Frenum aftercare ?

[hottrodd]

I just got my first and only piercing. *It's a 14 Ga frenum up high near the glans.
I have a good problem I think. *I've only had this piercing for 3 days. *There was no bleeding, no swelling, no bruising, no pain, no crusties. *The barbell moves freely in the piercing. *The only thing I feel is a very slight burning when I soak in sea salt.
I typically heal easily so I'm not to surprised but I just want to make sure *everything is ok. *HOW DO I KNOW IT IS HEALING????? *By the way. I LOVE IT!

[SheepKaboom]

Hi there, and congratulations on your new piercing! *Glad you love it so much!

First of all, of your seasalt soaks - you are using NON-iodized salt, yes? *Iodine is painful firey death to piercings in form of actual salt-burns. *Also, you should be using only a pinch of salt per soak - an eighth of a teaspoon to the whole 8oz of hot water. *Any more than that, and it'll dry your piercing out and might cause the slight burning you're talking about. *Just to double-check.

And you know you're healing if it doesn't start getting bright red, hot to the touch and oozing dark-colored lymph. *Odd, perhaps, that you're not crusting, but everyone heals a bit differently. *Keep up the soaking twice a day for the whole healing period, regardless of how it feels fine: that's a good 8-10 weeks.

Do not touch the piercing with hands that you've not previously washed, and don't let anyone else touch it/touch anyone else with it until it's fully healed. *In the meantime, if it really feels okay, in another month or so (if this is on the agenda) you can try sex with condoms... gently, especially at first, until you get an idea of how healed it feels. *Don't handle the piercing any more than you have to, and if you find yourself brushing up against it while going to the bathroom or the like, wash your hands before doing so.

Even though you're a fast healer, wait the whole healing period before changing the jewelry and keep up with aftercare. *Piercings heal from the outside in, so they always look healed much longer before they really are. *Even if it is actually healed due to your fast healing ability at, oh, seven weeks, what's an extra week in the long run? *Better safe than sorry, with a happy piercing that you can keep for years down the road. *:)

That's a bit more information than you asked for, but I'm with the better-safe-than-sorry crowd. *Stick around and keep us updated on this! *For that matter, head on over to the Introduce Yourself part of the board and do so. **beams a smile*

[iamblackbird]

Welcome!

Try reducing the amount of salt that you have in the water, first off. Some people need to use less salt than others, and you may be in the first group.

Plus, it IS a new piercing, so it's likely that it will be a bit tender, even if there is no sign of redness/swelling/etc, since it IS a puncture wound.

[hottrodd]

Thanks for the info. *Based on what you guys offered and what the piercer told me the only thing I'm doing wrong is perhaps a bit too much salt in my solution. *I fix that.
However, I really DON'T have any problems with it at all and that is what is wierd.
The very slight burning with the salt solution is all. *And it is in deed very slight.
Other than that it feels like it is healed up. *I know it's not yet and I will wait and take care of it as you advise. *I just don't feel like I have anything to guage it by. *If there were some redness or soreness as I expected I could tell that things were improving when it went away.

Thanks for the help. *I'll talk to you guys later on.