Q: I've got a piercing bump. Should I leave my jewelry in or take it out until it goes away? -Caitlyn M.

A: Don’t remove the jewelry. First of all, your piercing may be salvageable if you can figure out what is causing the bump. Were you pierced with the correct style of jewelry? Many piercings require specific styles of jewelry for the initial piercing. Nostril, most cartilage piercings, and nipple piercings should all be done with straight jewelry, or they can be difficult to heal. Piercings should be performed using ASTM F-136 titanium jewelry to avoid any skin reactions or allergies. Finally, if you have some kind of infection (this is just FYI, irritation bumps and infections are not the same and do not look the same), removing the jewelry can trap the infection in your skin. Your best bet is to go consult your trusted piercer and see if you can figure out the cause of your bump. If the problem is the angle of the piercing, you may need to remove it, but it may be something as simple as changing out the jewelry. Best of luck!

 Q: Hi! I just started stretching my ears recently yay! What is the difference in all the plugs that you guys carry? How do I know which one to pick when I get to my size? Is it all just personal preference or are there different types for different uses? Thanks for your help! -Piper Garry

A: Some of the main differences in plugs are dependent on how healed your lobes are, if you plan on using them to stretch with, and your level of personal comfort. The best plugs to stretch with are glass, single-flare plugs. In fact, until you get to your goal size, you will probably want to stick with single-flare or screw fit plugs as it takes a while for your lobes to relax enough to accommodate double-flare plugs. Double-flare plugs are fine as long as you are not experiencing pain when attempting to insert them. Once you reach your goal size, the only things you will want to avoid are silicone and acrylic as neither one is a body-compatible material, and you definitely want to avoid acrylic while healing as it cannot be properly sterilized. Beyond that, the style of plug is entirely up to you! 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!