Can You Use Bactine To Clean Piercings? Is It Safe To Use?

Last Updated on December 30, 2023

Many of us love piercings and it takes a few minutes to get them on any part of our body.

However, the real challenge comes after the piercing is over and you have to take care of it. 

There is a misconception that Bactine for piercings is the ideal way to keep it clean. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. 

If you want to know more about whether you can use Bactine for piercings, you’re in the right place.

Here is your complete guide to understanding if you can use Bactine for piercings. 

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Contents

Can You Use Bactine To Clean Piercings? 

You must understand that Bactine is a disinfectant and a piercing is a puncture wound on the body. That is why Bactine for piercings is not suitable and it can harm all your healing skin cells and dry out the fistula. Instead, you should be using other alternatives to offer healing to your piercing. 

You can use an antimicrobial soap to clean your piercing instead, but even that must not have any scent.

That is because such products can delay the healing process and cause more damage to your piercing. So, be sure to avoid using Bactine. 

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What Can I Use To Clean My Piercings? 

Because Bactine for piercings is not good, you must find other ways to clean your piercings effectively.

You can clean your piercing with a fragrance-free antimicrobial soap or a saline solution at least once or twice a day. Remember to rinse the soap from the piercing to keep it nice and clean. 

Once you are done, you must clean your piercing with a gentle and disposable tissue or paper towel. Please avoid using a cloth for drying your piercing after cleaning.

That is because the cloth may have germs that will transfer on your piercing or it can get caught on the piercing, which will be difficult to take out. 

What Can I Put On An Infected Piercing? 

No matter how much care you take, there is still a chance that your piercing might become infected.

If that happens, you will need to take the necessary steps to heal your infection. For example, you must pat the infected region dry with clean tissue.

After that, you must apply an over-the-counter antibiotic cream. These include Bacitracin, Neosporin, and many others.

Be sure to follow the directions and apply it to your piercing while moving the jewelry a few times so it does not stick on your skin. 

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Is Tea Tree Oil Good For Piercings? 

While Bactine for piercings is not good, you might be wondering if you can use tea tree oil instead.

Keep in mind that tea tree oil has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic properties that are not good for piercing aftercare. It will delay the initial healing process and will not prevent infection if your piercing is new. 

Besides that, teat tree oil is strong, which is why it can irritate your piercings further.

That is why it is best to avoid tea tree oil for cleaning your piercings too. Its properties will cause more harm than good to your piercing healing and cleanliness. 

Is Alcohol Good For Cleaning Belly Button Piercing? 

Most people use alcohol swabs for cleaning their piercings, but you should avoid this at all costs.

That is because items such as hydrogen peroxide and alcohol can dry out your piercings even further, especially your belly button piercing. It can also irritate the area around your belly. 

The best way to clean your belly button piercing is to wash your hands with an antibacterial soap.

After that, you just dip a cotton swab in some cleaning solution and then wipe it around your belly button and its piercing.

Once you are done, be sure to pat the area dry with a clean paper towel or tissue as a cloth can transfer more germs. 

Can I Use Water To Clean My Piercings? 

Now that we have established you can’t use Bactine for piercings, your best bet is to just clean your piercing with water.

All you have to do is take some water and clean your piercing and the surrounding area with it. However, you must always keep the area dry or moisture can cause problems for your piercing. 

So, once you clean your piercing with water, you can pat the area dry with a clean tissue or paper towel.

If you want the best results, be sure to use warm water to clean your piercings. It will ensure cleanliness and will take care of any germs that might hinder your healing progress.

Jackie Palmer is a Houston-based coin journalist and fashion enthusiast. She joined Jewels Advisor’s content team after years of experience as a content strategist, managing blogs and social channels for local stores. Jackie mostly collects and studies US coins produced during the 20th century and over the years, published hundreds of articles for multiple coin publications.