Healing of labret and lip piercing

Healing times for labret and lip piercing vary a lot, according to the individuals and to the area pierced, but let's get it straight, your piercing will never ever be fully healed in a month time. So take it easy, be patient, your body will show you its gratefulness in the end, that's for sure. Is it useful(sure it is) to remind you here that it is crucial to wash your hands carefully every time you touch your piercing or your jewellery, and preferably with a ph neutral soap. Forbid yourself any consumption of alcohol or drugs during the whole of the initial phase, as they would delay the healing process and could cause you recuring and very painful problems. In the same way, refrain from oral sex at the beginning of the healing process. Yes it is very difficult I give you that but you will be transported with even more bliss when the day comes...

There are two phases to body piercing healing. These two phases are essential so make sure you don't forget half of it on the way.

But first a little definition :

Lymph : Clear, watery, sometimes faintly yellowish fluid derived from body tissues that contains white blood cells and circulates throughout the lymphatic system, returning to the venous bloodstream through the thoracic duct. Lymph acts to remove bacteria and certain proteins from the tissues, transport fat from the small intestine, and supply mature lymphocytes to the blood.

Thank you for your time now let's go through the healing phases themselves :

Initial healing : Necessary time so that skin reshapes inside the piercing hole. During this phase the skin "tube" is hard and red, with lymph flows. You will have to give your labret piercing the maximum care you can during this crucial step. We advise you to give yourself mouthwashes, with Hextryl(containing alcohol), or with physiological serum, about two times a day for a maximum of ten days. You can use Paroex(chlorexidine) as well but you will need to consult your chemist respect the doses and limit the treatment to a maximum of 5 days. All these mouthwashes will be done for a relatively short period of time (about 10 days max). Continuing washing your mouth this way for longer would start destroying its flora and would have the opposite effect to the one you are looking for.

Clean the outer aspect of your labret piercing with a ph neutral soap and lukewarm water or with physiological serum for two months, regularly. You can then continue well spaced out mouthwashes, with physilogical serum, but maximum once a week and only if the pain is too strong. Watch carefully over the aspect of your labret piercing and report anything suspicious or worrying to your body piercing studio or to your chemist. For labret and lip piercings, the initial healing phase is of about 2 and a half months on average.

Full healing : : Your labret piercing will only be completely cicatrized (healed) when the skin tube will become white supple and insensitive. It takes from 6 to 9 months. The complete process of healing therefore takes a few months !!!! Your labret or lip piercing will never be healed in a month, even if it seems so!!!! If you have chosen a vertical labret, give it some extra care as vertical labret piercings have one of the longest healing phase.

All the lengths of time talked about here are average lengths and vary a lot according to the individuals. Just know that the outside aspect and look of your body piercing is not a good clue to know if the healing process has ended.

We will never repeat it enough, but report any problem and any worry you could have to your studio and/or to your chemist, and once again, don't forget to wash your hands. Good luck!!!!