Healing Times

For a table of approximate healing times, click here.

Irritation
The most annoying and probably most commonly seen problem is itching and weeping around the jewelry. This produces a crusting and often a wet discharge that burns or itches.
Jewelry used in ear piercing is different than piercing in other areas of the body and ear piercing jewelry should not be used in other parts of the body. The metals used for body jewelry are chosen because of their "body friendly" qualities. However, some metals are more biologically inert and considered more hypoallergenic than others. Cosmetic jewelry is often brass plated which can lead to more frequent allergic reactions. Body jewelry should be made of surgical-grade stainless steel, 14 karat yellow or white gold, titanium, or niobium.

Most metal sensitivities can be attributed specifically to nickel. 316L stainless steel and certain gold alloys contain nickel. People who are nickel-sensitive can often wear niobium or titanium.

Rejection due to metal allergy often shows up soon after insertion of the jewelry. The entrance and exit holes of the piercing will enlarge and become irritated in the body's attempt to rid itself of the jewelry. The piercing will secrete a clear discharge. If a metal allergy is suspected contact your piercer immediately.

Some allergies to aftercare and cleaning products can exhibit the same symptoms; however, a skin irritation to the cleaning solutions is usually accompanied by a wider rash surrounding the piercing.

In rare cases, the area around the piercing must be cut out. All tissues around the piercing are removed and the wound closed. After the wound has healed, repiercing may be attempted.

Keloid
The most hideous and grotesque problem with any piercing can be the enlarged scar or keloid. A keloid is an mass of densely packed collagen fibers . Fortunately, in this country, medical help is usually sought early and hence extreme keloids are rare. Keloid formation occurs more frequently in blacks and Mediterranean people than in whites, native Americans, or Latin-Americans.

Treatment first consists of removal of the jewelry. If the mass is soft and reddish, then triamcinolone suspension may be injected into the mass. If the mass is firm and has been present for a time, then referral for excision and primary wound closure is indicated. If the keloid starts to recur in the incision line, then steroid injection is appropriate.

Infections

Infections generally have redness, swelling, tenderness, and pain. Frequently the lymph nodes in the area will swell. HIV, tetanus, and hepatitis can also be a problem.

Scarification
Particularly with earlobe piercings and heavy dangling earrings, the weight of the jewelry may slowly pull the ring through the earlobe. This can create either a slot in the earlobe or an earlobe with two flaps. Trauma or simply catching an earring on something can rip the earlobe (or any other exposed piercing).

These scars may be repaired surgically. Once healing has occurred, the piercing may be repeated if the patient so desires.

Rejection
Piercing rejection is indicated by movement of the jewelry or by the tissue contained within the piercing becoming narrower and more shallow. Dimple type scars usually appear behind the piercing, where the jewelry was originally placed. Rejection usually prolongs healing and the area will be red and inflamed. In some cases of already relatively shallow piercings such as those of the eyebrow the jewelry will become visible through the skin. A piercing which is migrating quickly will scab.

Mechanical stress
One of the most frequent causes rejection is mechanical stress on the piercing. Mechanical stress includes:

Injury to the piercing
Wearing jewelry of inappropriate dimensions (includes gauge, width, length)
Friction or pressure against clothing / other body parts
Piercing placed at an inappropriate depth or angle to the tissue
Piercing in flat areas or areas that changes shape with body movement

Inappropriately sized jewelry
Using jewelry of inappropriate size or design creates pressure on the piercing. Rings which are too small in diameter constrict the piercing and cause the entrances of the piercing to migrate to conform to the tight curvature of the ring. If a straight barbell is used through a flat area the balls will create pressure against the skin behind them, causing the piercing to migrate forward. A curved barbell will eliminate pressure between the barbell balls and the skin.

Jewelry that is too thin in gauge is more easily rejected. Wearing jewelry that is too thin increases the risk of the piercing being torn or ripped completely through if the jewelry is pulled. Thicker gauges are recommended for areas where pressure on the piercing cannot be avoided. For example, navel piercings can migrate or reject from the pressure exerted by waistbands. A navel piercing performed at 14 gauge may heal without incident if waistbands are avoided, but then begin to migrate when the wearer resumes wearing tight waistbands across the piercing.