A new piercing requires a few weeks or months to heal. Moreover, you can’t change the jewelry until your piercing area has healed completely. However, many people do not follow the aftercare steps, which can further delay the healing process, leading to unsightly bumps or infections.
Before getting a new piercing, it is best to understand the stages of the healing process, and the time it takes to heal completely.
First Stage of Healing- Hemostasis
The first phase of healing controls blood loss from the piercing site due to hemostasis. As soon as your piercing is done, your piercer will insert the jewelry and hold pressure on it with cotton swabs for about 20 to 30 seconds to allow clotting. Meanwhile, the red blood cells and platelets within the piercing area work to stop the bleeding. Moreover, the walls of the blood vessels contain collagen fibers to activate platelets in the blood to prevent more bleeding and avoid the risk of pathogens getting into the piercing site. As a result, you may notice a scab that appears like dried blood around your piercing hole.
Second Stage of Healing- Inflammatory Phase
The second stage of healing kills bacteria and eliminates debris around the piercing hole. In addition, neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) get into the piercing area to remove nonessential bacteria that could lead to infection; which is why this stage is also known as the defensive stage. As a result, this process allows new tissue growth and clears out dead or damaged cells. Therefore, you are likely to notice the signs of healing such as soreness, redness, swelling, and clear drainage from the piercing site.
Thirds Stage of Healing- Proliferative Phase
The third stage of healing involves the growth of granulation tissues allowing fibroblasts into the wound to contract and pull the wound toward the center. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid changing your jewelry even if the wound appears slightly healed from the outside. Moreover, removing the jewelry can potentially damage the delicate tissues and delay the healing process.
Fourth Stage of Healing- Maturation
Your piercing site undergoes changes and maturation during the fourth stage of healing; hence, it is also known as the remodeling stage. As a result, the wound closes entirely within six months to a year; however, in some cases, this process can take up to two years.
The process of healing varies from person to person. However, certain factors such as aftercare practices, lifestyle, blood circulation around your piercing site, and your overall health can speed up or delay the process. Therefore, ensure that you learn the different stages of the healing process ahead of time to take good care of your piercings. Once your piercing is healed, you can get your hands on trendy piercing jewelry at Pierced N Proud at an affordable price.