New piercings are exciting but require a little extra care. Anyone who's gotten professionally pierced has probably been instructed to use saline solution. Saline is the best way to clean fresh wounds, helping your body's natural healing processes avoid running into any speedbumps. When deciding what solution to get, you are choosing a product that will have direct contact with your healing tissue, so you want the best!
So, we did the research to find the most trustworthy products available. Our top pick is NeilMed's Piercing Aftercare Fine Mist. This simple saline solution is frequently recommended by piercers. Plus, it has a fine mist nozzle for better reach and coverage. Scroll through the rest of our list to find the solution that suits you, and check out the buying guide if you're not sure what to look for!
Saline solution uses salt and water to clean and irrigate wounds and infections. The salt (sodium chloride) draws water from the bacteria in the wound, killing them. If these bacteria are left to fester, an infection can arise. The solution also works by flushing any debris from the wound.
Saline solution is used to clean wounds because it is non-toxic and does not damage the healing tissue. It also doesn't detract moisture from the affected area.
The salt in saline is a natural anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial agent, so it can reduce swelling in addition to killing infection-causing bacteria. That said, if you have an infection that doesn't die down, seek medical care.
Healing tissue is sensitive and needs proper care to recover in a healthy way. To ensure you select a saline solution that is safe and effective, follow the advice of professionals and look for products with excellent customer reviews. Based on research and reviews, we've come up with a list of three great saline solutions!
These prices were gathered from their respective e-commerce pages on April 12, 2022.
$14.99
Amount | 6 oz. |
---|---|
Type | Spray |
Formulated with | USP grade water, USP sodium chloride |
$16.00
Amount | 4 oz. |
---|---|
Type | Spray |
Formulated with | Purified water, sea salt, lysozyme, sodium benzoate |
$8.00
Amount | 3 oz. |
---|---|
Type | Spray |
Formulated with | Purified water, USP sodium chloride |
Image | 1 ![]() NeilMed | 2 ![]() H2Ocean | 3 ![]() Steri-Wash |
---|---|---|---|
Name | NeilMed Piercing Aftercare Fine Mist | Piercing Aftercare Spray | Aftercare Piercing Spray |
Features | Our Top Pick - Sterile Saline Solution With a Handy Nozzle | Best Enzymatic Sea Salt Spray for Quick Healing | Best Travel-Sized Saline Solution Used in Hospitals |
Price | $14.99 | $16.00 | $8.00 |
Amount | 6 oz. | 4 oz. | 3 oz. |
Type | Spray | Spray | Spray |
Formulated with | USP grade water, USP sodium chloride | Purified water, sea salt, lysozyme, sodium benzoate | Purified water, USP sodium chloride |
Link |
While our top three picks are great all around, these seven other choices are good picks for specific concerns or situations, such as if you want a travel-size bottle or need to treat oral piercings.
$9.99
Amount | 1.5 oz. |
---|---|
Type | Spray |
Formulated with | Purified water, sodium chloride |
$12.95
Amount | 8 oz. |
---|---|
Type | Spray |
Formulated with | Hypochlorous acid, electrolyzed water, sodium chloride |
$10.00
Amount | 8 oz. |
---|---|
Type | Mouthwash |
Formulated with | Purified water, sea salt, xylitol, natural flavor, lysozyme, menthol, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate |
$13.99
Amount | 4 oz. |
---|---|
Type | Applicable solution |
Formulated with | Sea salt, clove bud oil, clove leaf oil; vitamins A, C, and E |
$10.99
Amount | 3 oz. |
---|---|
Type | Spray |
Formulated with | Water, sodium chloride |
Some saline solutions are more popular than others, but the one piece of advice to follow above all others is to find what works for you and stick to it.
If you don't know where to start or have had problems with other products you've tried, here are some guidelines to keep in mind when looking for a saline solution for piercings.
Not all piercing solutions are saline solutions! Simple is best since additives are more likely to interfere with healing than assist in it, but some ingredients are safe and beneficial. For irritated and angry piercings, solutions with chamomile can soothe and speed up healing by opening up blood vessels and drawing out toxins.
Tea tree oil is sometimes included for its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. However, tea tree oil is drying and can slow the healing process or cause irritation in new piercings. We would not recommend using it unless advised by a medical or piercing professional.
The sodium chloride used in saline solution is refined and man-made. If you prefer natural ingredients, sea salt is a feasible substitute. Sodium bicarbonate can be included to reduce stinging or irritation. Though a normal saline solution should not have these negative effects, some may find the sodium bicarbonate offers a gentler cleanse.
Saline solutions usually come in a bottle for soaking or a spray can. Both sprays and soaks will dehydrate harmful bacteria.
Saline soaks flush your piercings more fully than a spray. If you do a soak, dispose of any remaining solution instead of reusing it to avoid contamination. Dunk the pierced body part or apply the solution to the location without allowing any liquid to escape. Don't soak your piercing if it is bleeding, as this can prevent clotting.
Sprays are ideal for piercings in a location that is hard to reach or otherwise challenging to soak for a few minutes. Sprays are portable, so they are good for on-the-go, low-maintenance, or immediate care.
You can soak or spray your piercing without cotton balls or Q-tips, though these tools can be helpful for getting in corners or crannies. You can also use a saline or sea salt solution for oral piercings by rinsing and spitting the solution.
If you plan on making your own, just know that the Association of Professional Piercers, with both soaks and saline spray, it's better to go for a sterile, bought solution rather than a homemade one! You can still use a homemade soak during the times when you run out of solution, though.
Have you ever found yourself running low on saline solution, but not knowing what to do between the time you order a new one online and when it actually arrives at your house? Well, you can actually make a sea salt soak that is also effective at cleaning and caring for your piercings! Here are some tips, tricks, and a recipe from UrbanBody Jewelry.
Every problem has a different solution! Check out these articles for other products that will help soothe various ailments.
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