hey everyone. so I got my lip pierced about three days ago and it was done with a labret stud. I am feeling the normal discomfort of a piercing (I have others), but I am not sure if it is healing well. the labret stud seems too short; the back is leaving a little circular indent, but the front (outside) is not leaving any marks. the back is not uncomfortable really, just leaving a mark. I can move the labret around (in and out) a bit - enough to see the bar on the outside. but I'm still a bit swollen as well. does this mean its too tight? there is a bit of crusting, especially in the morning, which I know is normal. however, this morning, the piercing was leaking a bloody mixture of red and yellowish white. I'm pretty sure that's not normal for a piercing as I've never had that happen before. do you think I'm infected? I doesn't hurt more than it did yesterday. I clean the crusties with peroxide or salt water - depending on what I have available to me in the morning and night. I also rinse with listerine three times per day. I use Q-tips to make sure that I'm getting around the ball and the flat end. I have a 18g labret in.
labrets always leave an indent, even on a healed piercing. the inside of the lip is a spongy, mucosal membrane, and it will "dent in" around something that sits there continually. it sounds like your piercing is just fine. i would say though, not to use listerine (it has alcohol in it, which is bad for unhealed wounds) and DO NOT use peroxide! peroxide actually eats away tissues, and is VERY bad for wounds, unless they are VERY dirty and you need to eat away damaged tissues that have ground dirt in them. a piercing does not need peroxide. use sea salt water, and that's it. you can gargle/swish with sea salt water as well. do NOT use anything that is more harsh than that!
Really, the person who did my lip peircing specifically said to use listerine. I was told to use that on the inside and to wash it with unscented dial on the outside. I'm gonna listen to what Tick told me to do and keep washing it the way he said. I haven't had any problems with mine. I just got mine on the second of august and mine is on the side of my lip, I have a captive ring. Sorry, nothing personal... But Tick has been doing piercing for atleast 10 years and I am sure he knows what he is doing by now. Tiffany
i'm not a piercer, but a medical professional, and medically, open wounds heal best with solutions which are not irritating to internal tissues, such as alcohol (which listerine is full of, including sugars which are also harmful to open wounds), peroxide, and antibacterial soap. a piercing should be done under sterile conditions, so the wound then should be clean, eliminating the need for antibacterial soap, or other harsh cleaning agents. saline solution (salt water) is what your body is made up of, so chemically, it works best with your body (less irritating) and salt is an amazing cleanser. but by all means, do whatever you feel like doing to your own piercing, i'm only giving the medical information that i know. alcohol, peroxide, listerine, etc. PROBABLY won't injure your piercing, and everything will probably heal just fine, with no problems. but i know for myself, i'd prefer not to take chances. that's all i'm saying.
10 years doesn't mean he knows everything. Alcohol of any kind is bad for it, it kills all bacteria including the ones that help to heal. Some piercers recommend diluted Listerine, but alcohol-free is still better.
I am having the same kind of problem, i got a closed ball ring in and as i got my lip pierced two days ago its starting to swell and i have a dent or groove from the ring...but from what you guys have said it seems like nothing to worry about so thanks....also ill carry on checking it =]
I never use labret studs on lip piercings because the edges on the back are way too uncomfortable. Ball on back and front is much more comfortable. The ball in the back does indent in slightly, like the labret, but doesn't have those sharp edges which annoy the hell out of me. As for stuff to clean and make a piercing heal. I've never found anything better than TCP liquid. Don't use the gel, just the liquid. From my own experience of piercings, especially lip, i'd take the labret out and quickly put a barbell in. Give the lot a good soaking in TCP liquid, and any crust build up wipe off with a cotton bud soaked in TCP liquid. Yes, it doesn't taste too nice but it will clean and heal the wound. Just my two pence. Best of luck!
