WhitneyHealing a Nape Surface Piercing
July 26th 2010 13:41
A nape piercing is a piercing on the back of the neck. Typically, they are pierced below the hairline. The most common nape piercing is a single, horizontal piercing, but there are many people who will try the vertical nape piercing or multiple piercings.
Nape piercings require special jewelry in order to reduce the risks of rejection as much as possible. It's important that the piercer use a surface barbell, which is in the shape of a staple, or PTFE (tygon) material. If a surface barbell is used, it's ideal to use a stainless steel or a titanium barbell, as the less nickel in the barbell, the less potential irritation.
When it comes to proper aftercare of a nape surface piercing, it's important to have an experienced piercer perform the piercing, as the beginning is most important, especially in regards to the jewelry.
But, you also want to make sure that you implement proper cleaning procedures.
You never want to use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. It's also not a good idea to use antibacterial creams or ointments, either. And, as for soaps, some piercers recommend it, but you want to make sure that you thoroughly rinse out the piercing after cleaning with soap, as leftover soap can irritate and infect a new piercing.
The ideal aftercare for a surface piercing is either saline solution or a diluted non-iodized sea salt (not table salt). You can mix about 1/4 teaspoon of salt with at least 6-8 ounces of lukewarm water.
Cleaning may be a two people job, as you'll want to make sure that the saline or sea salt solution gets throughout the piercing. It's ideal to try to use a cup of the saline or sea salt solution and tip it over the piercing to soak it for at least 10-15 minutes twice a day.
If that is not doable, you may be able to soak cotton balls in the solution and gently press them against the two ends of the surface piercing. Just be careful not to leave any of the material of the cotton ball around the piercing. You don't want to leave anything that could irritate the piercing.
Careful aftercare may help you heal the nape surface piercing, but in general surface piercings don't have a high permanence rate. Generally, they are considered more temporary piercings.
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