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!

Dear Alley,

I just got my Medusa (philtrum) piercing 1 week ago today at a shop that advertises 2 for $25 basic facial and body piercings. I had been wanting a Medusa for some time, but due to the covid-19 regulations this year it was not possible to receive a facial piercing underneath your mask. As soon as I learned that I could have it done I called the shop and made a same day appointment as that was all they were offering at the time.

My piercer did my Medusa first then quickly pierced my helix as well. The actual piercings took all of about 60-90 seconds. She did not mark me and put me in front of the mirror ask if I was pleased with the placement, she just did it.

I have since been comparing my Medusa to others online and to my friends piercing in real life and I’m afraid that mine is placed too high and it also seems to be off center. Should I take it out and let it heal and then see about getting it re pierced? Should I leave it alone until it heals and see if it still bothers me? there doesn’t seem to be anymore swelling so I am pretty sure that the placement will not change much as time passes since my lip has mostly gone back down to normal size from the initial swelling.

Can you give me any info on Medusa piercing placement or advice on taking out a new piercing and waiting for it to heal to get it re-pierced? Thank you!

- Shelby

Alley: Hey Shelby!

Awww... I'm sorry to hear about your medusa. That's my #1 most-wanted piercing and I'd love to get one myself.

Without seeing your medusa piercing, I can't weigh in on its placement or symmetry. I want to reiterate that everyone's body is different, and comparing your philtrum piercing to your friend's might not be the best way to determine symmetry (as you both probably have subtle differences in anatomy). I also think that one week is a pretty short amount of time to decide that your piercing looks "off" (because you could still be experiencing a bit of swelling)... But I also think that if you're actually unhappy with your piercing, right-away (i.e. RIGHT NOW) might be the best time to take it out.

The quicker you remove your philtrum jewelry, the better. It's not for sure (as I mentioned before, every body is different), but the potential for a less-noticeable scar will be worth it in the long run. Once you've removed the stud, give yourself six (6) to eight (8) weeks to heal up completely and then head back to a DIFFERENT piercer this time.

Piercings are not the time to skimp out cash-wise. Two for $25 is an almost absurd price for a service like this, and is a good indication of the quality of work you probably received. A pro-piercer will take the time to mark you up, use sterile equipment, give you a chance to say "yay" or "nay," and will hopefully leave you feeling happy with the final product. At $12.50 a piercing... All I can say is "yikes." In this case, it sounds like the quality of your piercing reflected the price of the service. And let's be real... Was the money you saved worth the extra money you're going to spend to have it done right the next time?

Hope that wasn't too much of a lecture... But I hope you take my advice! Find a pro this time around and pay for the five-star experience you deserve, Shelby! Looking forward to seeing you down the line with a beautiful, symmetrical medusa piercing.

Love,

- Alley

Dear Alley,

Hi, my name is Kristen and I had gotten my belly button done three months ago. I decided to finally change it and was just wondering how to tell if the new jewelry is too small?

- Kristen

Alley: Hey Kristen!

These may sound obvious at first, but here are a few signs that your jewelry is too small:

- Pinching
- Tightness around the piercing sites
- If the jewelry looks like it's "tugging" or "pulling" into your skin

- Redness or irritation

Redness or irritation could be the symptom for a lot of belly ring ailments though... My concern here is actually that you may have changed the jewelry out too soon.

Three months is certainly on the short side of healing times for belly piercings - even though it's a spot with lots of blood flow, it's also a spot that sees a lot of traffic and movement. Some belly rings can take up to a year to be totally healed.

There are lots of factors that could be at play here and without seeing your belly piercing or a picture of the new jewelry, it's hard to know exactly what's going on. Do you know a professional piercer you can consult or send a picture to? They would be able to let you know if your piercing jewelry is a bit too small for your anatomy.

Love,

- Alley

Dear Alley,

I've just started a new job, where no piercings are allowed on the factory floor. All seven face/ear piercings, with the newest being around seven years old, are taken out for shifts, but I'm finding it a real nuisance. How do you know when it's time to just leave them out for good?

I still adore them all, but the admin is crazy, given I'm also likely to be on call with only a few hours notice. I'm also finding one of them is getting irritated with the constant fiddling.

Cheers!

- Nicole

Alley: Hi Nicole!

Ugh, It's tough being an adult, isn't it? I consider myself very lucky that I'm able to keep all my piercings and continue to be employed... But especially with jobs that are on factory floors like yours, piercings are often considered on-the-job hazards that can be bumped, irritated, or... worse by machinery, uniforms, or other environmental factors.

I'll the first person to tell you to:

"Keep that eyebrow ring!"
"Love yourself and love your tragus earring!"
"Your nipple piercings are for you and no one else!"

... But I'd never suggest putting your body mods above being able to make a living. You'll have to ask yourself some tough questions to truly know how to proceed in this situation - is this job worth it to me? Do I see myself staying here for years? Do I love my piercings more than I love my salary?

Maybe there's some compromise that can be found here... Seven piercings can be quite a chore to get through as you're swapping in and out. Maybe it's time to let a few go and keep your favorites? Maybe you can keep your nose ring and your septum ring, but let all your ear piercings go? Maybe it's time to let your irritated piercing go first and see how you feel before you take the plunge all at once. Swapping out two or three piercings seems like less of a commitment from day-to-day.

At the end of the day, I don't think there is an age limit to being pierced... But your piercings should bring you joy instead of being a big hassle.