Infections are pretty rare. Most of the time when a person thinks they have an infection they either have a normal, healing piercing, or a minor irritation. Here are some ways to identify an infection:
Extreme redness (not just around the holes - around the whole area)
Secretion of puss. Puss is yellow, and shouldn't be confused with normal clear/white lymph.
Heat. The area around an infected piercing will be feverish.
Pain. An infected piercing will be quite sore, and may even hurt to touch the general area.
Swelling. The area around the piercing will be swollen so its visibly noticeable.
If you have these symptoms, you can try and treat them yourself for the first week with a hot compress for 10-15 minutes twice a day. Also do salt water soaks (¼ tsp. Salt to 8 oz. of water) twice a day. If it doesn't get better within a week, see a doctor. Do NOT remove your jewelry, as it can create an abscess. Do NOT use Neosporin, or any other triple antibiotic ointment. It says on the package NOT FOR PUNCTURE WOUNDS.
Allergies
Even though the stainless steel jewelry you'll find most places is 316lvm, it still has trace amounts of nickel in it. Some people are allergic to this. If you are, you may experience the following:
Itching
Discharge of clear fluid (cirrus fluid.)
Rash
Swelling
If you're experiencing these symptoms, your best bet will be to change the jewelry to either niobium, or titanium. Titanium is preferred, and is completely non allergenic. Its also possible you're allergic to what you're using for aftercare. Try switching soaps if the symptoms continue.
Aftercare
I know its been said over an over in the after care, but you really must avoid certain things.
Touching the piercing with dirty hands. This is the cause of almost every infection. Don't touch it, don't let others touch it.
Improper aftercare. NO alcohol, iodine, peroxide, or ear care solution. Peroxide, iodine and alcohol kill just as many "bad" bacteria as they do "good" cells that are healing the piercing, and can really hinder healing. Most ear care solution has an active of Benzalkonium Chloride, which can harbor bacteria.
Over cleaning. This can dry out your piercing, and besides, your body is capable of healing itself. It doesn't need to be "cleaned" (irritated) more often than necessary.
Rotating the jewelry. I don't care what the girl at Claire's or Hot Topic told you, but your skin will not grow to the jewelry. You have no reason to rotate your jewelry, it will most likely just cause an infection.
Jewelry
If you're wearing it, you should probably know how to take it out.
If you have a captive bead ring, the bead is held in by tension. If you pull the ends of the ring apart, either with your hands, or with pliers, the ball will fall out, and you can remove the ring.
On a barbell, whether it's a circular, curved or straight barbell, one or more balls will simply screw off. Just turn it and remove the jewelry.
Your jewelry is measured in gauges, with 14 being the most common. Just ask, and I can tell you what size yours is. With gauges, the smaller the number, the bigger the jewelry.
Don't wear acrylic jewelry in a new piercing.
Don't wear overly heavy, or improperly sized jewelry.
Only 316LVM surgical steel, titanium, niobium, gold, pyrex, teflon and high-grade acrylic should be worn in piercings. Other materials can cause reactions.
Other General Information
The "Initial healing period" is the piercing's first healing phase. After the "initial healing period" the new skin is formed to make a flesh tube around the piercing. It'll take around a year for this tube to toughen up.
If your piercing doesn't freely move or rotate, don't force it. You can rip the new skin that's forming.
If moving your piercing a certain way hurts, stop doing it, dumb ass.
For salt water soaks, use either non-iodized or normal table salt. Sea salt could have evaporated fish poop in it (among other things) and Epsom salts aren't even sodium chloride.
If you do salt soaks, don't add too much salt. It will dry out, and harm your piercing. ¼ teaspoon to 8 oz of water!
If the area around your piercing gets dry, you can put an unscented, un-dyed, alcohol-free lotion around the area, just be careful not to get it in the holes.
New piercings will secrete lymph, which is clear, and will crust on the jewelry. Don't freak out. Its perfectly normal.
Nipple and navel piercings will swell a little, but extreme swelling is very uncommon. Most swelling will go down after about a week of the piercing.
Cleaning
To clean nipple and navel piercings, you'll want to soak the piercings in salt water for about 15 minutes (use ¼ teaspoon saltwater to 8 oz. of water.) After the soaking, you'll want to use a q-tip to clean off any "crusties" (lymph) from the piercing. After that, use a mild soap (no scent or color) like Provon, or Satin to clean around the piercing. Do not rotate the jewelry, it is unnecessary and can often rotate bacteria into the hole. Make sure you rinse off all the soap after you're done cleaning.
You'll want to do this twice a day. If you notice the area getting dry, cut back to just once a day. Always wash your hands before touching a piercing.
Misc. Information
Both nipple and Navel piercings can be tricky to heal. Almost everybody with a navel piercing experiences at least one mild infection. To treat a mild infection, hold a hot compress on the piercing for 10-15 minutes twice a day. For a navel piercing, wear low pants that won't rub on your piercing. For nipple piercings, (females) you might want to go without a bra. Certain types of bras push jewelry into uncomfortable positions, but some people think wearing one is more comfortable. Avoid clothing that snags your piercing, and avoid bumping it on things.
Some new piercings will swell for the first few days. This is normal, and will go down. If you want to lessen it, you can take an Ibuprofen (Advil) after being pierced.
Cleaning
To clean Facial and Ear piercings, you'll want to soak the piercings in salt water for about 15 minutes (use ¼ teaspoon saltwater to 8 oz. of water.) After the soaking, you'll want to use a q-tip to clean off any "crusties" (lymph) from the piercing. After that, use a mild soap (no scent or color) like Provon, or Satin to clean around the piercing. Do not rotate the jewelry, it is unnecessary and can often rotate bacteria into the hole. Make sure you rinse off all the soap after you're done cleaning.
You'll want to do this twice a day. If you notice the area getting dry, cut back to just once a day. Always wash your hands before touching a piercing.
Misc. Information
Cartilage piercings are often sore for days or weeks after the piercing. Try to avoid sleeping on that side. If you're having trouble soaking the inside of a nostril or a septum piercing, try soaking a q-tip in salt water.
Genital Piercing Aftercare (Hood, Inner Labia, Prince Albert, Frenum,)
Some swelling is normal, especially in Prince Alberts. This will go down in a few days, and Ibuprofen (Advil) can be taken to reduce the swelling.
Bleeding
Often, genital piercings can bleed off an on for a few days. This is perfectly normal. You can wear (unscented) panty liners to avoid getting blood on your clothes.
Cleaning
Clean the piercing twice a day with antibacterial soap. Provon and Satin are recommended, but any mild, unscented soap will work.
Soak off any "crusties" (lymph) and wipe them off with a q-tip.
Make sure all soap is rinsed off after cleaning.
Urinate after cleaning.
Misc. Information
With most genital piercings, you can resume sex after about 2-3 weeks.
Use a condom when you're having sex to protect the piercing
No direct oral contact until the piercing's fully healed.
Lubes and spermicides can irritate the piercing. Discontinue use if they do.
Oral Piercing Aftercare (lip, and cheek)
(Initial healing period: 4-6 weeks.)
Swelling
Your piercing will swell a little for the first few days, but it shouldn't be very noticeable. You've been pierced with a slightly longer than usual post to account for the initial swelling. You can get a shorter labret stud, or smaller ring when the piercing is healed. If you need you can always take Ibuprofen (Advil) to reduce swelling.
Cleaning
To clean your piercing, you'll want to soak the outside with water or saltwater twice daily. If you're using saltwater, use a concentration of ¼ teaspoon to every 8 oz. of water. After soaking for about 5-10 minutes, use a q-tip to gently clean off any "crusties" (normal lymph fluid.) Use a mild soap, such as Provon or Satin. Avoid scented and dyed soaps. There is no need to rotate your ring or labret stud, as it can rotate bacteria into the hole.
You'll also want to clean the inside of your piercing. To do this either use a saltwater rinse, or a mouthwash like Tech 2000, Biotene, or Rembrandt. If you must use something like Listerine, dilute it (½ Listerine, ½ water.)
You'll want to do this process twice daily. Wash your hands before touching your piercing.
Misc. Information
Depending on the placement of your jewelry, you can wear either a ring or a labret stud. There is a variety of jewelry out there, but try to avoid things that are heavy for long-term wear.
Tongue piercings will swell during the first 24 hours, and remain swollen for up to two weeks. There are a few things you can do to reduce the swelling.
Immediately after the piercing, get something cold to drink, like a Slurpie. Throughout the healing process, sucking on ice is your best bet.
Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water, especially before you go to sleep (tongues will swell overnight, and drinking water will lessen this.)
Don't take anything like aspirin for the first 48 hours, but Ibuprofen (Advil) is ok, and will reduce swelling.
Cleaning
To clean the piercing, you will want to rinse your mouth out after you eat or drink anything other than water or smoke. Only use an alcohol free mouthwash like Biotene, Tech 2000, or Rembrandt; salt water (1/4 tsp. To 8 oz of water) or diluted mouthwash such as Listerine (½ Listerine: ½ water.)
You will also want to make sure you're brushing your teeth, and your tongue (if it hurts to brush your tongue, wait a few days.) If you over-clean your tongue, you can kill all the "good" bacteria, and your tongue will turn white. This is called thrush, and you'll need to cut back on your aftercare. Usually this only happens with over-use of Listerine.
Misc. Information
After about two weeks, you'll want to go out and buy a new barbell. You'll want one that's about the width of your tongue, with about a mm or two extra room. You're more likely to chip a tooth on a long bar. Talking will be difficult the first few days, but you'll quickly get the hang of it. When you clean your piercing, make sure the balls are screwed on tight, but Wash your grubby hands first.
