Q: I recently got my conch done by my favourite piercer. I’ve gone to her a handful of times now and never had an issue, but my conch is red swollen and has discharge. I followed the aftercare perfectly and like I said this has never happened before. What should I do? - Megan
A: It sounds like you may have an infection. Is the discharge opaque yellow or green? If it is clear and yellow, your piercing may just be extremely inflamed and irritated. Otherwise, you should leave the jewelry in and go seek medical attention. Infection in the ear cartilage can be dangerous and, if left untreated, can actually damage the cartilage permanently. Please do not remove the jewelry, as this can trap the infection (if that’s what it is) inside the ear. Leave it in until you know what’s going on. If it is not an infection, you may have simply caught your piercing on something or hit it in your sleep. Also, make sure that your aftercare is simply spraying the piercing twice a day with sterile saline wound wash and then rinsing with clean running water, using clean hands. Dry it with a hair dryer on the lowest setting or pat dry with a clean paper towel. Best of luck!
Q: I pierced my nose a year ago and it got infected, so I had to take it out. I was wondering if I can or should pierce the same spot again? - Jocey
A: This is a tricky question that only a trustworthy piercer can answer. It depends on how much scar tissue is built up in that exact spot. A location with minimal scar tissue may be able to be re-pierced. If there is a lot of scar tissue within that part of your nostril, the piercer may have to use another location. However, they should still be able to get pretty close to the original location so go see a piercer and have them evaluate your nostril. Even if it’s not the absolute exact same spot, you should be able to get a result that you are happy with. 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!
