Q: So, I love piercings but the always seem to get infected no matter what. I follow the rules and guidelines. I recently got a conch piercing but its infected now and has a bump on it. Any advice on how to help it heal? Or should I take it out? - Adryanna
A: First of all, the recommended aftercare routine consists of sterile saline spray. That’s it. Clean your piercing with it twice a day and don’t put anything else on it. The spray should just contain sterile saline and no other ingredients. Do not apply ointments, cotton swabs, tea tree oil, aspirin, or a cold tea bag. That alone might be part of the issue. Secondly, the best jewelry for a new conch piercing is a labret stud and it should be ASTM F-136 titanium. If your jewelry is anything else, that could also be causing the bump particularly if the jewelry is circular or of poorer quality. The third most common reason for a bump is an angle problem. If the bump is only on one side of the jewelry (top instead of bottom, left but not right) you may have been pierced at a bad angle which is causing the jewelry to press against your ear on one side. Piercings with this issue cannot always be saved and may have to be removed. That said, if you are showing signs of infection, do not remove the jewelry. Signs of infection include pus, warmth, swelling, and darkening of the skin. If you do have these, seek medical attention and leave the jewelry in. Removing it while the piercing is infected can leave the infection trapped in the skin. If you are not showing these signs, your piercing may simply be angry and irritated but not infected. Your best bet is to visit an APP certified piercer and find out exactly what is going on. Also, make sure you’re not sleeping on your piercing, as this can cause irritation. If you do tend to sleep on that ear, a travel pillow will allow you to sleep comfortably with nothing touching your ear. Best of luck!
Q: One of my favorite piercings is a double nostril, and the one thing I'd love is that they're pretty much even and equal to each other. But I've been to two different piercers and they both managed to make it come out slightly uneven each time. I just got it redone, and the piercer marked it in the perfect spot, but they pierced higher than what I thought they would. So, my question is am I just being too picky in wanting (as close as possible) complete evenness, or should I just accept it and move on to new piercings? - Skylou
A: At the end of the day, it is your face and your body. The question is more of how much the asymmetry bothers you. If you are okay with the way it looks, then there’s no reason to change it. But if you’re really set on having perfect symmetry (which is fair and not at all an unreasonable request) then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t get what you want. One tip, when they are marking the spot where the piercing will go, make sure you stand straight and hold your head straight. Sometimes we do things like slouch a bit or cock our heads ever so slightly, which makes it extremely difficult for the piercer to make it perfect. That said, a good piercer will take as much time as needed to give you the piercing you want. If you decide to get re-pierced, make sure you look at portfolios, ask around on social media, and make sure to really look at that purple dot before you allow the piercer to proceed. It’s your body and you have the right to do with it as you see fit and to have the look that you’re after. Happy piercing!
Disclaimer: Body Candy is only here to give you fun and helpful advice and information when it comes to getting pierced. Always consult a professional piercer to make sure a new piercing is right for you!
