Dear Alley is our weekly advice column for pierced, inked, and amazing individuals (and everyone else too!) who might need a nudge in the right direction. Relationships, mods, or whatever, Alley's got you covered :).

Do you have a question for Alley, submit it to DearAlley@bodycandy.com for your chance to get featured!

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!

Dear Alley,

I got my ears pierced ages ago. They have always been uneven. It makes me self conscious so that I don’t wear earrings, even though I would love to.

Is it too late to get them redone or can I even get them redone?

Thanks,

- Ann

Alley: Hi Ann!

Good question. You're definitely not the only pierced person who has crooked piercings, so don't feel alone or self-conscious! On that note, I also understand wanting your mods to look exactly like you had in mind, so don't feel bad about pursuing a new set of piercings that makes you feel comfortable in your own skin.

The good news: I don't think it's too late to get your ears re-pierced! Let me just ask you a few quick questions (because I can't actually see what your ears look like).

Do you know if your ear piercing holes are still open? If they are closed, there's a good chance you can simply get new piercings in a more symmetrical placement with no issues. If your holes are still open, this would be a good opportunity to ask a professional piercer if your anatomy would allow for a new set of piercings.

If by "uneven" you mean that they aren't in the same spot in both ears, remember that you could also keep one earring hole where it's at while you re-pierce the other ear to match. This might be a better option if one of your ears' existing holes doesn't allow for a re-pierce.

Either way, I think your next step is to schedule an in-person consult with a piercer. They'll be best qualified to check out your current ear situation and help you take the next steps toward having symmetrical ears.

Love,

- Alley

Hi Alley,

I've wanted to get my nose pierced for a long time. And did once, but freaked out and took it out and it closed up; don't judge me.

But, I have wanted to get it again but am not sure if it would look good on me. Plus with every piercing place closed right now makes me go back and forth even more.

- Ashley

Alley: Hey Ashley!

I'd never judge anyone for making a decision about their piercings! Remember: your body, your piercings, no questions asked. I've taken out lots of piercings myself (two (2) snake bites, two (2) high nostrils, two (2) cartilage earrings)... It's just part of being a modded individual!

First, why did you take your nose piercing out the first time? You mentioned you "freaked" out - about what? Did you not like the way it looked? Were you self-conscious about what other people thought? Did you just not like the way it felt in your nose? You said you're "not sure if it would look good on you..." But you already know what one would look like in your nose!

Let me assure you that you WILL look good with a nose ring - everyone does! But in your situation, before you move forward with your piercing, you need to make sure you are ready to commit. You are flip-flopping even in your message to me, and for a nose piercing to be successful, you really need to be down for a full year of uninterrupted heal time.

It sounds like you are really indecisive about getting a piercing right now. I think you'll look amazing and you should definitely pursue a nose piercing... But only if you're going to be able to commit to keeping it in. Otherwise, wait until you're feeling a bit more confident!

Love,

- Alley

Dear Alley,

I had gotten my belly button pierced sometime in March of 2018. I thought my belly button would be completely healed by now... Is it normal for pus to still be coming out of it? And how do I know when it’s healed completely?

Thanks,

- Ashley

Alley: Hey Ashley!

Today must be Ashley day - thanks for writing in :)

Since I'm responding to your question in April of 2021, it's been three (3) years since you've gotten your belly pierced. By this time in your piercing journey, you shouldn't still be healing... So let me ask a few clarifying questions.

What do you mean by "pus?" Is it yellowish/greenish and opaque? Or is it a clear-ish crusty discharge. A little bit of clear discharge from your belly button is normal, but full-blown pus can be a sign of infection.

Other signs of infection: redness; chafing or dryness; an increase in size of the piercing site; and/or sharp pain. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it's definitely time to take the thought of an infection seriously.

This might sound like a silly question, but how is your hygiene? Are you showering regularly? Do you have a sterile saline spray on hand to hit your piercing with once per day? The spray will go a long way toward keeping your belly piercing clean.

Ultimately, whenever there's any sign of infection, the best possible thing to do is to consult a piercing professional or a medical professional. They are best qualified to both diagnose an infection and to give you the steps to take to ensure the long-term health of your navel piercing.