Q: I just took out my snake bites for good. First will they leave a scar and if so, is there anything I can do to minimize the look of the scars that might be left there? -Dakota

A: Any piercing, once removed, is liable to leave behind a small scar. How noticeable that scar is can depend on a lot of factors such as: how long you had the piercing, how healthy it was when removed, your skin tone, how your body naturally heals, and where on your body the piercing was located. First you want to let the piercing location heal. This usually takes a few weeks after jewelry removal. Some things you can do to reduce the appearance of the scar include things like using sunscreen like it’s your job. Every day, and don’t forget to re-apply as needed. Also, there are scar reducing products (Bio Oil is super popular and very effective) that you can use to spot treat the skin and promote fading. You can also try using a gentle product containing a chemical exfoliant such as a retinoid or alpha hydroxy acid. If you choose to go that route, you MUST be sure to use sunscreen daily, as they can make your skin very sensitive to the sun. Best of luck!

 Q: I've gotten other piercings before where they give you the stuff to clean your piercings afterward. I went to a different place this time and they didn't. I have hydrogen peroxide. Is it ok to use that on a new piercing? -Brookelyn

A: I’m so glad you asked! Please do NOT clean your fresh piercings with hydrogen peroxide. Please also do not use rubbing alcohol, antibacterial soap, anything containing benzalkonium chloride, or boiled salt water. The current gold standard for piercing aftercare (for non-oral piercings) is sterile saline wound wash. You can get the name brand (Neilmed is a good one) or you can save a few bucks with the store brand, so long as the only ingredient in the bottle is sterile saline. Just spray it onto your piercing, rinse with clean water, and either use a hair dryer on the lowest setting or a pat with clean paper towel to dry them. Things like hydrogen peroxide are simply too irritating to put on a healing piercing. 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!