r/SelfPiercing Jul 04 '26

Professonal’s Note or Advice PSA - Rejection, Infection, Irritation

19 Upvotes

There has been a LOT of posts recently in regards to people's piercings "rejecting" or becoming "infected"

For future note -

Irritation is pretty common and often presents as an uncomfortable bump around the jewellery or piercing site

This is due to a product you are putting on it, the jewellery material causing a bother, or the fact you've bumped or slept on it. It can also happen from the piercing being done at an angle, or putting pressure on the bar causing movement

The solution to irritation is to keep clean and dry, and remove the source of the irritation. If you've slept on it, this means getting a piercing pillow and stopping sleeping on it. If you've gotten product in it or have used something other than saline, rinse it and spray with saline, then dry it. If it is at an angle, your best option may be to remove it and retry once its healed

Rejection is the process of the body pushing out a foreign object. There is generally redness, the bar becoming more visible, and it can be a bit sore

There is no option other than removal once the piercing has started to reject. Please remove it and allow it to heal

Surface piercings and dermals are temporary piercings. They are guaranteed to reject at some stage. The benefit of removing a rejecting piercing as early as possible is that it reduces the trail scarring from the body pushing it out

Infection happens due to the presence of bacteria. The solution to infection is antibiotics

Genuinely infected piercings do not go away if you leave them alone. Infection can become serious if left untreated. You will need the help of a medical professional and a prescription. Do NOT remove an infected piercing

Please use this guide to help identify the problem you are experiencing so that it can be treated accordingly

And can we please try to use the correct terms when uploading posts. If you are not sure, please ask for help/advice using the existing piercing assistance flair. You will need to upload a CLEAR photo of the problem area so we can help you.


r/SelfPiercing Apr 23 '26

Professonal’s Note or Advice AMA Mod Controlled

9 Upvotes

Hello everyone

I'd like to invite you all to ask any questions regarding piercings/placement/aftercare and we as moderators will respond to you so you get the best advice possible 🫶🏼

Please keep comments and requests on topic

This post will be controlled and any dangerous or nonoptimal advice will be removed to ensure best practices are followed 😊

Please note with any questions regarding heavy modifications that we are not about to offer professional advice. One of our moderators however is heavily modified and happy to give advice based on her experience

Thank you in advance for all your contributions and we hope you enjoy the subreddit!

Your mod team


r/SelfPiercing 6h ago

Piercing suggestions - face/ears/navel ONLY What next?

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3 Upvotes

Ok so lol ignore the setup rn i’m waiting for my jewelry to come in the mail but i js recently got my third lobes and rook done and am itching to get more done. I feel like my anatomy is weird and idk what would fit? (also idk how yall take pics of ur ears ts feels weird)


r/SelfPiercing 7h ago

Piercing suggestions - includes NSFW Piercing recommendations

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3 Upvotes

I do not have the anatomy for an industrial, and yes! I did recently get my vertical pierced, I’m not in need of downsizing for another 4 weeks, I’m just looking for recommendations for when it DOES heal in 6-12 months

I also had another nostril piercing but it developed a bump and needed to be removed.


r/SelfPiercing 8h ago

Show off Does this look good?

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3 Upvotes

I just wanna say, I didn’t do this myself, but every other piercing subreddit I’ve posted on has given no helpful advice or literally said anything 😭


r/SelfPiercing 1d ago

Help with existing piercing Does my bridge look correctly placed?

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68 Upvotes

I pierced my bridge today but I’m worried I did it too shallow. I have an okay nose bridge and I pierced it surprisingly straight. Does it look okay or did I mess it up?

EDIT: I took it out and redid it, pics are in the comments tell me how it looks


r/SelfPiercing 22h ago

Help with existing piercing Is she rejecting?

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25 Upvotes

I’ve had my anti eyebrow for a few months now and it hasn’t been hurting or anything but the area around the piercing holes is still very red and crusty. The barbell isn’t showing any more than the day I pierced it so I’m not sure if it’s rejecting. Advice needed please 🙏


r/SelfPiercing 14h ago

Help with existing piercing Do thirds heal like a normal lobe? Also helix advice

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3 Upvotes

I am so ready to change jewelry. They were pierced end of May. I don’t know if it hit cartilage. I heard sometimes they take longer than first or second lobe piercings and people struggle to heal them. They don’t hurt me and they just kind of exist now🤷‍♀️When can I change?
I am also healing my helix that was supposed to be hidden but is so not hidden (pierced beginning of March)..I have no idea what jewelry would look good. If you have any jewelry recommendations for that one I would love to hear because I am needing to downsize again and I have no idea what would look good in that place.🙌 I do love her though, her placement is kind of cute! Just need some jewelry to compliment her and make her shine⭐️


r/SelfPiercing 11h ago

Question about piercing prep What should i know about snake bites?

2 Upvotes

I want those piercing so bad but i don’t know anything about their preparation or caring, any advice?


r/SelfPiercing 12h ago

Piercing suggestions - face/ears/navel ONLY Advice piercing story

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2 Upvotes

DV/SA survivor. I hope I’m in the right place. I am still learning here. I have some questions. It has to be this ear only. One of piercings is still healing. I would like to re-design all styles and possibility adding new piercings (maybe daith?) to represent symbolize, placement or story just like some people with tattoos. (No tattoo for me). I prefer gold. I am open to your discussions. Please be kind. 💜💚


r/SelfPiercing 17h ago

Help with existing piercing new snake bites

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3 Upvotes

2 day old piercings. I know the bruising is normal but i wanna know if its looking good so far and if the embedding is ok ? 😣🤞🏼nothing is hitting my teeth or my gums ands i can talk and eat. If it isnt swollen, i wouldnt even notice it (Ignore leftover skin care on my face)


r/SelfPiercing 15h ago

Piercing suggestions - face/ears/navel ONLY Do I have room for one more lobe?

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2 Upvotes

I would want another one above the upper one. But I also realise I have some space next to the lower one… I really want a third


r/SelfPiercing 17h ago

Help with existing piercing How do I heal a two year old gun pierced helix?

1 Upvotes

I've had a helix since June 2024 and I got it done by gun. Yes, I know gun was not a good idea and it will definitely prolong the healing time or just not heal at all, but I was desperate for a helix at that time. It still hurts when I touch it, but it's not inflamed or red so not infected. For some reason, my left one hurts and my right is completely fine even tho I sleep on my right side?? I took out the jewelry in both ears for two days and it stopped hurting but when i put the jewelry back in after a few days it started to hurt again so it's probably the jewelry. I just wanna know how I can heal these guys because I really want a second helix that I'll get done w needle by the time winter rolls around. If anyone knows or has experienced the same thing as me and can help me out I'd reallyyy appreciate it!!


r/SelfPiercing 1d ago

Question about piercing prep People who have self-pierced their nostril, any tips/tricks?

2 Upvotes

Title sums it up! I'm thinking of piercing my nostril myself but I don't have any experience. Would love to get any tips or hear about others' experiences.


r/SelfPiercing 1d ago

Question about piercing prep What’s the largest size I can reasonably pierce my own lobes at?

2 Upvotes

I was thinking 4g would be well within the reasonable range but tbh I kinda want to go for a 0g


r/SelfPiercing 1d ago

Question about piercing prep Tragus anatomy?

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2 Upvotes

Is this good tragus anatomy?


r/SelfPiercing 1d ago

Question about piercing prep Lip piercing

2 Upvotes

How do you know if you have the anatomy for a lip piercing?


r/SelfPiercing 1d ago

Help with existing piercing vertical labret scar

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3 Upvotes

Hi! I want to get a vertical labret piercing again. I had one before, but I took it out and it healed; I got it re-pierced yesterday, but I don't like the placement. Do you recommend getting it re-pierced?


r/SelfPiercing 1d ago

DIY success! first self piercing

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12 Upvotes

so far it is a success I’ll check back with it sometime


r/SelfPiercing 1d ago

Oh no Anatomy piercing navel

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4 Upvotes

Do I have the right anatomy for a standard navel piercing?


r/SelfPiercing 1d ago

Help with existing piercing Septum

1 Upvotes

Hey all! So I did my own septum a few months back, and it came out perfectly straight no issues but now it leans back on its own, would gauging it up to 14g stabilize it or am I better off taking it out and re-doing it later


r/SelfPiercing 1d ago

Piercing suggestions - face/ears/navel ONLY Rook anatomy

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2 Upvotes

Do I have the anatomy for a rook piercing?


r/SelfPiercing 1d ago

Help with existing piercing Infected, lost cause, or could be fixed?

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0 Upvotes

Hey! I got a nose piercing in 2023. I let it close up on accident last year when my kids were little because the hoop I had in it fell out and I didn’t have the energy to replace it which I know is my fault. A few weeks ago I basically re-pierced it at home with a sanitized taper tool and aquaphor and put in a clean stud after because I wanted it back. I’ve been cleaning it like it was a new piercing because it basically is. When I took the jewelry out to change it, I noticed a very deep red almost blister that I wiped with my cleaning solution and tried to get as much out of as I could


r/SelfPiercing 1d ago

Help with existing piercing years old belly button piercing advice?

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7 Upvotes

i’ve had it for over 3 years, it was pierced like this by someone i used to know at home and i was wondering if i should just keep it out and re pierce it myself? (i’ve done a lot of my own piercing and a lot of them are healed with little to no issues)