Q: I just got my nipple re-pierced due to me having a baby, so it's now like 3 months old since I got it done. I love them!! It’s been 3 months and I want to change it out, can I do it now? I have ordered over 20 nipple rings from you guys, what’s your take on should I wait or not? - Erica
A: Oh wow! Thanks for being such a fan of our jewelry. We love that you're so excited but unfortunately, nipple piercings take a minimum of 6 to 9 months to heal and can take as long as 9 to 12 months in order to heal entirely. Changing your piercings early can damage the fragile new cells growing inside the fistula and actually set back your healing process, causing it to take even longer. Please do not change your jewelry before your piercings are fully healed or you are likely to cause irritation or slower healing. Unfortunately, healing piercings is a waiting game and requires patience. Give them the time they need, and you’ll be rewarded with happy, healthy piercings that you can enjoy with all the jewelry you have waiting. Best of luck!
Q: I just got my belly piecing and it’s red around the ball but there's no pus or anything. It fizzes up when I put peroxide on it, and I was curious on if there is a better and more efficient way to clean it and maintain it? - Valerie
A: First of all, please stop putting peroxide on your piercing. That may be the sole cause of the red bump you described, which is likely to be an irritation bump. Hydrogen peroxide is not appropriate for a healing piercing as it is too harsh. The current gold standard for aftercare is sterile saline wound wash spray. This is not contact lens cleaner or nasal saline; it is specifically designed for cleaning wounds. You can get whatever brand you like (Bodycandy has our own - check it out here) so long as the only ingredient is sterile saline. Spray your piercing twice a day, rinse with clean running water, and dry it with either a clean paper towel or a hair dryer on the lowest setting. (Make sure your hands are clean when you do this.) Nothing else should go on your piercing including things like tea tree oil, crushed aspirin, antibacterial soap, or antibacterial ointment. You should start to see an improvement in your bump once you’re using proper aftercare. If it persists, please go see a trusted piercer and they can take a look and give you a better idea of what’s going on. 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!
