Check the Piercing Tools
Piercing instruments must be sterilized in medical-grade machines that kill every germ (autoclaves). They should not be boiled, placed in hot glass beads or dipped in a chemical. The instruments should be placed in a bag with an indicator that tells you the proper temperature’s reached to kill bacteria and viruses.

QUIZ: Is Your Skin Healthy?

The autoclave must be tested once a week to ensure it’s working properly. The piercer should prepare just like the tattoo artist (minus the mask). You can have your jewelry sterilized beforehand (we recommend wearing metal jewelry right after the piercing).

After, keep the piercing clean with hydrogen peroxide on a washcloth or tooth pick, then coat with antibiotic ointment. Don’t clean the area with alcohol—it will actually stall healing. Don’t remove the jewelry for more than a few minutes until the piercing heals, which can take weeks to months.

Be Smart
We recommend that you draw an ink spot exactly where you want the piercing. You increase your risk for infection if you stray to areas outside the earlobes and belly button. Ear cartilage has poor blood supply and can’t fight germs that get in.

In the eyebrow, there’s a nerve that supplies sensation to the forehead, which might be speared. Painful scar tissue called neuroma can form.

The nose, labia and nipples are dangerous infection zones and can have long-term effects, like on breast-feeding. And the tongue? Make sure you have good dental insurance because these piercings clang against your tooth enamel and can give you bad breath