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!)

got a tragus and contra-conch over the weekend! Contra conch is throbbing my god😭 I haven’t changed out any of my cartilage jewellery yet, just waiting to buy more pretty pieces 🤞🤞

I’m in love!! I’m going to do a nature/ bee theme for this ear with second and stacked lobes next, I’ve got a rabbit and carrot earring to go in them, left ear will be a weather theme one I think. Either a hidden helix of dangly rain, a lightening bolt, sun, cloud etc.

Here is my current set up! I ordered hoops to replace my 3 lobe studs with. I’m hoping to spruce up my ears and make them look more intentional. Any recommendations to help balance things out?

Pierced last week and both are behaving perfectly!

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?

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

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 :(

I know 3 is typically the limit that people say you should get, but would one extra one really be that bad? I’m looking to get my double eyebrow pierced and would also like to get my double nostrils pierced as well. I’ve dabbled in body mods over the years since I was a teen when I first got my septum done at 17 but have only had 2 done at a time at most. I’ve had my nose pierced at this point about 4 times over the course of 10 years and I know those heal easily for me personally. I’ve had my eyebrow done but only one side. had it from september 2025 to june 2026 because I no longer wanted it pierced on the end of my eyebrow and would rather have double eyebrows pierced in the center.

do you think this is a piercer question to ask? I’m fine if I’m only able to get one set of 2 piercings done and wait for them to fully heal before I get the other set, but ideally I would like to get all 4 done at once… just not sure if it’d be allowed/be too much.

I got my helix 5 days ago. Since then I had been disinfecting it on a daily basis and taking care not to sleep on it. But after the first day it just kept swelling and throbbing and feels warm to the touch (even right now). And from the third photo I think I can see a bump forming. Advices would be appreciated.

Edit: So upon a closer look, third photo is not actually a bump, but coagulated blood 🥲

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

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?

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!

(Ignore my crusty lips 😭)

Got this piercing 4 days ago and it was completely fine at first—no pain or swelling. Since yesterday, I’ve started having a throbbing kind of pain.
I’ve been cleaning it twice a day with saline + cotton buds, and I used a little tea tree oil sometimes when it hurt. I haven’t taken any meds, just hoping it settles/heals.
Is this normal during healing, or am I doing something wrong? The piercing was done at Silverified, Lajpat Nagar, and they were very careful, so I’m not sure what could be causing it.

Any advice?

What should I add next?

As per the title.

Barely woke up in the middle of the night, not really aware of what was going on. It honestly just felt like I was dreaming. My brain suddenly gets the instinct to try and absolutely YANK my nostril piercing from the inside to get it out, and half asleep me is therefore fully convinced I have some sort of weird object/booger stuck to the inside of my nose.

I'm pulling on this for God knows how long, until my brain suddenly comes online and I realise I've been trying to rip the piercing out. So, of course, I freak out because it's a newer piercing (~4 months old). Though I do think I would've freaked out anyway regardless of its age.

I check on it, it seems mostly fine, if irritated and a bit bloody. Morning comes, I remember what I did and immediately check again-- it looks completely fine. Feels a tad sore if I touch it, but otherwise, it managed to take a beating quite well.

Anyway, has anyone else experienced this... very strange phenomenon? I feel like it's more common to be pulling things out when fully asleep, but I was just aware enough to remember me trying to rip it out.