daily as part of your shower routine. Over-cleaning disrupts healing. If the piercing is calm and producing little crust, you're doing it right.
Every piercing at Platinum Point starts with a longer post than the final jewellery — this accommodates the swelling that occurs in the first weeks. Once that swelling resolves, the longer post creates movement every time the area is bumped or slept on. That movement tears at healing tissue and delays the fistula from settling.
The downsize replaces the longer post with a shorter one that sits flush against the skin. This is not optional jewellery-changing — it is a clinical step in the healing process. Do not skip it.
Your piercer will have given you a specific timeframe at your appointment. If you're unsure when to come back, call us on 09 949 0940.
A piercing can look and feel healed externally while still forming internally. These are full healing timelines.
| Piercing | Full healing | Downsize |
|---|---|---|
| Lobe | 3–6 months | 4 weeks |
| Septum | 3 months | Not normally needed |
| Lip / labret | 3–6 months | 2–4 weeks |
| Nipple | 3–6 months | 4 weeks |
| Nostril | 9–12 months | 4 weeks |
| Helix | 9 months | 4 weeks |
| Forward helix | 9–12 months | 4 weeks |
| Conch | 9–12 months | Not normally needed |
| Daith | 9–12 months | Not normally needed |
| Rook | 9–12 months | 4 weeks |
| Tragus | 10–12 months | 4 weeks |
| Industrial | 10–12 months | 4 weeks |
Individual variation is real. Factors that affect speed: immune function, sleep quality, hormonal cycles, local anatomy, and aftercare consistency. The titanium starter jewellery we use at Platinum Point consistently heals faster than substandard materials.
If you're experiencing any of the warning signs, contact us before going to a doctor or pharmacy. Piercers see healing complications daily — we can usually identify whether something is a healing response, an irritation bump, or an actual infection, and will refer you appropriately if needed.
If anything about your healing worries you — at any point, however small — the first step is simply to tell us. Check-in appointments during healing are part of looking after you: we'll assess irritation, discharge, or jewellery fit in person, and most things are simple to settle when we catch them early. You will never be a nuisance for asking.