I got my lip pierced nearly 2 weeks ago. I started cleaning it with saline solution but it seemed to dry it out, so I stopped that and relied on the mouthwash.
The piercing is doing well now, except the outside is red and dry around the ball. It's not bright red, kind of pink, but enough that people notice.
Anything I can use?
Saline solution does dry out the tissues and we are glad that you have discontinued using it. But it may have done some damage to the piercing.
As the body heals itself, there is some pink around the healing tissues. Think about a scratch and the scab as its healing, do you not see a little pink edge around the scratch? Its the same thing with a piercing, so do not worry.
If you want to help it along, then do a warm water compress for about 10 minutes. Then take a Q-tip and remove any crusties that may have formed. If the tissues look dry or chapped, then take another Q-tip and apply a water based moisturizer (we use St Ives lotion) until absorbed. Do not get it in the piercing, its for the outside skin.
