It's likely dry because you're using table salt on your piercing. Table salt isn't the same as sea salt so you should discontinue using it. You can buy sea salt spray in a can at the grocery store and it's only around $5. I recommend putting some into a little shot glass and warming it in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Hold the cup over your piercing for three to five minutes and you're done! If you insist on making a mix, it's 1/4 teaspoon on non-iodized sea salt in 8oz (1 cup) of very warm water. Hold the cup over your piercing for three to five minutes then rinse with water afterward. Two to three times a day is best. You can rinse the inside of your mouth with the sea salt mixture too. If you insist on a mouthrinse, anything sugar and alcohol free is best (stay away from Listerine really!) a couple of times a day.

It's important to keep in mind that the piercing is not even a week old. It's normal to experience swelling and soreness during healing. The white is pretty much scar tissue. It happens with fresh oral piercings so don't worry over it too much. Don't pick at it either...it will go away on it's own. Don't move the jewelry back and forth, and try to keep facewash off of it. I would also recommend seeing a piercer in a few days once your swelling as gone down for a jewelry change. A hoop heals fine in a lip, but I'm wondering if that is real titanium or not. I hope this all helps.


Edited by Cale - April/10/2012 at 2:12pm

Thanks for the replies guys, much appreciated. Is there any particular reason not to use Vaseline? I'm a heavy user of that as I get dry lips very frequently.

Your lip looks fine to me, it's just healing still. I would suggest using Saline solution which is a ready made sterile salt water solution which is great for cleaning piercings and body jewellery, it's ready to use straight out of the bottle. you can buy it from any supermarket or pharmacy. Vaseline will stop air getting to the piercing which will cause it to heal much slower than it should, it will also attract dirt to the piercing as vaseline is greasy. I would wait 2-3 weeks before changing the ring to a labret stud but you may need to wait longer, just until it feels right to you. I hope this helps.

Wow what amazing advice guys!!! I too just got my left bottom lip pierced but mines about a month old and was wondering why it wasn't healing very quickly as i heal pretty fast but i'm a chap-stick-a-holic so that answers my question! duh!!!

6 weeks may still be too soon to say your lip piercing has healed.