Common Types of Discharge with Body Piercing

Clear liquid: Totally normal, especially with a new piercing. Leave it be. Wiping or using a q-tip can cause damage to the healing surface. More.

Yellowish/Orange: Also completely normal. This is the serous fluid your piercer told you about. Sometimes it will be liquid, sometimes dried. Leave it be.

White to Light Yellow: Also normal. This is a sign of the presence of white blood cells, which are always present INSIDE the piercing channel. So seeing this usually is the realist of the piercing being moved or squeezed or pulled sideways… Stop touching the piercing altogether. Start hot water compresses for a few days.

Dark Yellow, Thick: This is also white blood cells, but this is a sign that something is not going well. Infections are not easy to get, but this would be an early sign that one may be brewing inside the piercing channel. Immediately start hot water compresses for a damaged piercing. And send us a pic and regular updates so we can track your progress.

Brown & Bloody: A sure sign that your piercing is infected. DO NOT remove the piercing!! It needs to drain. Start hot water compresses and see your doctor for care. Again, leave the piercing in place so that it does not seal the infection inside the piercing channel. The compressing will help thin the secretion and you’ll see an increase in that discharge. But this is GOOD!! Better out of the piercing than remaining inside of it. Text us and send updates/pics of your progress, please.

Bleeding: This is normal with new piercings, or following a healing piercing getting damaged. New and damaged piercings are surrounded with small blood vessels, called capillaries, that provide nourishment and building materials to the skin healing around the jewelry. These vessels are the smallest in the body, and so are under very high pressure. When they break, they can bleed more than you might expect. We suggest ice-compresses for active, repeated bleeding. Repeat every hour for a few hours in a row.

Scabbing: While not usual, some scabbing or clotting can occur following bleeding. A cold water compress followed by a cool flushing rinse usually breaks this up easily. However, scabbing can also occur following damage to the piercing opening. Make sure to not pick or peel this type of scab as it may further damage the piercing opening and lead to other problems, such as scarring or rejection of the piercing altogether.