A fresh piercing is always exciting, whether you’re decorating your nose with a septum or adding a little sparkle to your lobes. But any new piercing also comes with the potential for redness, irritation and — let’s be real — “crusties” that can quickly take your excitement down a notch. To find out how to keep your new piercing clean and avoid common healing mishaps, we turned to Cassi Lopez, piecer and founder of So Gold Studios in Brooklyn, New York. Read on for her advice on how to care for your new piercings and keep them clean while you patiently wait for them to heal. 
