Saunas have earned their reputation for having both physical and mental healing capabilities. When you undergo a change such as a piercing, you might wonder if you can go into a sauna after your piercing to speed up the healing process. Unfortunately, it doesn’t help.
You should not use the sauna immediately after piercing. The sweat generated during a sauna session is full of bacteria and it infects open wounds very quickly. So it’s best to avoid the sauna when you are healing. Wait for 3 to 4 weeks for the flesh to heal before stepping into a sauna or steam room.
Keep reading to learn about the things to avoid post-piercing and the things your need to do to accelerate the healing of your flesh.
Table of Contents
- Can Sweat, Heat, & Humidity Infect a Piercing?
- Does Sweat Spoil Jewelry?
- How Long to Wait Before Using a Sauna Post-Piercing
- Piercing Aftercare (A Guide)
- Conclusion
Can Sweat, Heat, & Humidity Infect a Piercing?
Not everyone sweats inside a sauna, but most people will break into a pretty intense sweat. Sweat will inevitably make its way toward your piercing, and that sweat could be carrying all kinds of bacteria into the area. This could potentially cause infection, so sweat-inducing activities aren’t recommended after piercings until they’ve completed the healing process.
The humidity and the steam of a sauna can pack a great punch for helping your body heal from some ailments, but there’s no evidence to suggest that humid conditions can help a piercing heal. In fact, the opposite is true. Piercers even advise against hot tubs, swimming pools, and high-temperature baths when waiting for a piercing to heal.
Your sauna might have a stellar reputation for the best cleaning standards, but bacteria still naturally end up in some common touch points of a sauna or steam room. Bacteria love hot environments, and any of that bacteria getting near your piercing while it’s still healing can certainly cause an infection.
Does Sweat Spoil Jewelry?
It’s never a good idea to wear jewelry inside a sauna, not just because it’s a safety concern. All of that heat and sweat could end up muddying up the clarity of your jewelry, causing it to rust and become discolored. Even if you wear high-end jewelry, sweat can still cause it to become dull over time.
In order to avoid having your jewelry get ruined, you shouldn’t wear any of it when you head to the sauna. If you happen to forget, just be sure to give your jewels a good clean and you should be able to reverse the potential impact.
How Long to Wait Before Using a Sauna Post-Piercing
It’s generally recommended you stay out of a sauna or similar environment for four weeks after getting a piercing. You might be able to start enjoying your sauna again after three weeks depending on the type of piercing you’ve received and how quickly your piercing is healing.
Jewelry of any kind is often not allowed in saunas or steam rooms for personal safety. The metals can heat up very intensely and in some cases, cause burns. Piercings shouldn’t be removed or changed before they’ve healed or else the hole may close or become more susceptible to infection.
The important thing to remember is that a piercing is an opening in your body. While it’s one you chose, it can still be classified as an open wound that needs the opportunity to heal properly even though it’ll remain open. Until that appropriate healing is done, the open wound is susceptible to some pretty uncomfortable types of infection when aftercare protocols aren’t followed.
Piercing Aftercare (A Guide)
You have to be very mindful of how to keep a piercing clean to avoid infection. Even though most people will usually shower before and after a sauna session, it’s not adequate to ensure you’re cleaning the pierced area well enough. Your piercing artist should give you a regimented routine to follow based on the piercing you received.
It’s recommended that you clean your piercing once or twice a day at least, using either the cleaning solution you purchased from your piercer or sea salt mixed with boiled water that has cooled down to room temperature. You don’t need harsh chemicals like alcohol and peroxide to clean the jewelry and any pierced areas.
You want to be nice and gentle with a sterile cotton ball soaked in the solution and hold it on the piercing for a few minutes. Afterward, you’ll want to take a clean and sterile cotton swab to remove any excess product. Be sure to monitor the area each day. It’s normal for a little bit of swelling, scabbing, and irritation in the area as it heals.
So long as you do regular cleanings, you can avoid infection. It’s a good idea to check in with your piercer just to make sure your piercing has healed. They’ll be able to give you a better indication as to whether it’s safe to take out your piercing or change it, as well as whether it’s safe for you to start enjoying the sauna once again.
Do’s & Don’ts
Outside of avoiding heat and sweat and keeping the area clean, it’s also encouraged to avoid strenuous activity after getting a piercing. Any friction and rubbing in the area could make it more difficult for the piercing to heal appropriately and could potentially lead to some uncomfortable irritation.
Before you handle your piercing, you want to make sure you’re washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water. You should also wash your hands after cleaning the area. As much as it might be tempting to fiddle around with your new piercing, you should only handle it while you’re cleaning it or making any necessary rotations.
Aftercare may involve a lot of careful steps, but following those instructions to the letter is crucial to living with a healthy piercing. The faster your piercing is able to heal without having to handle an infection, the sooner you can relax inside a sauna once again.
Conclusion
As unfortunate as it might be to skip out on sauna sessions for a few weeks, you should stay clear of them after getting a piercing.
It’s the best decision not only for your new body accessory but for the health of the area that’s just undergone a makeover.
(Featured image by Laker from Pexels)
