I have been getting modded for several years now. I would not say I am heavily modded. I have never had any scarifications or serious mods like tongue splitting, ear reshaping or suspensions. At least not yet. I have had multiple piercings and repiercings and a couple of tattoos spread out over seven years. What I have noticed, and taken my own personal interest in, is how "healing" has changed over the years. At least how it has changed in my experience.
At A Glance Author aniorange Contact [email protected] IAM aniorange When N/A The first time I was pierced (my eyebrow) the piercer gave me a bottle of betadine and told me to clean with it a few times a day. As far as I know, these days any such advice would surely be frowned upon. For me it was the first time. I had no idea how to "cross reference" this suggestion nor did it cross my mind to do so. I was very new at body piercing and had all my trust in my piercer. As far as I know this was the way to go. However I did find it really odd that he gave me a whole bottle of that stuff.
The next time I get pierced I was told to go and pick up a bottle of bactine to keep the piercing clean. Once again, as far as I know, lots of people in the body mod circuit would not support such an idea. As for me, I didn't think much about the change in care products. I was still new to body piercing. I had no friends that where into body mods. I did not know of any other references to find out what was, "Right or wrong." I just figured it was because it was on a different place on my body or maybe there are different kinds of chemicals out there that all work fine, and my piercer didn't have another free bottle for me like he did before. I really didn't give it much thought at the time.
The story sure doesn't end there. The next time I get poked I was instructed to use antibacterial soap. My instructions where to use it several times a day to keep things clean and clear. This certainly was a change. Now I start to wonder what is going on. However, I just followed suite. What did I know? I had not had any problems yet with healing and I still trusted my piercer. I never felt he led me wrong. I still had no friends to ask and no resources to rely on. Life moves on.
The antibacterial soap idea stuck around a while. I had several more piercings that where healed this way. It worked great as far as I could tell. I never had any infections. Things healed up fine and life was good. In my mind I wondered maybe people where still discovering what is good and bad when it comes to healing piercings. I sure was not the professional. I did have my own experiences but not enough of them yet to make my own conclusions. Or did I?
I also had some experience with oral piercings. Now cleaning oral piercings are different, as many already know. I had my tongue pierced. I was told to get some Listerine and dilute it half and half with water and gurgle with it after every meal, smoke, and drink, whatever. Sounded good to me. I used this method and once again, all seemed fine. The same instructions where given to me for my smiley piercing as well. Again, healing went well.
During this time I got my first computer and jumped on the internet. I quickly learned you could find out all kinds of information online. It wasn't long before I found a place called rec.arts.bodyarts. I also found their FAQs. After reading though them and following posts on the newsgroup, I heard of different methods people where using to heal their piercings. I found it fascinating how different the methods where. There was talk of not using alcohol or peroxide. There was talk of things called sea salt soaks. People where talking about different types of goo to heal tattoos. Lots of things where new to me. I thought to myself as before, mankind was likely still learning. Especially now with the newfound popularity of body piercing. This was still just the beginning.
I moved halfway across the United States and went some time before I got pierced again. Of course I went to a brand new place. One of the first things I pierced was my labret. Now with it going from in my mouth to outside my mouth, of course, I would need a combination of things to heal it. I was confident that I knew how to heal it, and even told my piercer, I should use antibacterial soap outside and Listerine diluted half and half in my mouth. He suggested something a little different. He added I should also use these sea salt soaks I had heard about. He also suggested I not use Listerine because it had alcohol. He suggested I use something like Biotene. It did not have alcohol and was safer to use. I guess we where all still learning.
As time went on and more information was shared and available online. Take this sight you are reading this on right now. I learned even more. I heard things like you should not use too much soap to heal a piercing. Too much soap can dry out your skin. You can over clean as well as under clean. Or can you? Things like alcohol and betadine were known to work against new cell growth, prolonging healing. There are those that believe in the litha method. Short for Leave It The Hell Alone. So now you have two factors at hand. Professional Piercers working to find better ways to heal and spread their ideas, and the pierced finding their own person healing methods.
If you read around enough you will find all kinds of different methods. There are different chemicals, different ideas and different reasons. It doesn't just stop there. There are different ideas on what kind of jewelry will heal better in what piercings. If you really think about it, it gets pretty complicated. I have read lots of experiences. I have, for example, read stories of people getting their nipples pierced with hoops and healing with hoops and took them out and later repierced with barbells. They went on to say the barbells where much better to heal with. On the other hand I have read stories that went the same way except in the end, the subject preferred healing with the rings.
Looking back I did realize how all the different methods used made a difference. I do remember the healing taking a bit longer with the betadine and bactine. I do remember my skin drying out when I would use anti bacterial soap too much. I did notice a huge difference when adding salt soaks to the healing process. Don't get me wrong. I never had any infections really and no real big problems. Now am I saying what method you should use? Not really.
So if you are like me, maybe you are a bit confused at this point. I would be. In my experience things certainly have changed a lot. I have my preferred method of healing. I know what my body needs and how to take care of it. Something like that only comes with experience. So knowing your body has its place in knowing the best way to heal.
Also research is important. Search the internet and BME. Read stories and experiences. Talk to friends about what their experiences. Talk to different piercers and different shops if you can. If not to their face, than by phone.
Having said that I would not completely discount what your piercer had to say, unless your piercer has nothing to say about healing, placement and jewelry. It's probably a good idea to ask your piercer those questions before the needle gets near you. If they don't have a good solid answer, it's time to feel uncomfortable and take your precious body somewhere else.
Most important, pay attention to what happens to your body. If things are not going well, ask for help. If this story says anything, it says one size doesn't fit all. Maybe the method you are using isn't the best. Maybe your piercer has other advise. Perhaps you even have a piercing friendly doctor that could lend you a hand or a prescription. Use common sense and don't forget what you have already learned with research and experience. You can find your own way.
So I end by saying, may everyone heal as well if not better than I.