The Healing Properties of Emu Oil for Piercing Aftercare

So you’ve got a new piercing; hooray! We’re so happy for you.

Not only that, but we also care about your healing process. So much so that we’ve created a hassle-free aftercare product just for you.

The product in question is none other than emu oil; a pure, naturally refined oil that significantly improves the healing process of any body piercings.

Emu oil contains a high concentration of essential fatty acids and other nutrients. These nutrients promote:

• Anti-inflammation
• Pain relief
• Improved nourishment of your skin

Source: Emu Joy from Amazon

Remember: A new piercing needs special care to heal properly; and as with any wound, it’s at risk of infection.

This is where emu oil shines best.

It’s even recommended by a variety of professionals in the piercing and tattoo industry.

Experts like Elayne Angel, the former president of The Association of Professional Piercers and Author of The Piercing Bible, sing emu oil’s praises:

"I think it is fantastic for healing everything, including body piercings (whether new and healing, in the process of stretching, or having a flare-up). Those of us who have experienced its amazing effects become true believers.” - Elayne Angel

Emu oil is anti-bacterial, which is crucial for preventing infections. And in worst-case scenarios, it can even be a piercing-saver.

Just take a look at Mallory’s experience.

Customer Review

And now you’re likely thinking, “What makes emu oil better than other piercing aftercare products?”

Emu oil is simply made up of smaller molecules that penetrate much deeper than other oils, creams, and ointments.

This makes emu oil a powerful yet gentle product that accelerates the healing process while keeping your skin healthy.

Lastly, we can’t forget to mention how emu oil keeps the skin moist and pliable, allowing for better skin stretching.

"I recently got a Daith piercing on my left ear. A friend told me to apply emu oil three times a day to speed up healing. Not only did the new piercing heal faster than any other piercing I've had before, but it also was way less red and painful. I'll never get another piercing without it!"

The Ear Piercing Healing Process

Emu Oil for Piercing Aftercare

Here are a few normal things to expect in the ear piercing healing process:

• Bleeding, bruising, and swelling.
• Some tenderness, redness, or discomfort (itching) in the piercing area for a couple of days or longer.
• Secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid (not pus) that dries into “crusties” as it leaves the body.

Piercings go through ups and downs during the healing process. Sometimes, they may appear healed for a while and then regress. 

The key is to clean your piercing regularly throughout the initial healing time. Preferably twice a day using a saline solution.

In fact, here’s a detailed guide for your daily use.

The Step-by-Step Cleaning Process for a New Piercing

1. Using warm water, wash your hands thoroughly before cleaning or touching your piercing.
2. Rinse your piercing using a saline solution until your piercing is healed, then quickly rinse with warm water to remove any residue.
3. If your piercer recommends using soap, gently lather around the piercing. Avoid using harsh soaps or soaps with dyes or fragrances that cause irritation.
   
   Rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of the soap from the piercing. Don’t rotate the jewelry through the piercing.
4. Dry the piercing by gently patting it with a clean paper towel. This is important because cloth towels may harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry.

How To Apply Emu Oil Around the Piercing

After cleansing your piercing and jewelry, apply a small dab of emu oil to a clean finger (a minimal amount is needed since the oil is so potent).

Massage the oil gently into the skin, near the openings of the piercing. Use it at least twice a day.

Some people choose to apply emu oil directly to a jewelry stud, which helps prevent skin tears when inserting the piercing.

Emu oil can safely be applied to any body piercing, including:

• Tragus
• Anti-tragus
• Helix
• Earlobe
• Cartilage
• Conch
• Rook
• Daith 
• Eyebrow
• Nipple
• Genitals
• Navel
• Nostril
• Septum

Emu oil can even be used orally, making it safe to use for vertical labret and tongue piercings.

That said, here are a few things to be aware of: 

• Beyond washing your hands, also thoroughly clean your skin and jewelry per your piercing artist's instructions.
• If swelling or redness persists or worsens over time, this means the piercing has become infected. So reach out to your dermatologist or piercing artist with your concern.
• Only use American Emu Association (AEA) Certified pure refined emu oil — like the kind found in Emu Joy products. New piercings are highly sensitive to products with synthetic ingredients and chemicals, but you'll find that our emu oil cream and oil only contains organic ones.

Choosing and Using Emu Oil - What You Need To Know

"Thanks to using emu oil, my new nose piercing healed up quickly and with way less pain compared to past piercings. I love how clean-feeling and odorless it is, and that such a little bit goes a long way."

How Long Does It Take a Piercing to Fully Heal?

Healing time varies, depending on the position of the piercing. For instance, softer areas with no cartilage, such as ear lobes, heal faster than other areas.

Here’s a general healing timeframe for different types of piercings.

• Ear lobes, Tongue: 1 – 2 months
• Ear Cartilage (helix, daith, rook, snug, conch, tragus): 6 – 12 months
• Belly/ Navel: 6 – 12 months
• Eyebrow, Nose,  Lip/ Labret, Dermal Anchor/ Skin Diver: 2 – 4 months
• Septum: 3 – 4 months Surface: 3 – 6 months
• Monroe/ Cheek: 3 – 5 months
• Nipple/ Genital: 4 – 6 months

Once these estimated times pass, you may attempt to remove your jewelry for a short time.

But there’s a catch; your piercing may begin to shrink. Although this varies for many people, never force jewelry into a piercing that has shrunk.

Here’s a first-hand account of taking care of a new piercing by UrbanBodyJewelry.

In the end, healing time boils down to how well you follow the aftercare instructions we’ve shared above.

What Should You Not Do After a Piercing?

• Avoid swimming for 2 weeks because oceans, spas, and pools harbor bacteria that may infect your piercing.
• Don’t take advice from the internet or untrained professionals; only stick to the advice from your piercer.
• Don’t consume alcohol for the first 3-5 days because it thins the blood and causes excessive swelling and bleeding.
• Don’t remove the jewelry if you suspect the area is infected. Doing so may seal the infection inside the body and worsen the situation.
• Avoid sleeping on your side. Instead, sleep on your back so that your piercing doesn’t pick up bacteria from your sheets. Change your sheets regularly in the recovery weeks until your piercing is fully healed.

Products That Are a No-No for Your Healing Journey

Don’t use these products to clean your piercing:

• Dettol
• Betadine
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Disinfectants
• Tea tree oil
• Alcohol

These products can dry out and burn the pierced area.

Also, avoid using personal care products like makeup, body lotion, and perfumes on or around the piercing as they can cause irritation.

What Should I Use for Piercing Aftercare?

Look no further than emu oil.

Emu oil is an incredibly safe and gentle product, with no known side effects or adverse reactions. It comes in a variety of products like pure emu oil, skin moisturizer as an emu balm for lips.

“Love this product. I used this originally to heal my piercings which are in better state but now that I know all the great benefits of this product I've used it for eczema. Now there no going back.” Lesha. W

Featured Image from: Unsplash by Taylor Harding