Body piercing, like a tattoo, creates an open wound in your body. You should expect a little tenderness in the area. As the wound heals there will be itchiness and a yellowish discharge of dead cells and plasma. The discharge will form a crust. This is all normal.

Think of ANY river, lake, creek, stream, pond, swimming pool or hot tub in Arkansas. STAY OUT OF THE WATER during your healing process.

That goes for strangers, too. After your piercing has healed, you can set up a booth and let everybody touch it -- well, if it's legal in Arkansas to show it. Arkansas law may require you to visit neighboring states for proper piercing exposure.

NOTE: If you experience pain, redness, swelling, inflammation, and or pus oozing from your wound, it would be wise to visit your doctor.

Body piercings need to cleaned once or twice daily, every day, for the entire time required for healing. Do not clean more than twice a day since this could irritate the area. Make sure you have cleaned your hands with antibacterial soap and hot water.
Prepare the area by rinsing or soaking with warm water, and be sure to remove any stubborn crust using a cotton swab and warm water. Do not use fingernails.
Apply the cleansing solution (mild liquid antimicrobial/germicidal soap such as Provon or Satin and water) with your hands. Cleanse the area and the jewelry. After your first few cleanings, gently rotate the jewelry a few times to work the solution inside.
Thoroughly rinse the area with running water, again rotating the jewelry.
Pat dry with disposable paper products such as gauze or tissues.

Mild sea salt water soaks are strongly suggested at least once a day to speed the healing process. Dissolve 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt in 8 ounces of warm water in a clean cup. Distilled water is the best, but not required.
Press the cup over your piercing and hold it in place for a few minutes. Now, don't use this method if you had a nose piercing because you could very well drown. If your piercing is located in a place that doesn't lend itself to a true soak, use a cotton ball or gauze pad.

It depends. Each body is unique and healing times can vary considerably. A general guideline for approximate healing times is as follows: Cheek: 2 - 3 months; Cartilage: 2 months -1 year; Earlobe: 6 - 8 weeks; Eyebrow: 6 - 8 weeks; Genitals: 4 weeks - 6 months; Labret: 6 - 8 weeks; Lip: 6 - 8 weeks; Navel: 6 months - over 1 year; Nipple: 2 - 6 months; Nostril: 2 months - 1 year; Septum: 6 - 8 weeks; Tongue: 4 - 6 weeks. But, like we said, it depends a lot on you.

Starter jewelry is designed to enhance healing and reduce risk of infection. You are introducing a foreign object into your body. Foreign objects that are least likely to cause allergic reaction are made of stainless steel, titanium or gold.

Look at your healing process as being two phases: the initial phase and the total phase. The initial phase is when your body creates a layer of skin over the wound. The total phase, as you may have guessed, is when the healing is complete. You can change your jewelry when there is no tenderness in the area and you can rotate and play with your jewelry without causing any discomfort.

A study done by school nurses found the Number One complaint students had about piercings is that they should have gone to a professional. Avoid self-piercing or letting your friends do it. Professionals use sterile equipment in a clean setting.

Make sure your bedding is clean and changed frequently to reduce the risk of infection.

Wear clean, comfortable clothing in the area of a body piercing.

A multi-vitamin mineral supplement containing zinc and Vitamin C may help boost your body's ability to heal.

With clean hands, make certain balls or other attachments are tight.

DO NOT USE petroleum based products such as Neosporin or Bacitracin. Don't use alcohol, peroxide, Betadine, iodine or Hibaclense.

As best you can, try to eat healthy foods to boost your system.

These guidelines are based on a combination of vast professional experience, common sense, research and extensive clinical practice. This is not considered to be a substitute for medical advice from a doctor. Be aware, however, that many doctors have no specific training or experience on how to care for the exterior surface of such a piercing.