Q: How can I tell if my piercing has closed up, and can it be re-pierced in the same location? -Anonymous

A: The safest way to do this is to go see your piercer. They have a tool called an insertion taper that sort of resembles a needle but doesn’t have a sharp point at the tip. If they can get it through the piercing, it’s still open. (Obviously) If the piercing is closed, they can assess the amount of scar tissue and make the call whether that location can be re-pierced or if it needs to be adjusted slightly to avoid said scar tissue. Bonus, if your piercing is in fact closed, they may be able to re-pierce it for you on the spot. Best of luck!

 Q: I'm so frustrated! I've had this piercing bump on my industrial for 4 months. Will it ever go away at this point or is it there permanently now? -Alex

A: Have you been to see your piercer? Something is causing the irritation bump. It could be that you are sleeping on your piercing, you may have knocked it on something, your anatomy may not be suitable for an industrial, your aftercare may not be on point, it may be an issue with the jewelry. The best thing you can do is to see a trusted piercer and find the root cause of your irritation bump. Once you find and fix the cause, the bump should go away on its own. Please, please, PLEASE do not try home remedies like crushed aspirin, hot saltwater soaks, or tea tree oil as these are liable to substantially worsen your problem. And please don’t just do nothing, as irritation bumps have a cause, and that cause needs to be addressed. The bump is your body’s way of letting you know that something isn’t right. 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!