It’s totally natural to be excited about a new piercing—whether it’s your first or your fifteenth, that fresh sparkle brings a lot of joy. But once the jewelry is in and you’re home admiring your new look, one of the best things you can do to protect your piercing is also the simplest:
Don’t touch it.
Seriously. Keep your hands off.
Here’s why that one small habit makes a huge difference in how well your piercing heals—and what can go wrong if you don’t.
Your Hands Carry Bacteria
No matter how clean you think they are, your hands touch countless surfaces every day: your phone, door handles, keyboards, other people. Even after a quick rinse or pump of sanitizer, they’re still not sterile. Every time you touch a healing piercing, you risk introducing bacteria to the area—which can lead to irritation, prolonged healing, or even infection.
Touching = Trauma
Your piercing is a fresh wound. Even the gentlest touch adds movement and pressure that can interfere with the healing process. Twisting, turning, or adjusting jewelry isn’t just unnecessary—it can cause microscopic tears inside the piercing channel, leading to inflammation, scar tissue, or migration. If your jewelry looks a little off, don’t try to fix it yourself—visit your piercer for an expert adjustment.
It Slows Down Healing
Every time you touch or bump your piercing, you’re essentially hitting the reset button on your healing progress. That can double or even triple how long it takes to fully heal. Healing is a process your body manages best without interference. Think of your job as simply keeping it clean and leaving it alone.
What to Do Instead
So what should you do?
- Clean hands only — If you have to touch your piercing (to clean it, for example), wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water first.
- Stick to saline — Use sterile saline solution to clean the area once or twice a day as instructed by your piercer. No twisting, scrubbing, or rotating required.
- Hands off otherwise — If your piercing itches, looks crooked, or feels weird, it’s still best not to touch it. When in doubt, contact a professional piercer for advice instead of trying to fix it yourself.
What About Crusties?
It’s totally normal for healing piercings to form some dried lymph (commonly referred to as “crusties”). It can be tempting to pick at them—but resist the urge. Let warm saline soaks or compresses soften them naturally. Picking can cause bleeding or trauma that delays healing.
Respect the Process
The reality is, touching your piercing might feel harmless in the moment, but it adds up quickly. Piercings are a commitment—not just to style, but to care. Let your body do what it does best. The more you leave it alone, the happier (and healthier) your piercing will be in the long run.
So the next time your hand drifts up for a little twist or tug, stop and ask yourself:
“Would I touch a paper cut or scab with dirty hands?”
If the answer is no—then you already know what to do.
(Or rather, what not to do.)