The biggest piercing myths and why they’re wrong!

Body piercing is more popular than ever, but so is misinformation and the ability for it to spread. Even before the dawn of social media, misinformation and outdated practices have been passed down as sound advice for decades. With the growing beast that is social media and AI, misinformation can spread rapidly from sources that can appear credible, even when they’re not. Everyone on the internet has an opinion and just because something may have ‘worked’ for them doesn’t mean it will for everyone, if it was in fact their miracle cure that solved the issue at all!

Safe piercing and safe healing isn’t about trends or hacks, it’s about science, anatomy and how the body heals. An analogy I like to use when someone asks whether all this ‘safe piercing malarkey’ is necessary when they healed just fine with a gun 30 years ago is as follows: you could go out for a drive without your seatbelt and not crash, but it doesn’t mean you should take that risk. It’s the same with piercing – you can get a cheap gun piercing and you may get lucky and heal it, but your chances of success are far higher if you visit a reputable studio that follows safe practices.

So with that, let’s clear up some of the most common myths that have been floating around for far too long!

Myth #1 – You should twist your jewellery – WRONG!

This is one of the oldest myths still around (thanks gun-based piercing chains!), and one that really needs to disappear!

When you get a new piercing, part of the healing process is that a new tube of skin will form, called a fistula. Twisting your jewellery will tear this fragile skin (imagine it’s like tissue paper to start), resetting the healing process. 

Secondly, you’re dirty (not just you, all of us), and your hands and the outside of the jewellery will harbour bacteria. Twisting your jewellery will introduce this bacteria directly into the wound, potentially leading to infection.

Remember when we told you not to sleep on it? That’s because constant movement & pressure can cause excess inflammation, swelling, and persistent irritation bumps. 

I can assure you that your jewellery will not get stuck if you do not twist it. This myth stems from a practice where ears were pierced with a needle and thread or silk, and because the thread was porous it could get stuck. Provided you are getting pierced with metal jewellery, and not a needle and thread, there is absolutely no reason to twist your jewellery. The piercing will thrive the most when left alone as much as possible. 

Myth #2 – Alcohol or antiseptics are the best way to clean my piercings – WRONG!

Just because it’s burning doesn’t mean it’s working! In fact I would strongly suggest not putting anything that burns into an open wound. Sterile Saline is your friend here, but first let’s talk about why we want to avoid alcohol. 

It’s understandable that you might reach for alcohol or some form of antiseptic. Alcohol and anti-septics clean things, don’t they? But you don’t have a dirty wound! If you’ve been pierced in a clean environment with sterile implements and jewellery, it’s not the same as having been scraped against the tarmac and needing a bunch of grit and bacteria flushed out.

Alcohol is very harsh, and whilst it can kill bacteria, it also kills the new cells that are trying to heal your new piercing. This prevents your body from doing its job and repairing the tissue. 

It can also cause extreme dryness. Alcohol strips the skin of its natural moisture, which can lead to dry, cracked, and irritated skin. This irritation can also be mistaken for other forms of piercing complications, which makes problem solving more difficult for your piercer, especially if you aren’t open and honest with them. It can also cause or exacerbate swelling and really burn when you apply it!

All you need to clean your piercing is sterile saline solution (0.9% sodium chloride) with no additional ingredients. For the health of your piercing it is imperative to maintain a healthy and hydrated skin balance. We know the damage that an unhealthy skin barrier can cause in regards to skincare and the same applies to your new piercings.

Myth #3 – Piercing guns are fine – WRONG!

Piercing guns are everywhere, and it’s not just piercing studios that are using them – many sales associates in high street stores are wielding them too! It’s often people’s first foray into body piercing, and although many people will have healed a piercing that was performed with a gun that doesn’t mean it’s safe! 

Unlike piercing needles, which create a clean and precise incision, a piercing gun operates purely through blunt force trauma. The gun forces a blunt stud-like earring through the tissue, damaging the surrounding skin. When used on cartilage, the intense pressure can even shatter the cartilage, leading to potential permanent deformity.

Secondly, guns are as unhygienic as it gets! Most guns are made of plastic and cannot be sterilised in an autoclave. This allows bacteria from previous clients to remain. The space that a piercing is performed in high street settings is also often less than ideal, with no immediate hand washing facilities, carpets rather than floors that are easily disinfected, crowded stores, and a room full of spectators. 

The jewellery used in a gun is also far from ideal. Firstly, it is one size fits all, and not everyone has the same thickness ears. This means that there is a high chance of embedding because the jewellery is too short. The jewellery generally also has the dreaded butterfly back! Butterfly backs are an absolute nightmare to keep clean due to all those nooks and crannies. They’re also big and bulky, and often causing snagging, make sleeping uncomfortable, and trap moisture.

Myth #4 – It’s red it must be infected – WRONG!

Redness can be worrying, but it’s not automatically or usually a sign of infections.

In the early stages of healing, some redness, swelling, and tenderness are all completely normal – this is just part of your body’s natural inflammatory response. 

So what’s the difference?

– Irritation: mild redness, slight swelling, clear or pale fluid, occasional tenderness

– Possible infection: intense or spreading redness, significant heat, thick yellow/green discharge, fever, or feeling unwell

Even if something does feel off, firstly try not to panic, monitor your symptoms, try and think back if anything unusual or traumatic has happened to your piercing recently, and contact your piercer or GP if you’re concerned.

Myth #5 – I’ve got a keloid – WRONG!

You’ve got a new piercing, but it’s developed a bump. The good news is it’s most likely not a keloid. Piercing bumps (usually irritation bumps or hypertrophic scars) are common, soft, temporary, and confined to the piercing site. On the other hand, keloids are extremely rare, firm, permanent, and grow beyond the original wound. Keloids are generally genetic and usually something you would be aware of.

Piercing bumps will not continue to grow larger over time and will often go away with care or removal of the irritating factor. Keloids, on the other hand, can continue to grow for months or years. Piercing bumps are usually caused by: pressure, friction etc, whereas keloids are overactive scar tissue. 

Again, if you’re still not sure, contact your piercer and they will be able to advise. 

Myth #6 – All piercing materials are the same – WRONG!

Unfortunately that’s not the case! Not all jewellery materials are safe to wear as body jewellery, especially in a new piercing or for long term wear. Initial jewellery is one of the most important parts of ensuring that your new piercing will heal.

Acceptable initial jewellery is made of high quality materials which are biocompatible, meaning they are far less likely to cause; allergic reaction, irritation or future complications. As well as the material, surface finish is also a major component. Jewellery can be made of the highest quality material, but if the surface finish is not smooth enough, irritation will occur.

So what should you look out for?

• Implant grade metals such as Titanium (ASTM F1295)
• Niobium
• Platinum
• Implant grade steel (not to be confused with surgical steel) ASTM F-138
• Glass
• Solid 14k-18k gold (not plated or filled)
• A smooth mirror finish polish
• Internally threaded or Threadless designs.

Whilst some materials such as silver, brass, plated gold etc are popular for some items such as ear weights, these are designed for temporary wear and may not be suitable for everyone. 

Emma Regan