Whether you’re rocking a fresh septum, a new cartilage stack, or that perfectly curated ear you’ve been manifesting for months, one thing’s for sure — piercings need TLC.
And that TLC? It looks different depending on the season.
At GRIM Studios, we see piercing clients year-round, and we’ve learned that summer and winter healing challenges are basically opposites — but equally sneaky. Here’s how to keep your piercings happy, healthy, and Instagram-ready in any weather.
☀️ Summer Piercing Care
Summer is all iced coffee, sweaty nights, and rooftop patios — which is great for your social life, not always great for your piercings.
Watch Out For:
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Sweat & Bacteria → Heat + sweat = prime environment for bacteria.
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Swimming → Pools, lakes, and oceans are germy no matter how clear they look.
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Sunscreen & Makeup Build-Up → Great for your skin, irritating for piercings if it seeps in.
Summer Piercing Tips:
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Clean Gently, More Often — Twice a day is your baseline, but after workouts or sweaty days, a quick rinse with sterile saline can help.
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Avoid Submerging in Water — Sorry, no underwater TikTok shoots with your fresh piercing. Chlorine and lake water can irritate healing tissue.
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Stay Sun-Smart — Apply sunscreen around the piercing, not directly on the healing tissue.
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Loose, Breathable Clothing — If your piercing is in an area covered by fabric, avoid tight, sweaty clothes that trap bacteria.
❄️ Winter Piercing Care
Winter brings chunky scarves, dry air, and the constant battle between “I want to be cozy” and “my piercing is snagging on literally everything I own.”
Watch Out For:
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Dryness & Cracking → Cold, dry air can slow healing and cause irritation.
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Snags from Scarves, Hats, or Sweaters → Clothing fibers love to catch on jewelry.
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Sudden Temperature Changes → Going from freezing winds to heated indoors can stress healing tissue.
Winter Piercing Tips:
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Humidify Your Space — A small room humidifier can prevent dryness that makes piercings itchy or sore.
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Be Scarf-Smart — Choose smooth fabrics and wrap them loosely to avoid catching jewelry.
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Moisture, But Make It Safe — Use a gentle saline spray to keep the piercing hydrated — avoid lotions or oils unless fully healed.
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Layer Thoughtfully — If you have healing piercings in your ears, try earmuffs or a headband instead of a hat that might pull on jewelry.
Year-Round Golden Rules
No matter the season, these never change:
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Hands Off → Don’t twist, spin, or fiddle with healing jewelry.
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Stick to Sterile Saline → No alcohol, peroxide, or harsh cleaners.
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Be Patient → Healing takes months, not weeks. Even if it “looks fine,” it’s still vulnerable.
Your piercings are living body mods — not metal accessories you can just swap out whenever. Treat them with respect, keep them clean, and adapt your care to the season.
