Irritation is normal during the healing process of a lip piercing, and even after the initial healing, the piercing can become inflamed or otherwise problematic, such as when you catch your ring on your clothing. The best way to avoid initial difficulties is to choose a professional piercer and follow his aftercare guidelines.
Improper Aftercare
You may experience irritation in and around your lip ring if you do not follow aftercare instructions. Rinsing your mouth with an alcohol-free mouthwash each time you eat, drink or smoke will keep the inside of your lip clean. Using a mouthwash containing alcohol or consuming alcoholic beverages may cause your lip to swell. Though swelling is normal during the first few weeks after a piercing, you will want to keep it minimal. Washing the outside of your lip once or twice a day in the shower will keep your lip ring clean. Use a fragrance-free soap to avoid irritating the piercing channel.
Jewelry Size
During the healing period, a lip ring that is too small to allow for swelling will irritate your piercing and lip. If the lip ring begins to sink into your piercing or cut your lip, the jewelry is too small. Skilled piercers use jewelry that can accommodate swelling. After your piercing heals, you will need to visit your piercer for a smaller ring that will not damage your teeth or gums.
Allergic Reaction
The skin surrounding your lip piercing may experience contact dermatitis from a cleaning agent that you use daily. Allergic reactions are possible if the lip ring is brass or has a high nickel content, according to the Association of Professional Piercers. Wearing implant-grade stainless steel, titanium or niobium jewelry will help you avoid an allergic reaction.
Chewing
Moving your lip jewelry around with your teeth or hands will irritate and enlarge your piercing. Sucking your lip jewelry can also cause irritation. Small rips and tears will occur if you constantly move your lip jewelry. Scar tissue can form around or in the piercing channel. If the piercing channel becomes larger, you will have to replace your jewelry with more expensive, larger-gauge jewelry to prevent it from slipping out.
Infection
Infection is possible in your lip piercing. Touching your piercing with dirty hands, wearing unsanitary jewelry and neglecting to clean the piercing can lead to an infection. Contact with another person's bodily fluids, such as saliva during kissing, can result in a bacterial infection, according to the website piercology.com. An infection in your piercing can lead to an abscess.
