Due to frequent contact with saliva, food, cosmetics, and other bacteria, lip piercings may be more prone to infection, particularly during the initial healing phase.
Additionally, snagging the jewelry in your hair or on your clothes can irritate the piercing and spread bacteria. To find out how to spot an infection, what you can do to relieve your symptoms, and how to avoid further issues, keep reading.
What is lip piercing?
An upper or lower lip piercing is a common type of lip piercing. Because there are so many different styles and methods to customize them, lip piercings are frequently a very popular choice. Although there is no superior placement, there may be one that more closely matches your particular preferences.
Thompson lists the following as popular placements: The labret, which normally exits out the middle of the bottom lip but can sometimes do so, is the first thing. The philtrum, often known as Medusa, is located in the middle of the depression under your nostrils.
Types of lip piercings
- From the outside of the mouth to the inside, right below the bottom, a labret piercing is performed. These piercings range in price from $30 to $100 and require six to eight weeks for recovery.
- An Ashley piercing escapes through the back of the lip after passing through the center of the bottom lip. Healing takes between 12 and 16 weeks and costs between $40 and $80.
- The recessed part of the top lip has a Medusa piercing just over the cupid’s bow. Prices start at $40, and recovery takes at least a few months on average.
- Monroe piercing, which bears Marilyn Monroe’s name, consists of a single stud that is positioned directly above the left side of the upper lip. The cost of a Monroe is between $25 and $50, and the healing duration is between six and eight weeks.
- The Madonna piercing is the opposite of the Monroe and consists of a single stud that is positioned just above the right side of the upper lip with cost and healing time being the same.
- Double facial piercings or dahlia piercings are done on either side of the mouth. Dahlia piercings range in price from $20 to $80 and have a lengthy recovery time—from six months to a year.
- The Jestrum piercing comprises an exit point in the top lip and an entry point in the philtrum (the groove between the base of the nose and the upper lip). Prices start at $40, and recovery takes at least a few months on average.
- The frenulum of either the upper lip or the lower lip is punctured and known as a frenulum piercing. Prices start around $30, and recovery times often last between one and three months.
- Cyber bites, Angel bites, Snake bites, Dolphin bites, Shark bites, Spider bites, and canine bites are just a few examples of famous bite piercings. The cost of each of these piercings ranges from $50 to $75, and the recovery period lasts 12 to 16 weeks.
Side effects of lip piercings
There is a high risk of infection because you are working with your mouth, which is full of bacteria. You should also keep both ends of the piercing clean because lip piercings are frequently on the inside of your mouth and on the outside of your skin. After each meal, brush your teeth and rinse with an alcohol-free mouthwash.
While some swelling is common, taking care of the piercing properly will help keep it under control and speed up the healing process. Try to stop smoking if you do. Smoking and drinking will exacerbate inflammation. We’d advise waiting till you can refrain for a few weeks after getting it pierced if you can’t.
Healing Process
Naturally, you’ll need to take extra care to avoid accidentally bumping or moving your jewelry in your new piercing due to the sensitive nature of the location of the piercing. This kind of friction not only delays healing but also adds needless agony.
Be prepared since, depending on your health and how you heal, the healing time for a lip piercing ranges from two to three months.
It might be challenging because you use your mouth for talking, eating, and drinking throughout the day. It takes time to cure a fistula because a tunnel of scar tissue is forming around the jewelry. It takes time because the body must first seal off the outside in order to prevent the growth of bacteria before beginning the internal healing process.
Aftercare
There are crucial actions to follow in order to maintain the region clean and avoid infection after any piercing. To clean the interior of the piercing, rinse with an alcohol-free mouthwash three to five times per day.
These flushes need to occur soon after eating or drinking. Use a sterile saline wound wash, twice daily to irrigate the region around the piercing; a five-second saturation should be sufficient, followed by letting the area air-dry.
Being patient is arguably the most crucial thing to do to promote the healing process. You’ll believe it’s healed once the healing process begins to spread. But because you were unaware that it was still inwardly healing, you stopped giving it attention, which caused it to regress.
In other words, for the first three months, take good care of the region and support your immune system by eating healthfully, staying hydrated, and reducing stress.
FAQs
1: What kind of lip piercing is more prone to infection?
If you have a double piercing, such as a vertical labret or dahlia, you may be more susceptible to contracting an infection. Both holes may or may not be infected, so you should always see your piercer if you witness any inflammation or swelling.
2: Do lip piercings fully heal?
Although it will sting, getting your lip pierced is bearable. The treatment itself will go quickly, as with most body piercings; the main issue will be aftercare. However, if you take care of it for 6-8 weeks, it will indeed heal fully.
3: What is a piercing rejection?
Infections, keloids, and dermatitis are some other piercing issues that don’t occur as frequently as piercing rejection. When rejection does occur, it typically occurs in a body part that is flat. Piercings of the neck, naval, and brow are more likely to be rejected.
Conclusion
Twisting or handling the jewelry might become itchy and swollen. Furthermore, it might bring fresh bacteria into the piercing.
Consider the jewelry to be entirely off-limits for the most part. You ought to only ever touch it to clean it.
It may also be tempting to remove the jewelry, but doing so can be detrimental. So, don’t play with your lip piercings casually. Take care of it and all things will fall into place.
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