Body Piercing: Common Questions

Yes, piercing does involve some level of discomfort as it involves puncturing the skin. The pain level varies depending on the location of the piercing and individual pain tolerance.

Body piercing is generally safe when performed by a professional. However, there are risks of infection, allergic reactions, and scarring.

Healing varies with placement, your health and irritation during recovery. A piercing can look settled outside while the tissue inside is still fragile. Follow the aftercare for your specific piercing and have a qualified piercer assess it before changing jewellery yourself.

Choose jewellery with a documented material grade, suitable dimensions and a smooth finish. Examples include titanium meeting ASTM F136 or F67, or solid 14k-18k gold that is nickel- and cadmium-free and suitable for body piercing. A surgical steel label alone does not establish suitability; avoid plated jewellery in a fresh piercing.

Follow your piercer's written aftercare instructions. For body piercings, use sterile saline wound wash containing 0.9% sodium chloride without additives. Wash your hands before touching the area and do not twist or rotate the jewellery. Oral piercings need specific aftercare instructions.

Avoid submerging a healing piercing in pools, hot tubs, lakes or the sea. A 24-hour wait does not mean it has healed. Ask your piercer about suitable protection if water exposure cannot be avoided.

Do not change or remove jewellery from a healing piercing on your own. A qualified piercer may need to adjust or downsize it before healing is complete. If infection is suspected, get medical advice and leave the jewellery in unless a doctor tells you to remove it.

A cartilage piercing is one that is located on the cartilage of the body, such as the upper part of the ear or the nose.

Placement matters: a nostril piercing commonly needs several months, and can take longer than an initial estimate. A septum piercing has different healing expectations. Ask your piercer for advice specific to your placement and a review before changing jewellery.

A correctly placed septum piercing normally passes through suitable soft tissue between the nostrils, rather than the thick cartilage. An experienced piercer should assess your anatomy and placement.

Risks include infection, scarring, allergic reactions, and complications such as keloids or migration of the jewelry.

The legal age varies by location and the type of piercing. Some places require parental consent for certain piercings if you're under a specific age.

It's generally recommended to avoid getting new piercings while pregnant due to increased risk of infection and changes in your body that can affect healing.

Get prompt medical advice if a piercing becomes increasingly painful, hot, swollen, very red or dark, or produces pus, especially if you feel feverish or unwell. Leave the jewellery in unless a doctor tells you to remove it. A piercer can help with jewellery concerns but cannot replace medical assessment.

A microdermal, often called a surface anchor, has a base beneath the skin and a decorative top at a single opening. It needs ongoing care and may migrate or reject; it is not guaranteed to remain permanently.

A belly button piercing, or navel piercing, is a type of body piercing located in or around the navel.

Exercise may be possible during healing, but avoid activities that press on, catch or repeatedly move the piercing. Keep it away from shared gym equipment and dirty mats, and follow your aftercare instructions without over-cleaning. Ask your piercer about adjustments for your sport and placement.

A surface piercing connects two openings on the same skin surface with jewellery beneath the skin. It differs from a single-point surface anchor. Suitability and jewellery fit require an experienced piercer to assess the area.

It's best to avoid sleeping directly on a new piercing to prevent irritation and allow for proper healing.

A lip piercing is any body piercing that goes through the lips or the area surrounding the lips.

Allow roughly two to three months or longer for a lip piercing, rather than assuming it is fully healed after a few weeks. The exact placement and your recovery affect timing. A piercer may need to downsize the jewellery during healing.

Do not treat 24 hours as a universal safe waiting period. For oral piercings, APP guidance advises avoiding alcohol while bleeding or swelling continues. Follow the aftercare for your piercing and check with a pharmacist or clinician if you are taking medication.

An industrial piercing involves two piercings in the ear cartilage connected by a single barbell.

Some initial swelling can occur, but worsening swelling, heat, pus or feeling unwell needs prompt medical advice. Ask your piercer to check jewellery fit if it feels tight. Ask a pharmacist or clinician whether pain relief is suitable for you instead of assuming anti-inflammatory medicines are safe for everyone.

A tragus piercing is located on the small piece of cartilage that partially covers the ear canal.

Not necessarily. Different piercers may specialize in different types of piercings. Always check a piercer's credentials and portfolio.

A daith piercing is located in the innermost cartilage of the ear, right above the ear canal.

Yes. Even an established piercing can narrow or close quickly without jewellery, and the timing varies between people. Do not force jewellery back through a shrinking opening; ask a qualified piercer for help.

Tell your piercer about any known metal allergy before choosing jewellery. Implant-certified titanium may be suitable for nickel sensitivity, but a hypoallergenic label is not a guarantee. Seek medical advice if you have had significant reactions.

A tongue piercing is located in the tongue, typically in the middle.

A tongue piercing may take around six to eight weeks or longer. Reduced swelling does not mean healing is complete. Arrange any required downsizing with your piercer and continue the recommended oral aftercare.

Soft, cold foods like yogurt and ice cream can help soothe a new tongue piercing. Avoid spicy, hot, or hard foods until the piercing starts to heal.

An eyebrow piercing is located anywhere along the eyebrow, from directly above the eye to the edge of the eyebrow.

Discuss your plans with your diabetes care team before booking. Blood glucose outside your target range can increase infection and healing risks. Your care team can advise on suitability, circulation concerns and monitoring; tell your piercer about your diabetes.

Ask about training, experience with your chosen piercing, sterile equipment, jewellery quality and written aftercare. Review healed work as well as fresh piercings, and expect a consultation about your anatomy and suitability. A certificate alone does not establish competence.

A nipple piercing passes through nipple tissue. Size alone does not establish suitability: an experienced piercer should assess anatomy, placement and jewellery fit before deciding whether to proceed.

Nipple piercings often need many months to heal; six to twelve months is a common estimate, and some take longer. Anatomy, irritation and individual recovery affect timing. Have a qualified piercer assess healing rather than relying only on elapsed time.

A conch piercing is located in the large area of cartilage in the ear, making it appear as though there's a stud floating in the middle of the ear.

A rook piercing is located on the anti-helix of the ear, above the tragus.

Avoid a new nipple piercing while breastfeeding. The Association of Professional Piercers recommends waiting three months after milk production has stopped for nipple piercing, and at least three months after childbirth for other new piercings. Discuss your recovery and individual circumstances with your healthcare professional and piercer. Remove nipple jewellery before feeding because it can interfere with latching and pose a choking risk.

A Monroe piercing is a lip piercing placed off-center above the upper lip, meant to resemble a beauty mark.

A helix piercing is located along the upper ear cartilage.

It's generally safer to get a piercing with a needle, as guns can cause more trauma to the skin and are harder to sterilize.

A Prince Albert piercing is a type of male genital piercing.

An orbital piercing involves two holes in the ear that are connected with a single piece of jewelry.

Yes, but some piercings heal better with a barbell or labret stud to allow for swelling and movement during the healing process.

A nostril piercing is located anywhere around the rim of the nostril.

If you're prone to keloids, discuss this with your piercer and a dermatologist before getting a piercing.

A labret piercing is located directly below the center of the lower lip.

An earlobe piercing is the most common type of piercing, located through the fleshy, bottom part of the ear.