How to Clean an Eyebrow Piercing

Medically reviewed by Sarah Gehrke, RN, MS

Last Updated: January 24, 2023 References

An eyebrow piercing requires regular cleaning to prevent infection. To clean your piercing, wash it regularly with the spray provided by your piercer. Treat crust with a sea salt solution. Keep your piercing clean during daily activities, like showering. Make sure to take precautions, such as avoiding pools, to keep your piercing from becoming infected.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Washing Your Piercing Regularly

1
Wash your hands before cleaning your piercing. Never attempt to clean a piercing without washing your hands first. Bacteria from your hands can easily rub off onto the piercing, so wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before beginning the cleaning process.^{[1]
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- Wash your hands with clean, running water and soap for 20 seconds. To keep track of time, hum the "Happy Birthday" song to yourself twice.^{[2]
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  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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- Make sure to wash your hands completely. Do not forget to wash under your fingernails, between your fingers, and the backs of your hands.
2
Use mainly the aftercare spray provided by your piercer. Your piercer should provide you with an aftercare spray used to clean your piercing. For most sprays, you only need to mist them on your piercing three to six times a day. This minimizes the need to touch the area around your piercing, which can increase your risk for an infection.^{[3]
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- If your piercer did not provide you with an aftercare spray, buy one online or from another piercer in the area.
- Use your spray as instructed on the bottle or by your piercer. If you have any questions about the spray, call your piercer.
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3
Treat crust with a sea salt solution. Crust sometimes builds up around an eyebrow piercing. This should be removed promptly to prevent infection. A simple sea salt solution is used to remove salt.^{[4]
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- Dissolve a quarter cup of sea salt in a cup of warm water. Then, soak a cotton ball in the solution.^{[5]
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- Place the cotton ball over your piercing. Hold it in place for two to three minutes. This should dissolve any crust built up around the piercing.
4
Keep soap away from your piercing. Soap is not a good option to clean an eyebrow piercing. It can cause irritation, especially when a piercing is fresh. Stick to sea salt and the cleaner your piercing provided.^{[6]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Keeping Your Piercing Clean During Your Daily Routine

1
Keep soap and shampoo away from your piercing in the shower. Be extra cautious during your regular shower routine. Minimize using soap and shampoo near your face. Getting these products in your eyebrow piercing can cause irritation.
- When shampooing your hair, it can help to tilt your head back while applying the shampoo. Leave your head tilted backwards throughout the entire shampooing process to keep shampoo away from your piercing.
- Wash your face with gentle face wash and avoid getting it on your eyebrow piercing. Facial cleansing wipes are also a good option.
2
Do not get moisturizers or makeup in the piercing. If you use makeup or facial moisturizers, do not apply them near the piercing. These products can irritate or contaminate a piercing. Makeup brushes also may contain bacteria, so applying makeup near your piercing poses a risk.^{[7]
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- Try taking a break from makeup for a few days after getting your eyebrow pierced.
3
Keep the piercing clean while sleeping. Keep all bedding clean, especially pillows, while the piercing is new. Change your sheets more often than normal as your piercing heals. For the most part, sleep on the opposite side of the piercing to prevent contamination.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Avoiding Infecting Your Piercing

1
Practice basic self-care. The best way to keep your piercing from becoming infected is to build up your own immune system. A basic healthy lifestyle is the best offense to prevent an infection. Eat a healthy diet and get enough sleep while your piercing is healing. This will help your body fight off potential infections.^{[8]
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2
Leave the jewelry in place for the first six months. Do not remove your piercing prematurely. This can cause an infection. Leave the piercing in place for the first six months before changing out your jewelry.
- In the event you notice an infection, do not remove the jewelry on your own. While this may seem like it makes sense, it can make an infection worse. First, call your doctor to get treated for the possible infection. If it's necessary to remove the piercing, contact your piercer and have them do so.
3
Stay away from swimming pools. Do not go swimming in a pool or lake while the piercing is healing. Bodies of water contain a lot of bacteria. Your piercing will be extra susceptible to bacteria while it's healing. ^{[9]
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4
Avoid nicotine and alcohol. Nicotine and alcohol lower your immune system. This lessens your body's natural ability to fight infections. While your piercing is healing, limit your use of alcohol and nicotine products.^{[10]
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