Dear Alley is our weekly advice column for pierced, inked, and amazing individuals (and everyone else too!) who might need a nudge in the right direction. Relationships, mods, or whatever, Alley's got you covered :).

Do you have a question for Alley, submit it to DearAlley@bodycandy.com for your chance to get featured!

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!

Hi Alley,

I have had my belly piercing for six (6) months, but my body didn't seem to appreciate it very much and all the complications made me take it out. It's sore now, healing I guess, but I'm wondering when I can re-do it or if I even should?

Thank you,

- Skylar

Alley: Hey Skylar!

Sorry to hear that you had to give up on your belly button ring... Sometimes, you just need to listen to what your body is telling you, and in this case, I hope you made the choice that was best for you!

Before you think about re-piercing your belly button, ask yourself a few important questions. Why do you think your belly ring rejected? Did you snag it, bump it, or poke at it often? Did you sleep on it from day to day? Did you keep it clean and practice good general hygiene? Did you experience redness; pain; yellow/greenish discharge; or other signs of an infection? Or do you think that it was related to a sensitivity to jewelry material? Any sort of stress is going to set your healing time back and could have a lot to do with why your belly button didn't like your piercing the first time around.

Next - you'll want to make sure you are completely healed up before you head back in to get re-pierced. Every body is different, but you need to give yourself at least two to three months to let your previous belly ring heal completely. Even if it looks totally healed on the outside, you might still need to let the piercing rest up on the inside.

Once that is said and done, head back to a professional piercer and let them examine your navel. Be honest with them about your previous piercing experience. Depending on how your scar is positioned, it might be totally fine to get your belly ring re-done... Or, you might just not be a good candidate for a belly button ring.

My best advice - let the pro piercer take a look and take their advice. They're the most qualified and professional to be able to give you advice that works for you and the future health of your piercings.

Love,

- Alley

Dear Alley,

I got my industrial done November 5th, I was wondering how long it takes to heal. Because every once in awhile it’ll bleed when I go to clean it. I clean it with antibacterial soap and iodize salt water.

- Bailee

Alley: Hi Bailee!

Industrial piercings are cartilage piercings, which means you're looking at about a year's worth of heal time before it's totally healed. Since you got yours done November 5th of 2020 (and it's currently late January 2021), you've got a significant amount of heal time left before you're all done.

In terms of your aftercare, it's good you're keeping your piercing clean... But in terms of products, I'd really only recommend you use a sterile, saline spray on your ear. Iodized salt contains harsh chemicals that can really irritate your piercing while it's healing... Same with anti-bacterial soap. Stick to the saline once or twice a day, and otherwise, just let the warm water from a shower run over it during your shower sessions.

Outside of your aftercare, first and foremost, make sure you're not sleeping on your industrial piercing. That extra pressure can really put a lot of stress on your ear, especially during these crucial first months. Be sure to avoid over-the-ear headphones, headbands, and hats that could bump or annoy your piercing... Same goes for face mask straps!

Outside of your saline sprays, do your best to LITHA. If you give your ear space to heal, you'll be very happy come November '21!

Love,

- Alley

Hi Alley!

What about the hood piercing, what is it called? I had one done in Ebor City [sic] in the 90s but some time [ago] I lost the jewelry and the piercing went away. Can I find out the name of the piercing so I can ask my local piercers? I live in Montana now.

Thank you,

- Roxy

Alley: Hey Roxy!

The piercing you're thinking of is colloquially known as a VCH - a vertical clitoral hood piercing. It's always great to hear from people that have been pierced since the 90s - you'll be happy to know that this is still a popular and safe piercing performed today!

You have already have this piercing so you already know this, but for those of you in the back, this piercing passes through the skin of the clitoral hood. It's anatomy specific, so it may not be a good fit for everyone... But since it's a fleshy piercing with a good supply of blood flow, this piercing should be relatively easy to heal up with good aftercare.

You can wear lots of different kinds of jewelry in a VCH piercing - straight barbells, curved barbells, and BCRs are just a few options... as well as these unique options made specifically for a VCH.

Last but not least, Montana isn't quite Ybor City... So if you're having trouble finding a piercer in your area, check out this blog for some helpful tips! You may have to travel, but if so, it'll be worth it for the long-term health of your VCH. Best of luck!