Q: My friend told me not to get my shark bites pierced because the chemicals in my vape pen will make them infected. Is that true? I feel like it's not. -Tiffany
A: Let’s start by saying that smoking is not recommended when trying to heal an oral piercing. That said, if you are taking proper care of your piercings and rinsing your mouth with water after vaping, there’s no reason why your vape should cause your piercings to get infected. However, nicotine use can slow the healing process and, of course, may irritate them. So this is one of those “at your own risk” situations, but it’s a reasonably manageable risk. Use proper aftercare, keep a close eye out for trouble and I'd recommend getting a professional opinion from your doctor. Happy piercing!
Q: I have a piercing bump that has turned kind of hard. Is it turning into a keloid? Will it be permanent? -Paige
A: First of all, a keloid and an irritation bump are two different things. Keloids are a type of scar tissue that has grown out of control. Irritation bumps are the way the body reacts when something is off with a piercing. It is impossible for an irritation bump to turn into a keloid – they just aren’t the same kind of tissue. What you need to do is figure out what’s causing the bump. The most common causes of bumps are incorrect jewelry style (a large number of piercings really require a flatback labret stud to heal properly) and piercing angle (the jewelry is putting more pressure on one side than the other). You also want to be sure that your aftercare routine is correct – sterile saline spray twice a day, no soaks, no aspirin, no tea tree oil. It seems like your best bet here is to go see a quality professional piercer. They can assess the situation, change your jewelry if needed, and advise you on the angle of your piercing. Best of luck!
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!
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