Everyone can agree that after care is an important aspect to keep in mind when thinking about getting a new piercing. It’s crucial to ensure it remains clean and free of infection to be able to enjoy it to its fullest.
While keeping the fresh piercing clean is important, there are different ways that piercers recommend cleaning the site. Non-iodized sea salt is a great option for maintaining cleanliness and warding off the possibility of infection. It is gentle on the skin and soothes the newly pierced area.
What is Non Iodized Salt?
Non-iodized sea salt is a type of salt that does not have additional iodine added to it to assist in fighting off iodine deficiencies. This type of salt is made up of sodium and chloride and is in its most natural form.
The way that non-iodized sea salt is created is by gathering ocean water and allowing it to evaporate. In doing so, it leaves behind some salt crystals through this process, giving us what we know as non-iodized sea salt. Iodized and non-iodized sea salt looks, tastes and feels the same, but its difference is at a chemical level.
Normal table salt should not be confused with non-iodized salt when it comes to proper care of piercings, as its effects can be vastly different.
What are the Benefits to Using Non Iodized Salt on a Piercing?
Due to its lack of iodine, the non-iodized sea salt is preferred to be used in the care of piercings. There are benefits of using this salt on piercings, such as it being a natural, unprocessed solution that will speed up healing of the piercing faster than other care treatments will.
It will flush out debris in the wound and will assist in relieving the irritation that is commonly associated with being freshly pierced. This is a large part as to why piercers thoroughly recommend using this method of aftercare.
Using non-iodized sea salt on your new piercings is a good way to take efficient care of them. Do not get this confused with any other type of salt, as table salts and kosher salts do not have the same effect and can dry out the area as well as irritate the skin.
This is because other types of salts have iodine added to them in order to prevent iodine deficiencies in humans when we use this to cook. While they have their own benefits, non-iodized sea salt is the way to go when using it to clean or disinfect an area.
Non-iodized sea salt for cleaning of the piercing promotes the removal of any debris, often referred to as crusties, and rinses the area. You can create your own solution by using 1/8 of a teaspoon of non-iodized fine grain sea salt and ½ cup of warm water. Mix it together until the salt dissolves completely in the warm water.
Be careful when creating this solution, as it is easy for it to become too salty to use for safe cleaning of the area. To test this, taste the water. You will know if it is too salty if it is saltier than your average potato chip. Using this solution will clear out the open wound and help to reduce inflammation.
You can create your own solution with the measurements provided, or buy a premade spray specifically made ready to use. This can be found in some large chain supermarkets, as well as some tattoo and piercing shops.
How often Do you use Non Iodized Salt on your New Piercing?
For proper healing, the salt solution should only be used about twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. Using it less than twice does not promote proper cleaning and using it more than twice a day can cause the area to become irritated from being overly washed.
Avoid touching the piercing, especially with unwashed hands. The area is an open wound and is easily susceptible to infection and should be treated like any other fresh injury. Other substances that should not be used to clean piercings are harsh cleaners, antibacterials, alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.
Using these will cause more damage than healing and could dry out the piercing. Moisture is crucial in the effectiveness of the healing process.
What Piercing Can You Use Non Iodized Sea Salt On?
This type of solution can be used on any piercing, there is no specific type. Nose, belly button, lips and more are all perfectly fine piercings that can be cleaned using non-iodized sea salt.
Depending on where the piercing is, it might be more difficult to soak/spray than others because it should be properly submerged for a minimum of five minutes. For areas that may be difficult to completely submerge, you can use a paper towel or wash cloth that has been soaked in the solution and use it to press against the piercing for five to ten minutes.
This will have mostly the same effect as if you were submerging the piercing in water without having to awkwardly contort your body for proper soaking. Another option you can use is the ready-made spray that many piercing shops now have in stock. This is another great solution, as everything is premixed and all you must do is spray the area without worrying about submersion or holding a cloth to it. This option is also great when you are on the go and need to take proper maintenance of the piercing.
Taking care of a new body modification should be an easy and painless process. Using non-iodized sea salt is a gentle cleaner that is great for washing away debris and fighting off inflammation, allowing relief at the site.
This method is highly rated among piercers due to its careful but powerful ability to keep the area clean and healthy. It is organic and the benefits of using this type of salt are plentiful, such as speeding up the healing process faster than older methods of piercing aftercare.
As mentioned previously, ensure you are using non-iodized sea salt, as it is easy to grab a different type of salt that will not properly care for the afflicted area.
FAQS
What happens if you use table salt on a piercing?
Using table salt, or any other salt than non iodized sea salt is not recommended for the proper cleaning of piercings. Table salt and other types of salt have iodine. Iodine is a harsh chemical that will irritate the fresh wound and can be harmful because of the extra chemicals.
The use of table salt can increase inflammation and infection rather than reduce. Ensure when getting a new piercing that you have some non-iodized sea salt on hand to create your own solution for proper aftercare
Is pink Himalayan salt non-iodized?
Pink Himalayan salt has little to no iodine in its natural state. The color of pink Himalayan salts comes from the iron components. This type of salt can also be used to clean new piercings as it is not iodized like table salt!
To create this mixture, use ¼ teaspoon of non-iodized pink Himalayan salt to one cup of pre boiled warm water. Similarly to non-iodized sea salt, taste the solution and ensure that it is not saltier than a potato chip to ensure the proper ratio has formed to avoid drying out the piercing.
How can I clean my piercing without sea salt?
While using sea salt is the preferred way of cleaning piercings, there are other methods that are safe as well. If you do not have sea salt handy, warm water and non-fragrance soap can be used to clean the new piercing.
Wet the area with a clean cloth, gently dab the soap around the piercing to not only moisturize it, but to also wipe away any debris. Completely clean the area, and gently rinse it off with warm water. Pat dry with a clean washcloth or paper towel.
Can I clean my piercing with just water?
Without the use of salt or soap to disinfect the area, it will be susceptible to bacteria and infection. Using one of these agents will assist in cleaning away debris and ensure the piercing is being properly cleaned to avoid the introduction of infection. The warm water mixed with the cleaning agent will also alleviate some of the pain, irritation and swelling that comes with a fresh piercing.
It may be tempting to just allow warm water to run on the piercing during a shower, but ensure you are using a cleaning agent as well to encourage proper healing of your brand-new piercing.