10
If your piercing won’t open, don’t panic. A few tips and tricks can help you open the piercing again.
Piercing won’t open – what you can do
It’s not uncommon for a piercing to get stuck from time to time. Especially if you haven’t changed your piercing in a long time, or if you’re changing it for the first time, you may need to be patient. So if your piercing refuses to open, follow these tips:
- Before touching the piercing, wash your hands and disinfect the affected area with wound disinfectant. This is particularly important if the piercing is inflamed or has been recently pierced.
- Also, turn the ball in the right direction. If you want to open the piercing, you have to turn it counterclockwise, i.e., to the left. If you want to close it again, turn the ball to the right.
- It may be that you or your piercer have screwed the ball on too tightly, making the piercing more difficult to open. In this case, you will need patience and a little strength. It is best to use special piercing pliers to help you grip the ball.
- If you don’t have pliers at home, you can also use some toilet paper to help you grip the piercing ball better. Clean disposable gloves also provide a better grip and should help you unscrew the ball. If the piercing is on your ear or another hard-to-reach area, you may want to ask for help.
- If your piercing is only a few weeks old, you should not try to open it yourself. Depending on the type of body jewelry, it can take weeks or months before it is properly healed and can be replaced. If your piercing is infected and you want to remove it for this reason, be sure to go to your piercer. The first jewelry change after piercing should always be done by the piercer.
- Important: If you are unable to remove the piercing even with the help of our tips, you should definitely visit your piercing studio. The professionals there not only know what they are doing, but also have professional and sterile tools to open the piercing painlessly.
Piercing pain: Tips for pain relief
A certain amount of pain is normal with any new piercing. How severe the pain is and how long it lasts depends on the type of piercing and individual factors such as skin type and healing process.
- Normal types of pain: Immediately after piercing, most people experience a burning or stinging sensation that subsides after a few hours. The area may also throb or feel tight for the first few days. With cartilage piercings (e.g., helix or tragus), the pain is usually more intense and longer-lasting than with an earlobe piercing.
- Duration of pain: Mild pain and a feeling of tension are normal in the first few days. With lip or tongue piercings, the swelling can also cause pressure pain. Depending on the location on the body, sensitivity can last for several weeks, with the intensity steadily decreasing.
- When to see a doctor? If the pain does not subside after a few days but increases, or if you experience severe redness, pus at the piercing site, fever, or massive swelling, you should definitely seek medical attention.
Tips for pain relief
Various tips can help you relieve pain.
- Cooling with a clean, cold compress cloth can help reduce swelling and pressure pain.
- Painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol can be taken if necessary. However, aspirin should be avoided as it inhibits blood clotting.
- Good piercing care with mild, suitable disinfectants prevents inflammation, which could increase pain.
- Stay calm: Avoid unnecessary twisting or playing with the jewelry, as this prolongs healing.
