Piercing Rejection: What, How, & Why
When you go out and get a brand new piercing, you are essentially introducing a foreign object into your skin. While you may be in love with your brand new piercing, your body might consider it an invasion and react appropriately. You may start noticing redness around the piercing holes, or that the position of your jewelry seems to be shifting.
Rejection is a bummer - nobody wants to think that they are going to have complications with their brand new piercing. Body Candy is here to give you the cold hard truth. Maintaining a safe and comfortable modified lifestyle is important to us, so we're going to explain what rejection is; how to spot the signs; and what steps to take if you think your body is rejecting your piercing. Whether you've got a brand new belly button ring or a pair of nipple rings, you'll know what to do in the case of a piercing rejection.
Disclaimer: Body Candy is only here to offer helpful suggestions for your piercing care. If you develop any medical complications while your piercings are healing, be sure to consult your doctor and an APP-recognized professional piercer.
The Signs of Rejection
There are several symptoms that you can keep an eye out for that may indicate a rejection:
- the jewelry is becoming more visible on the outside of the piercing
- the piercing site is sore, irritated, dry, or red for several days after being pierced
- the hole of the piercing is growing larger or more pronounced
- the distance between the entrance and exit piercing holes decreases in size
- the jewelry appears more visible underneath the skin
- your jewelry is hanging or dangling differently
- the jewelry feels loose in the piercing
Why is My Body Rejecting My New Piercing?!
Although a rejection will typically happen over time, it could also happen months or years after being pierced. An unfortunate bump or snag on your jewelry could re-injure your skin and start the process of rejection right then and there. In other words, there is no rhyme or reason to rejection and it might not be immediately evident that you're experiencing a hard rejection - so be sure to keep your eyes peeled.
No matter what way you look at it, a body piercing is technically a wound. Think about a piercing in the same way as getting a cut or scrape - when your skin is damaged, it inevitably goes through a process to heal and repair itself.
Further complicating the issue is the fact that everyone's body (and thus their healing process) is different. For some, the formation of scar tissue around a new piercing is a relatively simple and painless experience. For others, their body will decide that the best course of action is to reject the foreign body and push the jewelry out entirely.
While there is no specific reason for rejection, there are a number of different factors It happens due to a combination of factors, including:
- Everyone's body and healing process is different
- The type of piercing: surface/dermal piercings are more likely to reject than a belly button ring
- The gauge and size of the jewelry - gauge is important!
- The material of the jewelry - every body will react differently to different materials
- Pregnancy or other weight fluctuations
- Stress
RIP (REST IN PIERCINGS)
BEAUTIFUL BIOPLAST
FUN MYSTERY GRAB BAGS
What to Do if you Think your Piercing is Rejecting
So you think your piercing is being rejected - it's okay! The best thing to do when you think you're experiencing a piercing issue is to head back to your professional piercer - preferably someone who is recognized by the APP (Association of Professional Piercers). They are licensed and qualified to give you safe and professional advice regarding your piercing.
This goes without saying - if you think you have an infection or something worse, you should also head to the doctor!
