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,

What is your take on the snake eyes tongue piercing? This is my second time getting it done, but I've recently had very harsh comments on how reckless I was for ever getting it because it can be dangerous.

I knew when I got it there were great risks and possible complications that could occur but I never had any problems with it. The only reason I had to get it redone is because when I tried to change out the bar, it closed up so fast.

Since its been 4 years and I've never had any issues is it safe to keep? People are really making me feel bad for getting it again but I feel like it helps me express myself!

XOXO,

- Gabby

Alley: Hey Gabby!

First and foremost, I'm not a piercer, so my take shouldn't be considered medical advice... But I can tell you what I know about snake eyes piercings.

You said in your question that you were aware of the possible complications of a snake eye piercing - here's a few: they can have negative effects on your gums; they can erode your teeth; and they have an above average rate of rejection and migration.

But the biggest reason people tend to avoid snake eyes piercing is anatomical. Your tongue is actually two separate muscles and a snake eye piercing pins them together which means your tongue can no longer operate the way it's supposed to. Once its healed, the piercing fistula (the tunnel created by the piercing itself) can actually continue to pin the tongue together.

Gabby, I'm gonna be honest - I won't tell you that a snake eye piercing is safe to keep because the information about it generally indicates that it's not. If you've had this piercing before with no issues - that's great! At the end of the day, it is 100% your decision and the benefits to your self-esteem are probably amazing... Just know that this piercing carries a greater risk of damaging your oral health in the long run.

Love,

- Alley

Dear Alley:

My name's Eliza and i’m 19 years old. I got a rook piercing about 4 months ago but it rejected. I was just wondering if it was okay to get it re-pierced.

-Eliza

Alley: Hi Eliza!

Great question - before you head out to get re-pierced, ask yourself a few quick questions.

1.) Why did your rook reject?

Okay - it sounds goofy to ask yourself this question but, do you actually know the reason why your rook rejected? Did you sleep on it too much? Did you snag it on a hat? Did it get infected? It could be anything, or it could be nothing... But if you do know why it rejected, are you going to be able to avoid that behavior this time around?

2.) Is it scarred/did it heal?

After you removed the rook, did it cause any "permanent damage" to your ear? Do you have any excess scarring?

Since it's only been four months since you've gotten pierced and it has rejected within that window - has your ear completely healed yet? Be sure to give your body enough time to recover before you try to re-pierce.

After all this - its time to head into a professional piercer for an in-person consult. Be honest with them about your previous rejection and listen to their advice. They'll take a look at your ear and let you know what they think... And be sure to ask about aftercare advice and do whatever they say - your future rook will thank you for it!

Love,

- Alley

Dear Alley:

I was wondering if there are any areas that you cannot/should not get a dermal on your body.

Also is there a spot that is best to get them in general as well as how to care for them?

- Brittany

Alley: Hi Brittany!

Dermals are a tricky one - although no area of the body is technically off-limits, your skin needs to be thick enough to hold the dermal in place.

Popular areas for dermals include:

- chest

- lower back

- cheekbones

- the nape of your neck

- as an accent for a tattoo

In terms of how to care for a dermal, this is a piercing you'll want to pay extra special attention to. Dermals are arguably the easiest piercings to snag or bump, and they are also prone to rejection. Keep them clean and don't poke at them too much, just remember that, while it's healing, it's literally an open wound like an incision from surgery.

Even if you heal perfectly and keep it safe and protected, your body might decide to reject your dermal anyways. Be open to what your piercer has to say. If you take good care of it and keep it from being bumped/snagged, it will prolong its lifetime!