Healed vs Mature Piercing: What's the diff?
This is one of those just downright confusing issues in body piercing. And it is not possible to be right about it 100% of the time. So that’s why we are SUPER conservative with our healing time-frames here at Kutters Edge.
Here are some of the things that make it tough:
Healing rates are dependent on individual factors, from general health of the skin and immune system of a person, repetitive damage and touching or, well, the body sometimes just doesn’t want to do what we want it to do. (See “body piercing is weird” article!) Or possibly a combo of all of these things! 😳 Sad but true!
A piercing heals from the OUTSIDE to the INSIDE. The outside surfaces (openings) are where the skin protects itself from invasion and infection, so usually piercings heal here first (except nostril piercings, totally different 🙄). The inside surface is where ALL the action is: the new skin layering along the piercing “tunnel” is the bulk of the healing time-frame. (I think of it as a construction project…) AND it cannot be SEEN by you while you’re healing… So its super hard to tell what’s going on with it without years of experience.
A healing piercing doesn’t always hurt when touched (NOT that we want anyone actually touching their healing piercings!! 😁). I like to say that they don’t have the “hot stove” pain reflex. Damage can be done (especially by touching) that is never felt as pain.
Alternatively, a piercing that originally was sore or tender (pretty much ANY piercing in cartilage) will stop hurting WAY before it is ready to be changed. So don’t start messing with it just because it doesn’t hurt anymore!!! 🐒👉
Finally, but certainly not everypossiblething, the new skin lining the piercing channel can be done knitting together but not be MATURE enough to maintain its shape when the jewelry is removed. (This is the #1 reason why we recommend waiting so long!) Skin is super elastic (thank goodness), but this means that the only thing holding it open and in shape is the jewelry until its older and has been changed many times. I think of it as the “smoothing” of the somewhat grippy new skin lining. Older piercings can collapse inward, too. It just takes a bit longer.
Bottom line here is this: even if you waited the entire healing period before changing your piercing… It is not mature and so may give you some issues. So expect this rather than just assuming all will be fine.
Oh, and final thoughts on this (for now, anyway…):
Don’t just decide at random during your busy day to change out your piercing the first time. Plan this ahead of time. After a shower or bath is good timing (or do a hot water compress). Use coconut oil (virgin, unrefined) as a lubricant for both removing and reinserting. And, most importantly: don’t use a MIRROR! If your eyes can see the piercing, your hands won’t be able to do what they need to do. Rely less on the eyes and more on the hands.
For any issues with this stuff, just reach out! That’s what we’re here for! 😊