Piercing Reopen Care Information

Reopening a piercing is very different than a new piercing. A piercing needs jewelry in place in order to remain loose and usable. A fully healed piercing can constrict and tighten within hours of removal, especially if the jewelry isn’t often changed or moved. Removal is often performed dry which can cause the skin to swell speeding up the tightening of the channel. Trying to force the jewelry back in can also cause swelling and other damage, again compounding the tightening of the channel.

Reopening a piercing channel is sometimes more uncomfortable than a new piercing, but the faster changeout is the positive trade-off. A new piercing should never be performed with a viable channel due to high risk of infection. The channel is packed with dead skin cells, sebaceous fluid and who-knows how much bacteria and other normal body flora hanging out in there. So the reopening is the safest option.

Healing Expectations

• once it is determined that the piercing channel is viable, a tapering pin is used to open/loosen (no needles!)

• healing time is 2-3 weeks for most piercing sites, much quicker changeout period

• a few days of discomfort are expected following reopening, so use gentle movement with water or isopropyl alcohol 2-3 days

• use of hot water compress is also recommended for soothing

That’s it! Easy enough.