Q: I just got my belly pierced and I was told not to use any sort of cleaners on it, just the aftercare I was given. Is it safe to use my regular body wash in the shower or do I need to switch to something else? -Bella P.

A: If you can’t switch cleansers, ideally to something bland and mild, you can just take extra-special care to get all the cleanser residue off your piercing when you finish up washing yourself. Also, make sure you do not apply the cleanser to the area around your piercing. After you’re finished, clean it with sterile saline spray (such as Neilmed) and then rinse extra well. Make sure you dry your piercing with a clean, fresh paper towel or with a hair dryer. You should be all set! Best of luck!

 Q: Ear weights and hangers - are they purely for aesthetics or are they meant for stretching? 

-Brianna

A: Ear weights and hangers aren’t really meant for stretching, alas. Their beauty is more for fully healed stretches. The added weight at the bottom can cause your ear lobes to stretch unevenly because the weight is not evenly distributed. In a worst-case scenario, it could be possible to even tear the lobe. That said, if you are fully healed but between stretches, you can still wear them. You may just want to pair them with a set of tunnel plugs to make the weight distribution more even and not just tugging at the bottom of the fistula. In that case, don’t forget to size the weights or hangers down in gauge so that they fit inside the tunnels. 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!