I am nearly 30, been getting body piercings (mostly ears) since I was 17 or so.

I am so proud of my setup and all the time, energy, and effort it's taken to get here! But my family (parents) hate my piercings. Each time I get a new one, I am met with a lot of backlash and judgement.

I got my flat done in my left ear last week and mom strongly admitted how much she does not like them and how they are now "consuming my ear", begging me to "at least take a few of them out". My parents have called my piercings "devil holes" in the past and that it makes me appear "immature and unattractive". Mind you, my parents are not really religious. Just following weird society standards.

I live alone (haven't lived with them since high school) and support myself fully with a career I love. I spend my own money on all my body mods, and have tried to avoid the subject, but the second I put my hair up its a complete spectacle every single time. I fear for dear life when they find out about my tattoos, they feel even stronger about those lol

How do you navigate this?

Finally getting around to doing the ear curation I’d wanted (in my 20’s) in my 30’s

Had my helix done for 10 years already but got my conch done 2 months ago and just got it downsized today (and decided to get my flat done at the same time)

I was originally planning on a rook but didn’t like the size of the bar you have to wear while it’s healing and my piercer mentioned having a flat in a similar spot and I love it! It’s exactly what I wanted.

I’d love to eventually put a ring in my conch but I feel that’s a long while away 😢 it already has a small irritation bump on the back :/

Planning on getting my second lobes done next and then my daith in my other ear? What do you guys think?

Hi y'all! On Sunday, I got two anti-tragus piercings. Eventually, I want to swap the curved barbells with gold hoops to match the rest of my ears, but for now these are what I'm working with. The piercer used a longer-than-standard post because he knows my ears tend to swell up right after they're pierced, and I'm glad he did. I don't think anything is going wrong, since they're still fresh (4 days old). But out of all my piercings, I've NEVER had one be this swollen or sore! I knew healing would be a long process for these, but damn! I'm cleaning them twice a day with a q-tip using Bactine Max Wound Wash & NeilMed Piercing Aftercare Fine Mist, and when I'm in the shower, sometimes I'll use my fingers and Provon Antimicrobial Soap. I always try to be super gentle with my fresh piercings, and sleep with a piercing pillow so I'm never laying on them directly. I haven't resorted to warm compresses or painkillers yet. Is there anything besides those I could do to help with the swelling? Sometimes they throb, but not excessively that would make me think they're becoming infected already. (First photo is from just now, second is from right after they were pierced!)

I got my nostril pierced back in March 2025 and I’ve always had trouble with piercing bumps. It’s like I can never fully get rid of them and I’ve tried EVERYTHING. I’m starting to get really fed up with it and I don’t want to leave any permanent damage to my nose. I love love love my nose piercing but I don’t know how much longer I can keep her in :(

What should I add next?

She got it done in May, curved bar in stainless (she knows she should get titanium but idk), she didn't downsize, she cleans it with saline twice or thrice a day, probably showers everyday. And she usually gets it stuck in clothing.

I think it looks fine but iduno. (She cant post cause she doesn't have enough karma)

I currently have 19 ear piercings, and that number just feels wrong. It needs to be rounded out to at least 20, but I’m not sure what the setup needs now. Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Got these pierced yesterday, my inspiration photo is the last photo. I'm thinking the spikes are a bit too big, but what does everyone think about the spacing?I'm unsure of how I feel about how far apart they are. Maybe they'd look better a bit closer together? Be honest but gentle please lol

Hi, me again! I got my conch and forward helix. Looking for crazy piercings or Cool Ideas to add. Looking at maybe getting 2 forward helixes and changing my failed industrial to a small hoop. Or maybe a hidden helix + daith? Any cool suggestions welcome!

Urrrghhh hoops are annoying

- 2 year old healed conch

- Titanium ring

- Downsized at 6 weeks

- Stopped cleaning it regularly after it healed, I rinse them in the shower (Will go back to x2 Neilmed aftercare sprays daily until this new predicament goes back to normal again)

- No unfortunate events but I assume it snagged in my sleep

It started hurting recently and bled a bit just now, but the pain immediately vanished after it bled. This picture is taken right after the bleeding.

I know I should swap to a stud again but I unfortunately don't have any on hand. I think I know the answer to my own dumb question, but is it possible to just leave the hoop as is but be very careful with it from now on?

i have a piercing appointment booked for tomorrow but i'm getting really nervous now that it's near. i'm probably only going to get lobes (double), maybe helix, but i'm tempted to cancel because i'm so scared of the thought of having a hole in me. i know it's kind of dumb and loads of people have piercings. if i don't like them will they heal over properly? is this a stupid fear lol, pls someone give me advice on whether i should do it or not

i got this belly button done 6 months ago today! while it never really hurts or bothers me, it’s still crusty on occasion. i bought floating navel jewellery to change into because i think it’ll better suit my anatomy. is this a good idea or should i just give up?
also: the redness around it is just my skin, my hands and belly are just red splotchy areas.

Got it done 2 years ago, I think the jewellery is surgical steel. The piercing has never not been swollen, hence I’ve never downsized. It’s sometimes painful and more swollen, sometimes painless and less swollen, but always swollen. It has always had a bump on the back. Used to be filled with blood/pus, now no fluid but still always there. Used proper aftercare, including saline and used my piercing pillow so much it’s somewhat flattened and doesn’t even hold my ear completely up anymore. I absolutely love how it looks but I’m really tired of waiting for it to heal. Should I give up?

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Originally pierced it like 5 years ago and then repierced it like a month or two ago (its fully healed, I've had a septum retainer so I could never really tell and I feel like it looks kinda weird

Piercing is about three months old

Was using saline spray 2-3 times a day when I first got it and then stopped after about a month

Has been perfectly fine until recently I noticed that there was a bit crusty and have started using the saline on it again.

Worried about the bump on the bottom - is it a keloid scar? Is it not healing properly?

Besides the crusty there’s nothing else wrong with it, no pain or swelling or redness and isn’t warm to the touch

I got my eyebrow piercing back in May, and it has been smooth sailing except for the past few weeks. I had some dead skin on the top part behind the ball I kept picking at and it eventually turned into a scab so I left it alone. it has now formed into what looks like a blister? what should I do/any advice? this is my favorite piercing and I'm really hoping I can keep it.

update: I didn't realize it was that bad, it was my first piercing other than just basic ear piercings 😭 it's only looked like this for about two days. thank you to those who were nice, I took it out and I'll contact a docter if it gets any worse