Guns 2 Roses Warns

Do Not Use The Following Products On Your New Piercing
They will lengthen the healing time and cause problems!

Do not use Alcohol:
Alcohol wipes, Hibiclens (may cause deafness and or blindness), Hibitane. Alcohol’s are an irritant and toxic to new tissue cells forming in the wound and are therefore totally unsuitable for the aftercare of piercings. Products that contain alcohol like Chlorhexidine solutions i.e. Hibiclens, Hibitane etc. should therefore be avoided even if they are diluted.

Triclosan based antibacterial soaps are far safer and more effective.

Do not use Benzalkonium Chloride & Benzethonium Chloride Solutions:
(Containing 0.12% Benzalkonium chloride or 0.13% Benzethonium-chloride). Bactine Earcare, Germinol, Germitol, Pierced Ear Care Solution, No More Ouchies, or Sensitive Ears Solution and other solutions of benzelkonium or benzalthonium-chloride (usually available at stores that perform ear piercing). Can cause sensitivity and prolonged use often causes overly dry or flaking skin. Some products contain isopropyl alcohol that is very irritating. Bactine and No More Ouchies contain lidocaine to which many people are sensitive and can cause allergic reactions.
 

Do Not Use Chlorhexidine Gluconate Solutions:
Include AC 2000, Bacticlens, Hibiclens, Hibiscrub, Hibitane, Savlon, Spectro Gram 2.
Solutions vary in concentration from 2 to 4%. Product inserts for all solutions state intended use only for hand washing and pre-surgical skin antisepsis. Not suitable for piercings as these solutions contain alcohol, which is toxic to the cells that form scar tissue. It also causes irritation and delayed healing. Even in a diluted form it still can cause problems. Triclosan and PCMX based antibacterial solutions are far safer and effective.

Do Not Use Hydrogen Peroxide:
In solution 3%: Provides mechanical cleansing and some debridement of wounds by effervescent action, however, it can cause ulceration of newly formed tissue, and can create Granulomas. It is toxic to fibroblasts, which are vital for wound healing, and therefore should never be used as an aftercare solution for piercings because of the damage it causes the wound even in it’s diluted form.
 

Do Not Use PerOxyl and Gly-Oxide:
Oral cleansing antiseptics contain peroxide or carbamide peroxide may be detrimental towards healing when used for an extended period of time. Use of these products in addition to antiseptic mouthwash is unnecessary. Additionally, the US Food and Drug Administration has declared "oral wound healing agents [including] allantoin and carbamide peroxide in anhydrous glycerin" as "unacceptable" because these products have not been found to be safe and/or effective for treatment of oral wounds; these products have effectively been recalled. See "FDA Medical Bulletin, January 1996, Volume 26 Number 1" at http://www.fda.gov

Do Not Use Iodine Compounds:
Examples: Iodine (tincture of Iodine, weak iodine solution) Iodophors (Betadine, Betaisodina, Braunol, Braunosan H, Disadine DP, Disphex, Efadine, Inadine, Isodine, Proviodine, Traumasept, Videne), Betadine soaps and skin cleansers, and povidone-iodine based liquid soap (Clearly Natural brand).
Iodine solutions have a broad spectrum effectiveness when used on intact skin or relatively clean wounds, but it is toxic to fibroblasts (cells which form scar tissue) in normal dilutions, and has questionable effectiveness in infected wounds. Long-term use of Betadine/ Povidone-Iodine solutions can induce insensitivity to the product as well as allergy. Long-term use has also been known to cause growing skin cells to lyse (over-saturate and rupture) and can result in allergic reactions.

Do Not Use Methylated Spirits:
Too strong to be used as an aftercare solution, can lead to inflammation of the wound, and increase the healing phase.
 

Do Not Use Ointments:
Examples: Vitamin E, Aloe Vera, Betadine ointments, Antibiotic ointments i.e. Neosporin, Neomycin, Polymixin-B, Bacitracin Zinc, etc. Ointments should not be used as they limit air circulation to the piercing, and they can cause Granulomas. Antibiotic ointments should only be used if recommended by a physician. Some people experience allergic side effects that can lead to anaphylactic shock, which is potentially fatal.