Reaction To Gold or Silver Body (Piercing) Jewelry?

If you've noticed a reaction to your new jewelry, one thing to check for is what metals/materials your jewelry piece is primarily made of as well as any other materials that may be added to or used in the manufacturing of the piece, especially if you have any known allergies. While the most common material used for body jewelry is stainless steel metal, there are many other types of materials that can be used including precious metals such as gold or silver.

If the reaction you're experiencing is to your gold, silver, or other precious metal jewelry piece, the issue isn't likely to be related to the precious metal itself though it could be related to the particular jewelry piece. The most common reaction caused by the material used in a piece of jewelry is an allergy to the metal known as nickel which can even be found as a trace element or used in the manufacturing of precious metal jewelry. Nickel allergies are extremely common in women and becoming increasingly common in men as well. If you're not certain whether your jewelry piece contains nickel, you can obtain a nickel-testing kit from your dermatologist or pharmacist and find out!

If you're not sure whether you have a nickel allergy, you can visit your doctor or dermatologist for an allergy patch test. You can also perform a test at home with a piece of nickel-containing metal or jewelry. (Nickel is commonly used as the base metal in cheaper jewelry including most of the non-stainless-steel, silver-colored metal jewelry found in teen/youth fashion stores like Claire's or Icing.) In order to do this, you'll need to keep the nickel against your skin for up to a few days. Keep an eye on the area. If you start to itch and/or get tiny blisters on the skin where the jewelry is, you have a nickel allergy. Remove the nickel piece right away to avoid additional irritation. The reaction will clear up within a few days but can also be treated to expedite healing if necessary. Unfortunately, this also means that the cause of your recent reaction to your precious metal jewelry piece is your nickel allergy. Once developed, nickel allergies usually last a lifetime.

Fortunately, there is hope! Stainless (surgical) steel,18 or 24 carat gold, sterling silver, or pure platinum, depending on your budget and preference, may very well be the solutions to your dilemma as they are the most nickel-free/least likely to cause a nickel reaction metals commonly used in jewelry making. You can also try polycarbonate plastic jewelry or simply look for jewelry that is hypoallergenic.

Now if you did NOT test positive to having a nickel allergy or your precious metal jewelry piece tested negative for nickel, your reaction may be caused by friction between the jewelry and the piercing site, an infection, a more rare allergy to a different substance in your jewelry or used to clean your piercing, or irritation caused by switching the jewelry piece, particularly during the initial healing stages. Troubleshoot and treat accordingly but be sure to keep an eye on the piercing site.

 If you develop a fever or burning sensation around the piercing site, notice an increase in pain or swelling, or notice unusual discharge (a bit of oozing or bleeding is normal but pus, especially when combined with other infection symptoms, can be a red flag), however, it's highly recommended that you see a physician ASAP as you may likely have an infection. Luckily, as long as you catch it early on you can usually treat an infection easily and get back to enjoying your piercing in close to no time at all!

Hoop Nose Ring Won't Lay Flat/Snug Against Nostril?

The look and fit of a piece of jewelry often varies a great deal from person to person as well as between precise location of the piercing on the body. Unfortunately, a hoop nose ring that protrudes out from the nose more than desired (rather than fitting flush or snugly against the nostril) may be caused by the location of the piercing on the nose or even simply the shape of the nose. Hoops in high nostril piercings won't typically lay as flat as ones located a little lower. The reason for this is because ones that are pierced lower and through the nostril curve will rest over the curvier, more rounded part of your nostril therefore fitting the curve of a hoop more snugly. Hoops will also fit more snugly on a nose with more rounded nostrils. This doesn't mean there is no hope, however, for those with a somewhat high nostril piercing or a straighter nose who want a flat, hoop-style piercing that fits closely! Of the more conventional solutions, a small hoop is the easiest way to get a close fit. As this does not provide a close enough fit for everyone though, I'd recommend searching for an oval-shaped hoop, rather than a round one, or even having one custom made (as they are still somewhat rare). This will cause the sides of the jewelry to lay more flat against the nose since the jewelry won't be quite as rounded as a normal hoop. If you can't find an oval hoop or a place to have one made, consider getting creative with your jewelry and improvising with something other than a conventional nose ring. Just be sure to check that whatever you decide to use is made of safe, non-toxic material (usually metal or plastic that is safe for the body), that it is clean and sterile, that you are not allergic to it, that it won't deteriorate, that it will stay in the piercing comfortably but still be easy to remove, and that it is the right gauge size. Best of luck in your search for the perfect piece!!

What Color Should Post Piercing Crusties Be?

Off-white or yellowish crust is normal and to be expected with a new piercing, even with a solid aftercare routine. The color is due to the crust's make up of plasma, lymph, and some white blood cells and dead skin. If the crust turns black or green, you'll want to seek medical assistance. Otherwise, don't fret! Just continue with your aftercare treatment as usual. If the crusties bother you, you can lightly rub them away with a q-tip after a shower when they're soft. If the don't come away easily, however, don't rip them off because it can tear open the site and slow down the healing process.

The Infamous Nose Piercing Bump

If you've found yourself victim of the infamous nose piercing bump, don't worry! Although unpleasant, it isn't uncommon to develop a bump around/near the piercing site, particularly during the initial healing process.

You'll want to determine the type of bump you're dealing with and treat it accordingly to preserve both your piercing and your health. Determine whether the bump is solid or not and whether it's pus or fluid filled, a keloid, or a granuloma. A keloid is a type of scar that forms at the site of a healed injury and is composed of collagen. A granuloma is an inflammation made up of a collection of immune cells known as macrophages and caused by the immune system's attempt to wall off substances that it perceives as foreign but is unable to eliminate.

Whichever type of bump you have, you should NOT attempt to pop or pierce it. You can use a hot compress to get rid of the bump. If it is a keloid, vitamin E and lavender may also help. If the bump persists and causes your pain or gets bigger, you should visit a dermatologist right away.

How to Deal With Your Nose Piercing "Sinking In"

Although it's normal for people not to have any significant problems with the healing process of a new nose piercing, one of the most common issues we hear about from those who do is that the piercing is "sinking in" and/or skin is growing over the stud of the jewelry. If you've noticed this starting to happen with your nose piercing, DON'T PANIC! There are many tricks and tips that can help you get through it smoothly and have your nose piercing in tip top shape in no time. Read on!

For the initial piercing, a piercer will usually use jewelry with a longer post and have you choose a large jewel or ball for the top so that it won't "sink" into your piercing hole during the post piercing swelling. This will allow extra room for the swelling that occurs after being pierced (so that the jewelry won't be too tight) until the swelling has gone down and you've healed enough to trade the jewelry out for something smaller. Sometimes, however, the piercing can become displaced or other factors can cause the jewelry to "sink" or have skin grow over it.

If you have skin growing over your piercing stud you'll want to be sure not to leave it that way for long. The longer the skin is allowed to grow over the jewelry, the more painful and complicated it'll be to fix. If it's not too painful and doesn't look infected, try to push the stud through the layer of skin as soon as you notice it trying to grow over.

Next, you'll want to change the jewelry to either a hoop or a piece with a longer post or at least a bigger stud, depending on your particular situation. (Usually, I'd recommend switching both but if you already have a long post in with a small stud on the end switching the stud may be enough or vice versa.) If you're not sure which option is best for you, I recommend speaking with your piercer - or possibly another piercer - about your situation. It's advisable to have your jewelry changed by a professional piercer when possible anyway and if it's the one who pierced you to begin with he or she may even switch your jewelry for you at no extra charge! Of course, the most surefire way to make sure your piercing doesn't sink in again is to switch your stud for a hoop. If you like or don't mind the look of a hoop, at least temporarily 'til your piercing heals again or you find jewelry with a big enough stud to stay out of your piercing hole, try switching to a hoop. (Added bonus: hoops are easier to keep clean!)


If the piercing IS infected, it's highly recommended that you see a physician ASAP. Here are signs you can check to determine whether you have an infection. If you notice any of the following, please consider a visit to your physician:

-An increase in pain, redness, swelling, burning, or tenderness around the piercing site.

-Swelling or tenderness in lymph glands above or below the piercing

-Greenish yellow discharge. (A bit of oozing or bleeding is normal but pus, especially when combined with other infection symptoms, can be a red flag.)

-A fever

If you do NOT have an infection, you can use the following techniques at home (or wherever you choose!) to decrease the swelling around your piercing and keep it as clean and healthy as possible so that it'll heal as quickly as possible: If you're currently using sea salt soaks but are experiencing dryness or irritation around the socket/piercing hole, try exchanging your soaks for bacitracin, an ointment which you can typically pick up at your local pharmacy for a few dollars. You can apply bacitracin by putting a dot of the ointment on a q-tip and rubbing that onto the outside piercing area, especially where the post of the jewelry enters the hole. This will help to prevent infection and keep the socket moisturized. You can also rinse the socket out to remove any debris, oil, etc by running it under water (ie: in the shower) while slowly and carefully pushing the jewelry back and forth in the socket. Follow up after the rinse with a bacitracin application to keep the piercing site moist.

Belly Button Piercing Procedure - What Can You Expect?

You may be thinking about getting your belly button pierced or just curious about this particular piercing in general. Well, we're here to help! Step-by-step, here's what you can expect from a belly piercing:

The first step in getting any piercing done is to choose your piercer. It's EXTREMELY important to find a professional piercer who uses clean and sterile piercing equipment. Also, make sure that you see examples of the piercer's work if at all possible to assure that he or she will be able to give you a piercing you're happy with.

Once you've chosen your piercer, the next step in usually to choose your jewelry. Most piercing shops will have a variety of captive bead rings or curved barbells for you to choose from for your first piercing but will probably let you bring your own jewelry with you instead if you prefer to do so. It's not recommended to start off with dangly, over-intricate jewelry because it increases the chances of the jewelry getting caught which can affect the healing process and cause a good deal of pain as well. Note that belly piercings take a bit of time to heal so, when choosing your jewelry, be sure to choose something you wouldn't mind keeping in for awhile.

As for Ethyl Chloride or "freezing spray", it's not typically considered safe practice for your piercer to use it to perform your piercing. The way Ethyl Chloride works is by drawing the heat out of the applied area of your body and freezing, quite literally, the tissue. The sensation caused by this can be pretty intense and covers up the feeling of the piercing. Unfortunately, this can also damage the tissue it's applied to, slow the healing process, and even cause frostbite which can then result in itchy, flaking skin or more serious issues. Our recommendation: skip the "freezing spray" whenever possible.

 Now..time for the piercing! Although everyone's experience differs a bit based on their body, their piercer, the piercing equipment used, and numerous other factors, the majority of people who have had a belly piercing done seem to agree that it's a moderate pain level piercing. Very few find the experience intolerable, though most people agree that it hurts a bit. For a lot of us, an ear (earlobe) piercing is something we can relate to. In terms of that, a belly piercing will typically hurt a little more because the needle has to travel through a bit more tissue and the process usually lasts just a moment longer. Don't be intimidated by this, however! Many people find the clamps or forceps that hold the skin in place more painful than the needle and the needle itself only takes a quick second to pass through the skin. After that, all that's left is to put your new jewelry in! You may feel some pressure as the jewelry goes in but then you're finished and ready to show off your new piercing!

 Once you have your new piercing, it's time to begin the aftercare process to make sure you keep the piercing healthy and healing! Avoid clothing and belts that rest tightly on, add pressure to, or cause friction to this piercing. Breathable bandages under the clothing can help to minimize rubbing of clothing against the piercing in order to prevent unnecessary irritation. Stay away from scratchy, itchy materials and stick to softer, perhaps looser fitting clothes. Also, be sure to check out our full piercing aftercare guide for details on how to keep your piercing in tip top shape!

Caring For Your Piercings

If you're here, it's probably because you've either just gotten a piercing or are planning to get one in the future. If so, you've come to the right place to have all your piercing aftercare questions and concerns resolved! As you're probably well aware of by now, with each piercing comes the small added responsibility of learning how to care for the piercing as well as the fun and excitement of having a new piercing. Let's get those questions and concerns out of the way so you can get on with the enjoying the piercing itself!


General Aftercare Tips for Piercings:


Sea Salt Soaks:

Sea salt soaks and sprays are some of the best things you can use to care for your new piercing and ensure that it heals properly as they help to accelerate healing as well as decreasing pain or dicomfort. These solutions don't have to be costly or time consuming though. Believe it or not, you actually have several options when it comes to applying sea salt-based solutions! If you're a busy person, you may prefer a store bought solution such as Natures Pure Defense of H2Ocean piercing aftercare spray. With this option, you'll typically want to apply the spray to your piercing 3 to 6 times daily as it heals. If you have the time for it, you can (and may quite likely benefit from) making and applying at least 2 homemade sea salt solution soaks (what a tongue twister!) per day. You can do this by boiling a cup of water for at least five minutes (or simply using distilled water), stirring in a pinch (maybe 1/4 teaspoon) of SEA SALT (not table salt!), letting the mixture cool down, and either submerging the pierced area in the solution or applying the mixture to both sides (when applicable) of your piercing with clean cotton balls. You'll want to apply the solution to the pierced area for several minutes (up to 10 if your piercing is particularly irritated) a couple of times per day if possible. You can also do a combination of store bought and homemade solutions and sprays! It's really up to you, your budget, and the needs of your body. (As for me, I typically go with the H2Ocean for on-the-go application so I can apply and get on with my busy day!)


Cleaning Instructions for Your New Piercing:

Most new piercings should be cleaned at least a few times daily until they heal. Piercing aftercare sprays and sometimes certain soaps can be an ideal way to keep the area clean and debris-free. The sprays will not only sooth the irritated area but will help hydrate the skin and wash debris from the hole of the piercing. Sometimes, due to your piercer's recommendation or if you have a saline allergy, it may be preferable for you to use soap instead of or in addition to a saline-based piercing aftercare spray. In this case, be sure to choose a antimicrobial, frangrance-free soap and rinse well with water after you've finished washing. Whenever washing your piercing or showering, try to remember to pat the pierced area dry with a paper towel or other disposable paper product, as opposed to a towel or rag which can harbor bacteria.

If you have the time to do it and have the mixture of sea salt to water balances, you can apply your sea salt solution as often as you'd like without any issues. With soap, however, it can be easy to overdo it. When using soap, you usually won't need to use it more than a couple of times per day anyway but the optimal frequency of use depends a bit on several factors such as your environment, the sensitivity of your skin, and your lifestyle in general (ie: exercise or working construction may cause the piercing site to collect and harbor debris or bacteria that you'll want to wash out as soon as possible). In this case, listen to your body and, when that feels, contact your piercer (or us!) with any questions or concerns you may have regarding caring for your piercing.


A few things to keep in mind while healing:

-Never touch your new piercing with dirty hands.

-Don't pick at your piercing! If necessary, you can try to gentle rub crusty areas away with a cotton ball after soaking them in sea salt solution. Try not to remove scabs, however, as this can lead to scarring and can delay the healing process.

-Keep up with your piercing aftercare and feel free to return to it even after the piercing has healed if it becomes irritated in the future.

-If the piercing site becomes infected, particularly if it's having trouble healing or doesn't appear to be healing properly, consult your piercer and/or doctor immediately.

-DO NOT use alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to clean your piercing. These will actually dry out the piercing site which will delay the healing process.

-You may shower or bathe as usual but be sure to fully rinse off any soap products you may get on your piercing and dry with disposable paper products, rather than a regular bath towel.

-The healthier you are, the easier it will be for your piercing to heal so be sure to get sleep, eat well, observe good hygiene practices, avoid stress, limit or eliminate alcohol and drug consumptions, and consider taking vitamins (particularly vitamin c and zinc) to help expedite your body's ability to heal itself.

-Have patience with your piercing. Healing times vary from person to person. Be sure to follow your piercing aftercare procedure through until you're fully healed and don't try to switch your jewelry out until then. If you must switch your jewelry, I recommend that you visit your piercer to have it switched professionally and avoid any added risks of infection or inflammation. Trust me; I know from experience and learning the hard way that it's worth the wait!


What to expect while your piercing is healing:

Don't be alarmed if you see some bleeding, clear fluid (lymph), bruising, swelling, tenderness, mild discomfort, itchiness, or discoloration around your piercing site. These are all common in flesh wounds including new piercings! There are steps you can take to minimize these reactions, however. Try taking ibuprofen instead of asprin or lessen your alcohol and caffeine intake if possible/applicable. Keep in mind that if you start to see pus or severe redness around your piercing or the pierced area burns when lightly touched, you may be in need of antibiotics. If the reactions or pain get too intense you may want to consult a doctor just to assure you don't have a serious infection, allergy, etc. Once you've started on antibiotics and confirmed that you don't have any additional complications, sticking to a strict piercing aftercare regime should keep you from having to remove the piercing completely.


Specific Piercing Area Aftercare Instructions:  

While most piercings can be cared for in generally the same way, there are a few key things that make each piercing unique and may slightly affect the way you care for yours. There are also specific tips and tricks that can be used when caring for a particular type of piercing. Here, I'll share what I've learned and go into detail about each of the major piercing types as well as a few of the more specific types as well so read on and see if I can answer any questions you may have!:


Ear Piercings:

After getting your brand new ear piercing, you'll want to do your best to keep it clean. Since it's so near your face and hair, this can be a bit more of a challenge than with piercings in lower areas of your body. For starters, be sure to keep makeup, lotion, hair products, etc off of the piercing area. If you DO get any of these substances on your ear piercing, follow your regular piercing aftercare guidelines to clean it off as soon as possible. Be sure to keep your pillow cases and bedding clean, particularly if you have pets, and try sleeping on the side of your head without the new piercing when applicable. If that's not possible, try sleeping on your back or avoid putting excessive pressure on the piercing as much as possible.


Nose Piercings: 

Use the sea salt solution mentioned above to clean the outside of your nostril and saline spray to clean the inside. Avoid washing the pierced area with stronger facial cleansers and be sure to rinse such cleansers off as soon as possible if they do come in contact with the pierced area.


Septum Piercings:

It is important to follow aftercare procedures for a septum piercing very carefully as it can be dangerous if bacteria is allowed to grow around the piercing. Keeping this area clean is vital to proper healing. Try not to touch the piercing excessively and be careful that it does not get caught on clothing, hair, body srubbers (in the shower), etc. During the healing process, septum piercings tend to stay more clean and free from blood or puss than many other piercings but extra care should be taken if you get a cold or if your nostrils are exposed to anything that could irritate the area while your septum is still healing. Refrain from swimming, submerging your septum piercing in water, excessive exposure to dust, or changing the jewelery as these actions can introduce harmful bacteria into the piercing and add to the risk of infection. If you need to hide your septum piercing while it's healing, you may want to get pierced with a titanium septum keeper. This will allow you to hide the piercing without changing your jewelery.


Cheek & Lip Piercings:

Use caution when opening your mouth. Opening too wide, especially while eating, can cause the jewelry to catch on your teeth. The main difference between a mouth-area piercing is that the outside and inside of your mouth have to be cared for differently. Use your sea salt solution as a rinse for the inside of your mouth (normal tooth brushing times, after meals, etc) and spray aftercare spray on the outside 3-6 times daily. You may also use sea salt solution soaked cotton balls on the outside piercing area a couple of times per day as well. Avoid oral sex, tongue kissing, and contact with anyone else's bodily fluids. Avoid the use of alcohol (including mouthwashes that contain alcohol), any kind of tobacco, and gum and try not to play with the jewelry (whether with your hands, tongue, teeth, etc) as this can not only increase healing time and risk of irritation for your piercing but can also damage your teeth and gums.


Labret Piercings:

For the most part, lip piercings all require the same basic aftercare however certain factors may cause the required steps, precautions, amounts of effort, and particular actions to vary from person to person and piercing to piercing. One such example of this is common with labret piercings: scratching against the gums or teeth. If the jewelry scratches or rubs your gums or teeth, you will likely need to change jewelry and will need to keep an eye on the piercing, give extra care to keeping the area clean (ie: more frequent brushing and mouth washing), and make a conscious effort not to move the jewelry around or play with it so that it doesn't excessively scratch at areas inside the mouth. The main concern is for the well-being of the gums and teeth as damage to these areas tends to be permanent. Keep an eye on your piercing. In extreme cases, you may even have to forfeit the piercing to preserve the health and longevity of your tooth enamel and gums (which may begin to recede with excessive wear or rubbing) but don't worry! Most labret piercings heal smoothly without any serious complications and if yours isn't one of them you'll still look beautiful and may even find that you're more suited for a piercing elsewhere!


Monroe Piercings:

A labret stud (post jewel that screws into a flat disc-shaped base) is the typical jewelry for this type of piercing. As mentioned in the paragraph above, if the piercing is allowed to rub against the teeth or gums, it can cause serious irreversible damage. If you notice any signs of enamel erosion or gum recession, you'll want to remove the piercing before it's too late! The most common problem with disc-back jewelry such as the labret stud, however, is skin attempting to grow around and enclose the base of the disc. You'll want to assure this does not happen to your piercing because if it does the only way you'll be able to remove it will be to cut it out of your skin. It can also trap bacteria inside it as it grows over and that can lead to infection. Fortunately, proper care will significantly decrease the chances of this happening to your piercing! For starters, make sure your jewelry is the proper size and that you're not irritating it with unnecessary movement or friction. A change of jewelry size of material may be the next course of action if the sea salt soaks aren't effective. I recommend having a professional change the jewelry for you, particularly if the piercing site is irritated, inflamed, or infected, as changing the jewelry out improperly can lead to more damage.


Tongue Piercings: 

With a tongue piercing, be sure to rinse your mouth with saline solution a few times per day, namely morning, night, and after eating. You can also alternate the saline solution rinses with warm water rinses just to clear any food and debris that may be lingering in your mouth. Be sure to keep your mouth debris free. If possible, buy a new toothbrush (preferably soft-bristled) to start using after getting your new tongue piercing. This prevents bacteria that may have been on your old toothbrush from getting into your fresh piercing. Tongue piercings are expected to swell (hence the additional length of the starter barbell as opposed to the permanent jewelry). Accordingly, you may experience difficulty eating anything other than soft foods at first and you'll want to avoid tougher foods too so that you don't risk injury to your swollen tongue when trying to chew. As your piercer will typically tell you at the time of piercing, you can think about switching your piercing jewelry to a shorter barbell after about 4 to 6 weeks, depending on how fast you heal. The shorter barbell will be less likely to catch on your teeth, food, etc. While healing, avoid oral sex, tongue kisses, playing with your jewelry, consumption of alcohol or tobacco, and excessive caffeine. Don't worry if you notice a bit of white discharge. It's a natural part of your body's efforts to heal itself. If your tongue starts to swell or bleed excessively, however, you'll want to contact your piercer or doctor right away.


As for tips from my personal tongue piercing experiences: Drink cooler drinks - even frozen beverages - to help reduce your tongue's swelling. If possible, carry spare balls with you in case you lose or break one. Try and keep the balls on the end of your piercing tight (use clean hands to check!) so that you won't swallow them but be prepared with spares just in case! Sometimes, you may feel some pain from the piercing. You can take ibuprofen to help with this as well as to reduce the swelling. Sleeping with your head elevated for the first few days after getting your piercing will also help to minimize overnight swelling.


Nipple Piercings: 

I won't lie, out of the many piercings I've had done, these were the most painful piercings I've experienced. They were, however, COMPLETELY worth it and stopped hurting once the jewelry was in! If you choose to take a leap and get yours pierced, here are a few things to try and keep in mind to minimize your post-piercing pain: Nipple piercings take longer than many other piercings to completely heal (sometimes 9 months to 1 year) and can even begin to close up relatively quickly after the healing period, depending on your body, if the jewelry is removed for periods of time as short as a few hours. For women, nipples may swell during the menstrual cycle, which may cause some discomfort to healing piercings. This is normal. If it becomes unbearable, which is fairly rare, you can use ibuprofen for the pain. You may choose to sleep in a cotton shirt or other clothing which you change daily/often for awhile after getting your piercing for comfort as well as to protect the nipples from bacteria and contaminants that could cause infection or irritation.


Belly Button Piercings:  

Avoid clothing and belts that rest tightly on, add pressure to, or cause friction to this piercing. Breathable bandages under the clothing can help to minimize rubbing of clothing against the piercing in order to prevent unnecessary irritation.


Genital Piercings:

One key difference to keep in mind with this type of piercing is that you should NOT use soap as an aftercare product for it as even the most mild of soaps can irritate the area, especially when pierced. Stick to the sea salt solutions and aftercare sprays. This type of piercing is notoriously quick to heal, especially in females. Intercourse and other sexual activities can usually be resumed within a month or so. Of course, with all piercings and bodies, each is different so pay attention to what yours is telling you! Also remember to stay clean and take care of yourself because a clean, healthy body and lifestyle means a healthy, happy piercing. If possible, avoid sharing bodily fluids whenever possible and DEFINITELY during the healing period.


Surface Piercings:

Most surface piercings have slightly higher risk of migration or rejection when compared to standard piercings but with proper care and attention they can be worn comfortably and last for many years. There is no doubt that you need to be extra careful with this type of piercing. It should be protected from any unnecessary roughness, impact, or handling, particularly when healing. Playing with the jewelry during the healing process is a huge no-no and is not advisable once the piercing has finished healing either as it could lead to rejection or migration. If the body begins to reject the jewelry, it may then proceed to push the piercing outward, which can cause tremendous amounts of pain. Migration occurs when the jewelry and piercing shift their place due to heavy jewelry pulling at the piercing site. To prevent either of these issues, it's recommended that lighter jewelry with larger anchors is used so there won't be as much strain on the piercing.


Now that you know how to care for your piercing(s), the next step is up to you: try a new aftercare method on your new piercing, search for the next jewelry for it, choose a brand new piercing to get, or check out and read up on other peoples' piercings.. Whatever you decide, we wish you the best of luck in all your piercing endeavors!

The Mischievously Sexy Belly Piercing

Whether you love to show off your midriff or prefer to maintain a secretly sexy side under wraps, a belly button piercing can add a feminine touch to any stomach.

For this lovely lady, a belly piercing appears to be ideal as it allows her to maintain a more mature and professional appearance when needed but also achieve a playfully beautiful bikini or lingerie body when wanted. The particular jewelry piece she's wearing is exceptionally ideal for her skin tone and balances the simple clothing and lack of other jewelry well because of it's low dangle and high shine, also complementing the shine of her hair color. Since she's able to conceal the piercing, it makes for a sweet surprise anytime she decides to reveal it. It really stands out against the shade of her skin as well, drawing attention to a wonderfully flat stomach.

Belly piercings are something you want to put a little extra thought into decorating. Since, for most women, they're not always exposed, when they are they tend to receive more attention than the average body part (other than parts on the face, of course). The other thing you want to keep in mind is that each woman's body is a little different - from shape to size to skin tone and beyond - and what looks fantastic on one person won't necessarily be flattering on another. Accordingly, you should take into consideration things such as your proportions, shape, body type (athletic, thin, cuddly, or whatever it may be) when choosing your perfect piercing and decide on a style that both looks and hangs right on you. Another thing you should think about, possibly even more important than what looks best on you, is your unique taste or style. What look are you going for? How would you like to be perceived? What colors, designs, patterns, etc do you prefer? Do you want something that dangles, do you like things that glow in the dark, are you in love with a particular Disney character that you might want to display, or do you just want something that makes a clear statement? Maybe you have a variety of different styles and need something for every occasion or every day of the week!

A Simple Beauty with Body Jewelry

While some women enjoy gaudy and flamboyant makeup and accessories, others of us prefer a more simple kind of beauty and choose to accentuate - rather than cover up and replace - our natural features with light makeup and jewelry for a radiantly fresh appearance.

One excellent example of this approach is the girl in this picture. With her warm skin tone and bare collar and neck line, she demonstrates the natural beauty of the human body. The green from the rose stem brings more life to the look and the single red rose itself complements the dark color of her hair.

The monroe and left nostril piercings she gracefully displays balance one another semi-symmetrically on her face and enhance her simple look by adding a bit of shine to it as well as drawing one's eyes in to her young, pretty face. With a breezy touch of makeup added to the mix, her look is brought to life even more and and the two piercings seated amidst it all are in ideal position to bring out the best of it!

This look is actually relatively easy for most people to achieve. For starters, go light in both color and amount on the makeup and accessories. Don't short change yourself though! There's nothing wrong with adding a little glimmer to your body or face to brighten up your look a little and accompany your makeup in really making you feel like a brand new, sparkling person! You'd be surprised on how dramatic of an effect a perfectly placed nose ring can have on a face. One important thing to consider when going for a fresh look and making your body jewelry selction, however, is to choose the color and size of your jewelry carefully. A lot of times less really is more and choosing the right color jewel on your piercing to coordinate with your skin tone can have a huge impact on your look.

Fortunately though, it's pretty easy to get right. Depending on your features and colors, some piercing spots and styles will look better on you than others. You can figure out what these are by playing around with different sized and shaped objects (ie: rhinestones, jump rings, etc) to get a feel for how a type of piercing in a particular place would look on you. Once you'd gotten your piercing(s) or at least figured out where you want it/them, the next step is to choose your jewelry!

Taking the Tummy From Flirtatious to Dangerous

The belly button is often seen as a somewhat exciting spot on the human body, possibly because you don't see them hanging out every time you walk into your average place of business or maybe they're just fun to look at or play with. Whatever the case, one thing's for sure: the stomach can be a very enticing area and finding the perfect belly ring to suit your look and/or outfit can take your stomach from cute and fun to poke to dangerously attractive and irresistible!

One great example of this is the girl pictured here. While her suggestive bedroom attire looks pretty on her and her ring, bracelet, and manicured nails make her seem well-groomed and classy, it's her tattoo and belly piercing that really pull the look together and finally suggest that she might also have a wild-yet-elegant side to her as well. In particular, the swooping lines and cuts in both her top and her belly ring complement and coordinate well with one another and the shorter length of the piercing, as opposed to one that dangles, provides a wide open area beneath it - an ideal match for the nearby tattoo, keeping her mid section from becoming too cluttered.

For those of you interested in achieving this sort of look or simply finding the belly ring that looks best on you, take a few things into consideration: What style or colors will you be wearing with the belly ring? What look are you going for? How much open space do you have near your belly button? The last of these or even all of these may sound a bit strange but think of your body as a work of art. The best works of art are done when the canvas is well utilized, the subject matter is placed well on it, and the styles and colors involved flow from one into another easily or coordinate with one another. Artists typically think about and choose these qualities for their art prior to creating it and sometimes even make adjustments afterward when things don't turn out as planned or they have a change of heart or new idea about what they want to convey or how they want to execute it. You can do just that with your body! The best way is too take a look at what jewelry is on the market, consider what suites your wants and needs best while browsing, and maybe try a few different styles out to be sure you get one you can really call your own as well as allow for a change of heart, mind, or style from day to day!

A Spunky Balance With Piercings

When you're born with a particular look, the ideal way to look and feel your best is to find out what your best features are and emphasize those features using makeup, accessories, clothing, and even body jewelry! You want to balance the look you have naturally with your individual personality and style.

This girl executes this concept perfectly by adding a combination of flirtatious makeup, a mature-looking necklace, and tough-looking piercings to a young face and adorable hairstyle to show the world that there's much more to her than just being cute!

The spiked labret piercing gives a bit of a devious twist to the enticingly risqué red lips while the left nostril piercing provides a nice balance for the right eyebrow piercing. The spiked brow piercing enhances the upper part of the face and draws attention to the beautifully groomed eyebrows and daringly intense eye makeup, adding a hard-hitting edge to a sweet and innocent face. All three piercings work together to add a bit of sparkle to the face, brightening the look and complementing the freckles nicely to achieve a mischievous, curious, full of wonderment, and fresh-yet-mature image for this girl.

Now, as mentioned, every person has her own look, style, and set of features that make her special so the same things that work for this girl won't necessarily work for the rest of us but not to fear! We each have our own things going for us and every girl has accessories, clothes, AND body jewelry that can flatter her and can make her feel pretty, independent, older, younger, or whatever she may be going for. We just have to find them!

Beautifully Different Ear Gauges

Every girl wants to find that special look that communicates her true personality and distinguishes her from the rest. Every girl wants to stand out in the crowd and look good while doing it. With the combination of her short hairstyle, seductively accented features, sheer and sexy outfit, and artistically placed tattoos and ear gauges, this girl does just that and she does is beautifully!

Typically, short hairstyles and large ear gauges are viewed as more masculine style choices but this girl uses the hairstyle in combination with her makeup, gauges, and tattoos to accentuate her unique features and give her a very sexy, independent look.

With the little tattoo framed perfectly inside her left gauge, the gauge is wonderfully feminized, enhances an already attractive neck, and turns her ear into a truly original, attention-grabbing piece of art! The basic black gauge draws attention to, rather than taking it away from, the encompassed tattoo behind it and complements the rest of the outfit, hair, and makeup color-wise. The simplicity and size of the gauge make a loud and clear statement without cluttering her look with excessive designs or colors.

From 20 gauge to double zero, ear gauges have a way of adding a hint of rebellion, toughness, and boldness to the look of anyone sporting them but when combined with the right clothing, hairstyle, makeup, etc. they can also come across as sexy, modern, or even artsy as well! While brown, wooden gauges may suggest an environmental or free spirited personality, spiky, glow-in-the-dark ones might communicate that a person enjoys nightlife, raving, or partying and so on.

It's important to choose the color, design, and size gauges that match your particular image and style in order to achieve the look YOU want.

Finding Your Own Fashion with Body Jewelry

People like to have their own thing going for them. We like to have a look about us that distinguishes us from the rest. We like to be remembered, preferably for being ourselves and being our best.

No two personalities are quite the same so making your look your own is a relatively easy thing to do as long as you have a bit of creativity, enough bravery to show the world that you're not exactly like everyone else (because that'd be boring!), and a bit of patience to pull your ideas together and make it all happen.

A perfect example of this is the girl in this photo. The combination of tattoos, hairstyle, clothes, accessories, makeup, and body jewelry and the pink color scheme with a pastel rainbow of other colors incorporated in the tattoos and top give her a very distinct kind of sexy look and cause her to be undeniably memorable! Her lips, shirt strap, hair, lashes, and cat ear headband coordinate exquisitely giving the appearance that she's brought both thought and effort into her look to provide the viewer with her own take on fashion and beauty while the other colors found in her shirt complement her tattoos to perfection giving the entire image an intentional, well calculated feel as if she'd put precisely the right amount of effort into it all.

Using the combination of dreadlocks, tattoos, and carefully places piercings, she takes the look from girly to sassy and even a bit tough without detracting anything from her natural beauty. In fact, she even uses the piercings to enhance her features as the monroe piercing both complements and brings attention to her cute, mischievous lips and her nose ring works hand-in-hand with the shape of her nose to give her that extra little edge that the look would simply not be the same without.

To find your own one-of-a-kind style takes some trial, error, and experimentation. You can get some inspiration by looking through photos of what other people have done to give themselves that specific, noteworthy look and trying a combination of makeup, clothing, accessories, and body jewelry on yourself to find what suites you!

The Enticing Tongue Ring

While certain piercings can have little to no positive effect or impact on a person's image depending on placement, body jewelry, and the wearer's unique look, when well chosen a piercing can instead have a wonderfully dramatic, attention-capturing effect on the onlooker and can compliment someone's particular appearance flawlessly.

This woman takes full advantage of this concept by combining her look with her own individual demeanor to create an image that makes it nearly impossible for the viewer to look away. Her long, snake-like tongue and lashes that look like they should be used in showbiz are what initially grab a person's eye. After that, the pale eye shadow that contrasts so greatly with her skin color causes the lashes to stand out and show their length that much more while the vibrant lip color draws attention into the already enticing, large mouth and the tongue ring takes over from there, breaking the length of the tongue up into two smaller areas and adding an ever-so-slightly devious edge to an otherwise Cirque Du Soleil exclusive type of look. The color of the jewel on the tongue ring also coordinates well with the "theme" of this look and causes the tongue ring to show up just enough to complete the appearance without drawing excessive attention to that one spot on her face.

To create a look this intense, you really have to work with the colors and most unique facial features you have naturally. Don't be afraid to put emphasis on a feature that's shaped or sized differently than the average person's. Just take care in HOW you do it and be sure to draw attention to the area while displaying what makes it beautiful or special as well. For an example: if you have pinker than average cheeks (on your face, of course!), try on some bright blue or green lipstick with a tongue ring jeweled to match in either blue or green. It'll complement your cheeks adorably but also spread the attention between them and your bright lips, incredible ability to match, and amazing fashion sense! It's easy to do and you don't even have to leave home to do it unless you need a quick run to Walmart to find that blue lipstick!

The Stylishly Fun Yet Classy Piercing Approach

The struggle to express one's fun-loving side while simultaneously maintaining a classy or well put together appearance is an ongoing one for many women worldwide.

This girl executes this concept to a T by combining groomed eyebrows and a stylish scarf with a funky nose ring and a playful tongue ring. Her grown-out roots demonstrate that she's not too uptight or high maintenance but her carefully straightened, frizz-free hairsyle balances that by showing that she takes care of herself and puts effort into her look. The red lips add a spunky, confident touch and make her white teeth look that much whiter and her smile that much brighter. The mascara and eyeliner bring her eyes out so that they show up really well against her much lighter complexion. This final combination leaves her with a spunky, fun, cute, high fashion appearance and a touch of upscale sophistication.

Though her complexion already gives her a warm look, the shine from the tongue and nose rings add that extra bit of sparkle to really bring her face to life. They also allow her to convey her own unique personality and stand out from the crowd with a customized style that shows the world that she knows how to think for herself and be her own person. She's not afraid to be a little different.

Accomplishing this sort of thing with one's own look is something that works a bit differently for every person but the best place to start is with a mirror. Mach your makeup, hairstyle, and accessories to your look carefully and, most importantly, don't overdo it. If you already have the right piercings to complement your look, the next step is choosing the body jewelry that works best with them in order to achieve that superior beauty that communicates exactly who you are and how you want to present yourself!