Q: When I was 14, I pierced my nose myself and now I'm 41 years old, I've worn a piece in my piercing on and off over the years. But I've been wearing a seamless hoop every day since 2015 and I noticed that I get an odor in my piercing every now and then. So, my question is, what causes this odor and what can I do to stop it from happening? Thank you! -Angela G.

A: What you are smelling is commonly known as “piercing funk”. This is totally normal. It comes from a buildup of sebum and dead skin cells, possibly with some harmless bacteria mixed in. It happens to most piercings at some point, but you are noticing it more because it’s in your nose. Just because your piercing is old and healed, doesn’t mean that it can’t benefit from an occasional cleaning. So periodically, give it a squirt of saline wound wash while you’re in the shower or washing your face, to keep your piercing clean and smelling fresh. It also seems like this is a teachable moment where we remind people that piercing themselves at home is never a good idea. It is not only incredibly difficult to get a correct angle, but also impossible to achieve the sterile environment and safety that comes of going to a piercer. Glad to hear that your piercing turned out okay, but most people are not as lucky. Happy piercing, and don’t try that at home, folks!

Q: I have a question about changing my septum piercing and how to do this if I can't see where the holes in my nose are!!!! I’ve had it changed at the place I had it done but I want to be able to get it done at home too...help. - Brenda T

A: This is definitely a case of “practice makes perfect”. It will be easier if you start out by using the same shaped jewelry you already have in. (Circular barbell to segment ring for example, as opposed to going from circular barbell to a straight clicker.) You may want to use a little bit of piercing-safe oil to make the new jewelry slide in more smoothly. You can try pulling the old jewelry halfway out and inserting the new jewelry before fully removing the old. Or you can try using a mirror to get a better idea of where the openings are before trying to insert the jewelry. Another trick is if you are struggling to insert your new jewelry on one side, try inserting it from the other side. You can also talk to your piercer and see if a simple device called an insertion taper might be helpful. It simply helps hold the hole open for you to get the jewelry in. The more times you do it, the easier it gets. Just don’t force it and once it’s in, don’t keep changing it constantly. Let your septum rest and recover a bit between jewelry changes until you get the knack. Best of luck!

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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!