We’ve all been there – you get a new piercing, and you can’t wait to change out the jewelry. All you can think about it how can you make it heal faster? Well, you can’t make it heal overnight but there are a few things you can do to help it alone by boosting your immune system. Today we’re going to discuss a few simple tweaks you can make to help your immune system help speed that healing process along.
The Immune System
Why is it important? This is the body’s way of helping to heal injuries and fight off unwanted intruders. If your immune system isn’t working the way it should, injuries (and a piercing is an injury) will heal far more slowly than they would otherwise. A healthy immune system will help give you a healthy, healed piercing.
Nutrition
We all know that it’s important to eat a balanced diet. It’s extra important when you’re trying to heal a piercing. The body needs extra fuel to do its work and you want to give it the best fuel you can. If you’re healing a fresh piercing, it’s not only important to eat well, but also extra important to stay hydrated. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water! This goes double if it’s summer. Your body is not going to be able to heal that piercing properly if it’s dehydrated.
Sleep
We’ve mentioned before about getting a good night’s sleep before you go to get a piercing. However, it’s also important to stay rested while you’re trying to heal a piercing. This is your body’s time to rest and recover. A tired body has to work harder and may not have the extra reserves to heal that piercing properly.
Exercise
All things in moderation. One way to boost your immune system is with a bit of physical activity. You don’t have to embark on an entire workout plan or hit the gym on a daily basis to feel the benefits of some light exercise for your immune system. Some gentle yoga, a brisk walk, just something to get your body moving can help boost your immune function. (Remember, fresh piercings should not be immersed in water so if you want to go swimming please wait until your piercing is fully healed!)
Stress Management
This is vital to your general health as well as healing your piercing. Take some time to unwind, do some deep breathing, meditate, get a massage, whatever makes you feel a bit more relaxed. Consider starting a journal or setting boundaries with people who stress you out. If you’ve been thinking about going to therapy, this is the perfect time. The impact of unrelieved stress on your body can lead to numerous forms of illness and it certainly won’t help your piercings heal. So, take some time for you and don’t forget to de-stress. Your piercings will thank you and so will the rest of your body!
Aftercare
If you want your piercings to heal properly and quickly, you have to take proper care of them. Oral piercings should be cleaned twice a day by swishing with non-alcoholic mouthwash and then with clean water every time you eat or drink. External piercings should be cleaned twice a day with sterile saline wound wash spray, rinsed with clean water, and then gently dried with a clean paper towel or a hair dryer on the lowest setting. Don’t forget to wash your hands first!
Piercings require patience. However, it doesn’t mean that you can’t help the process along by taking care of your body and doing things that will boost your body’s ability to heal them. These tips should help you to do exactly that so that you can get to the fun part of a new piercing – new jewelry! Happy piercing!
