Everything you need to know to heal well. Keep this page bookmarked: it covers cleaning, what to avoid, healing timelines, and when to come back and see us.
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.
If you want to support healing further, sterile saline wound wash is the only product we recommend: a quick spray after your shower in the first few weeks. That's it.
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.
0.9% sodium chloride · Pressurised spray can
Available at Unichem, Life Pharmacy, and most NZ pharmacies
Look for the words "wound wash" or "wound spray". Contact lens saline and nasal sprays are not the same product and should not be used.
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 | 3–4 months | 6–8 weeks |
| Nostril | 6–9 months | 10–14 weeks |
| Helix / outer cartilage | 9–12 months | 8–12 weeks |
| Tragus | 6–9 months | 8–12 weeks |
| Conch | 9–12 months | 10–14 weeks |
| Daith | 9–12 months | 12–16 weeks |
| Rook | 9–12 months | 12–16 weeks |
| Forward helix | 9–12 months | 8–12 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 you have a concern about your healing at any point, the best first step is to come in. We offer check-in appointments during healing and can assess irritation, discharge, and jewellery fit in person. Most issues are simple to resolve when caught early.