Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Piercings

Body piercings are becoming more and more popular in today’s society. Whether it’s a simple lobe piercing, a nose ring, or a daith piercings, piercings are being seen, and accepted, more frequently. Which is a good thing especially seeing as how in 2015 alone, about 14% of Americans have piercings other than on their earlobes. But if you’re new to piercings or are adventuring into body piercings, you may have a few questions. So let’s take a look at a few frequently asked questions about piercings.

Can piercings become infected? Unfortunately, piercings can absolutely become infected. This is why following proper aftercare instructions is so important. During the initial healing process, the piercing is sealed — this is when the chance of infection is reduced immensely. But there are other factors that may increase the chance of infection, like lack of proper care and getting pierced in an unclean tattoo and piercing shop. So watch for signs of infection, like redness, discoloration, and swelling.

When can the jewelry be taken out or changed? After a piercing has passed the initial stage of healing and is sealed properly, then the jewelry can be taken out. However, it’s important to only leave the jewelry out for short periods of time. This is because the complete healing process can take a few years to complete, which means the hole can close if jewelry is left out for too long. And if the jewelry has to be forced back in, that could lead to problems. So if you do remove the jewelry, make sure to replace it fairly quickly.

How painful are piercings? Most of the time, getting pierced isn’t a pain-free process. But the level of pain will depend on a few factors. First, some people can simply handle pain better than others and won’t experience as much pain. Second, different piercings will hurt more than others — daith piercings, cartilage piercings, and getting a nose ring will all hurt more than a lobe piercing because they have thicker and tougher skin and cartilage to go through. But all in all, piercings are quick and won’t hurt for very long.

Piercings can be a fun way to express yourself. So as long as you go to a reputable piercer and take care of your new piercing, you should have a worry-free piercing experience.