JOY FEELINGS MAGAZINE July issue 2106 | Page 42

piercing should insure a healthy healing process. Tip #2: Don't rush the process! Your piercing will take 3-6 months to heal fully. Do not try to speed along the healing process. Relax and let your body work its magic. I urge you to not change the jewelry or stop cleaning until it is healed completely. Changing your jewelry before your piercing is healed can result in infection or rejection. Allow your piercing to recover properly so you can enjoy it for years to come! Tip #3: Listen to your body! You know your body better than anyone else, and if something just doesn't seem right to you, there might be a problem. If you follow the sanitary guidelines mentioned in this article, you shouldn't have any issues. Things like mild discomfort and redness can just be a sign that your body is trying to recover from the trauma of being pierced, but sometimes problems can still arise. Keep an eye out for persistent pain, redness, swelling, or a greenish, milky discharge secreting from the piercing, as these can be your body's way of saying there is something wrong. If these warning signs do present themselves, or you have any concerns, visit your doctor. Usually an infection can be easily treated, but serious issues like tissue damage or disfigurement of the cartilage do occur. To ensure these things don't happen to you, keep following the rules and paying attention.