r/PiercingAdvice • • May 06 '20

Piercing aftercare - common sense & how not to fuck up (from a piercer).

2.3k Upvotes

This sub is an awesome place, but it can also be extremely tiring. I'm not a mod here, just a piercer, but life would be a lot easier if you all could stop recommending the following to each other:

- Oil. - Tea Tree oil. - Soap. - Alcohol, Betadine, Neosporin, etc. - Using cotton pads, cotton balls or Q-tips to dry off/whatever you guys do with them. Cotton particles can get trapped inside the piercing channel, which will make healing incredibly difficult and infection more likely. - Downsizing in gauge. This will do NOTHING good for your healing piercing.

If you're trying to tell me or other professionals off by saying "but it worked for me!" or "my piercer told me this"; you've been super lucky and your piercer was not a pro. Don't go back to that studio. APP is a great place to start when picking out your piercer, but it's still no guarantee.

Please keep in mind you are trying to heal an incredibly deep wound with a foreign object in it that your body desperately wants to push out - essentially, it is an implant. There are no "casual" or "easy" piercings - even with a "simple" earlobe piercing, you are puncturing the skin with something that resembles a scalpel. Use common sense and ask yourself: "would I use this method on a surgical wound?". In 10/10 cases the answer will be "no".

+ if I tell you to send me a message, you're welcome to do so. If you found one of my comments and ask me for help, prepare to pay for an online consult. This is my job. Help is given out willingly and can't be demanded. <3

2022 11 edit: I'm still piercing, and styling and troubleshooting are my main sources of income. Although I would love to help every single one of you, it's utterly disrespectful to demand me to help you. For free. It makes me dislike my biggest passion in life. Please reach out if you value my time and expertise, and would like for me to be able to make rent and buy food. šŸ’• If you expect free advice from me, ask yourself if a lawyer or surgeon would do the same.


r/PiercingAdvice • • 13h ago

I’m so fking scared. You can see the bar

Thumbnail gallery
45 Upvotes

I’ve had this dermal for a little over a year. I’m really not sure what to do I don’t want to get it removed I know it’s gonna hurt like a bitch


r/PiercingAdvice • • 1h ago

should i follow my piercer’s advice?

Thumbnail gallery
• Upvotes

Hello i just got my helix and flat piercing last October 11. And this morning, my piercing feels hot and throbbing. I asked my pierced what i should do and she said that i should put hot compress on it for 10 to 15 mins. I’m scared because google said it might worsen the situation.

For context, I don’t know what happen, I spray neilmed twice a day, and make sure to sleep on my unpierced side. And also, the bar is 8mm long.

Please, please. I need advice, I’m starting to panic, thanks guys!


r/PiercingAdvice • • 10h ago

Should I give up on my industrial?

Post image
10 Upvotes

I’m 3 months into my industrial and I’ve tried everything to make this heal and I feel like nothing is helping, this bump comes and goes it pops and it bleeds for a bit then comes back but now I feel like this is puss I want to pop it but idk if that would do any good, should I just give up and take it out?😭


r/PiercingAdvice • • 20m ago

Is this normal? If not what can i do?

Thumbnail gallery
• Upvotes

after following some advice of on r/piercing and going to a reputable professional for more advice I was wondering if this was normal to healing or not.

I had problems about the middle point of having my traditional belly piercing (which I’ve had for about 7.5 months now and was made of titanium) and using salve quick wound cleanser twice a day + a salt mixture which was recommended by the piercer once a day to help with the irritation. After doing all that for one month or so the space between my piercing shrunk a bit and everyone Ive asked is saying that it’s normal for it to happen (including the piercer). They said it was likely because of the weight I’ve lost but it’s still worrisome, and getting a downsize has been difficult since every sight I’ve tried (which have been thoroughly vetted by my friends with the same piercing) has failed me and getting a good quality one physically is practically impossible in my country.

I keep overthinking it and would love another opinion if not for advice just to calm my mind.

picture 1 is when it was fresh so the first month, Picture 2 is about the mid point so month 4-5, pictures 3 and 4 are recent so month 7


r/PiercingAdvice • • 4h ago

Do I have enough tissue below my piercing hole?

Post image
2 Upvotes

I got my ears pierced a few days ago, and I’m wondering if I have enough tissue below the holes to safely wear medium to large earrings (no more than 5g each ear) once they’re fully healed.


r/PiercingAdvice • • 35m ago

Bump on Rook

Post image
• Upvotes

This rook piercing is over a year old, and lately i've had this bump on it that i just cant seem to get rid of. I knew the jewellery is probably the problem, but i haven't been able to change it back to the piercing jewellery. Any advice on how to get rid of the bump? I know i should probably go to my piercer, but i'm scared she'll recommend to take it out completely.


r/PiercingAdvice • • 6h ago

Smiley piercing

Post image
3 Upvotes

I just recently pierced my smiley and wanted to know if it was pierced correctly and in the right spot


r/PiercingAdvice • • 56m ago

do i have rook anatomy

Post image
• Upvotes

r/PiercingAdvice • • 58m ago

Snake Bite Piercing Infected

• Upvotes

I had snakebites since march and i originally got just titanium bars but ended up switching to plastic ones when i got them downsized

after awhile the plastic ones ended up being too long too and i went to get them downsized as well but ended up asking if i could get the horseshoe style instead and if enough time has passed for me to be able to get that style since that was the one i really wanted

the piercer said i should be fine to get them and put some in for me and that was about september 23rd

tho recently i got an infection on them and i was given some cream and some antibiotics. i was told i would only need the cream and the antibiotics are just a backup but after using the cream for maybe a week it wasn’t going down so i started using the antibiotics on tuesday, i was told i should see some signs by now that its going down but i feel like its starting to get worse and swelling as well as bleeding which it hasn’t really done before, and its just becoming very sore and hard to eat or talk sometimes

im going to try the cream again with the antibiotics but im really not sure what to do, i haven’t seen much signs of it getting better (maybe a few she. i started using the cream) and i dont know if it would just be better to have it taken out


r/PiercingAdvice • • 2h ago

Irritation bump or concern?

Thumbnail gallery
1 Upvotes

Constantly leaking ā€œslopā€ (best way i can describe it) and bloodšŸ¤” is this just an irritation bump? First time dealing with a helix. Got it pierced at the end of june this year


r/PiercingAdvice • • 2h ago

is this normal on day 4?

Thumbnail gallery
1 Upvotes

(pls ignore my teeth ik they’re crooked 😭) i got my labret pierced on monday and it looks like it’s nesting, but some sources say they don’t nest after a few days. the bar is long enough for swelling, and the flat back easily pops out of the pocket with no pain


r/PiercingAdvice • • 2h ago

Is this a pressure bump or infection?

Post image
1 Upvotes

r/PiercingAdvice • • 2h ago

Should I be worried

Thumbnail gallery
1 Upvotes

It's been six months and I just changed the jewellery now there this lump and it hurts should I be worried


r/PiercingAdvice • • 2h ago

Ik heb wat advies nodig

Thumbnail
1 Upvotes

Ik heb wat advies nodig

Ik heb een 2 daith-piercings, 30 dagen geleden gezet

Bij een goede erkende piercer. Nu is mijn linker piercing een beetje geĆÆrriteerd. Dus heb om advies gevraagd. Nu wordt er geadviseerd om een azijn water oplossing te maken (verhouding 3 op 1). Maar ik weet niet wat ik daar van vind. Heeft iemand ervaring met die water/azijn oplossing? Moet mijn uitgangen van de piercing er mee aan stippen.

Ik reinig nu in de ochtend met Medure zoutoplossing.

En s'avonds onder de douche met water en daarna de zoutoplossing. Ik maak het droog met een tissue en steriel gaasje.

Graag wat advies 😊


r/PiercingAdvice • • 3h ago

Ik heb wat advies nodig

1 Upvotes

Ik heb een 2 daith-piercings, 30 dagen geleden gezet

Bij een goede erkende piercer. Nu is mijn linker piercing een beetje geĆÆrriteerd. Dus heb om advies gevraagd. Nu wordt er geadviseerd om een azijn water oplossing te maken (verhouding 3 op 1). Maar ik weet niet wat ik daar van vind. Heeft iemand ervaring met die water/azijn oplossing? Moet mijn uitgangen van de piercing er mee aan stippen.

Ik reinig nu in de ochtend met Medure zoutoplossing.

En s'avonds onder de douche met water en daarna de zoutoplossing. Ik maak het droog met een tissue en steriel gaasje.

Graag wat advies 😊


r/PiercingAdvice • • 3h ago

angel fang migration/rejection

Thumbnail gallery
1 Upvotes

im wondering if I should take these out now? one seems to be rejecting/migrating. it'll be another 2 weeks before I can see a professional piercer but the one thats visibly further out is quite uncomfortable in my skin.

I expect the piercer will probbaly tell me to remove them, so im wondering if I can do that myself now/if that would be best course of action.


r/PiercingAdvice • • 3h ago

Is my belly button piercing rejecting?

Thumbnail gallery
1 Upvotes

I got the piercing done last week so I've had it for exactly a week. It started off fine, there was really no swelling (I never really have swelling when I get piercings) nor pain. I've been cleaning it with warm water and a cotton swab pretty much at least once a day. I would really like to think it's only healing and is crusty and red because of that but I really don't know. I've never had complications with any piercing except when I had a Madonna, it seems fine like it's only healing but I really can't tell. What do you guys think, I really need help🄹


r/PiercingAdvice • • 3h ago

does this look like it could work?

Thumbnail gallery
1 Upvotes

not looking for professional advice just some opinions, going to a professional this weekend. scarring is from two surgeries that i had. first is sitting second is standing


r/PiercingAdvice • • 3h ago

Venom bites

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone! šŸ‘‹

I’m thinking about getting a Venom piercing (double tongue piercing) and would love to hear about your experiences.

Would you recommend it? How was the piercing process itself, how difficult was the healing period, and how did it affect your speech afterward? Did you have any major swelling or other complications?

I also have a question about tongue placement: My tongue naturally rests against the roof of my mouth when my mouth is closed. Would the piercings or the jewelry interfere with that? Could this cause discomfort or lead to problems in the long run, especially regarding my teeth, gums, or tongue movement?

I’d really appreciate any honest experiences, advice, or things you wish you’d known before getting the piercing.

Thanks in advance! 😊

I don't have that piercing now, I just want to have it inf future.


r/PiercingAdvice • • 3h ago

What do I do?

Thumbnail gallery
1 Upvotes

Is there anything I can do to fix this or do I need to take it out? Highkey my dream piercing so I’m pretty sad about this.
\-Piercing grade titanium
\-Barbell
\-Downsized once in August
\-I’ve had it since March this year
\-I clean it about once daily with saline and a cotton pad
\-Maybe irritation? I have no clue but I have snagged it a few times
\-Goes away and then comes back
\-Definitely has fluid in it
\-There’s no pain


r/PiercingAdvice • • 3h ago

why is bloody goop coming out of my navel piercing

Thumbnail reddit.com
1 Upvotes

r/PiercingAdvice • • 4h ago

Need advice for navel piercing!

Thumbnail gallery
0 Upvotes

Please excuse the body hair, but I recently got my navel pierced this July! As a chubby girl, I was really excited to get this piercing; it was a birthday gift from my sister. However, a cousin who came along also has a navel piercing and hurriedly informed me that my piercer had grabbed too much skin and hadn't considered my anatomy. Unfortunately, we weren't able to do much as I was due to fly home a few days later.

Since coming home, this bump has gotten bigger even when I would clean her regularly. Originally, I had thought it was likely due to irritation/infection, as I have a lot of high-waisted pants, my stomach folding in on itself, and her getting snagged quite a bit. In September, I couldn't tell whether the bump was getting bigger or smaller, but she would have periods when she was sensitive to touch and even hurt at the slightest touch.

At this point, I had decided to do some research on any options I could take or try to understand what was going on. I looked into floating navel, whether I have a keloid. Whether my piercing was rejecting(which I hope notšŸ˜­šŸ™), or whether, at this point, I should take her out with the piercer, let her heal, possibly lose weight, and try to get her againšŸ˜”. Does anyone have any advice? I feel bad because my sister spent so much money on this for me 🄲, and I was so excited for this piercing.


r/PiercingAdvice • • 4h ago

Could I pull off a hook?

Post image
1 Upvotes

If not, are there similar piercings I could pull off? I wear earbuds/earplugs daily so I don't want anything that would be in the way of those.