Whenever the skin's protective barrier is broken, local skin infections from staph or strep bacteria are a risk. Of all the body sites commonly pierced, the navel is the most likely to become infected because of its shape. Infections can often be treated with good skin hygiene and antibiotic medications.
Safest Piercings
Along with the nostrils and belly button, the earlobes are the safest and most common body part to be pierced. The flesh of the earlobe heals well when the area is cleaned regularly and the piercing is done at the proper angle.
“Piercings that go through ear cartilage are much more likely to become infected and are more difficult to treat than infections through the ear lobe or the soft tissues just above the lobe,” Dr. Kaplan says.
Nose piercings are notoriously hard healers, as they are a very sensitive area due to the nerves that run though. They take at least 12 weeks before being able to be changed, and even then, may need more time.
Septum. The septum piercing (a.k.a. a piercing through the soft tissue in between your nostrils) is one of the fastest-healing and lowest-irritation piercing zones. Unlike the nostril, the septum is exposed to fewer bacteria and is known to be a quick healer.
Lobe (including Orbital): “The earlobe piercing is the easiest piercing to get in terms of pain and healing,” says Rose. “It is with minimal discomfort, and healing can take four to six weeks.” With that said, Rose does advise against using rubbing alcohol and peroxide, and wearing face masks that go behind your ears.
Generally, infection is the most common side effect of a piercing, and it all depends on where you get it done. The ear, which is relatively exposed, is a low risk area, while genital piercings are the most high-risk area. It can also depend on what kind of piercing -- a post, ring or loop -- you get in a given area.
Surface piercings are the most common types of piercing to be rejected by the body. Surface piercings travel along an area of skin, rather than going directly through a body part. The jewelry punctures only a small amount of the skin's surface. Examples of surface piercings include eyebrows, neck, hip, and wrist.
Even with proper care, about 20% of earlobe piercings become infected and 30% of cartilage piercings become infected. Most commonly, an infected ear piercing is caused by bacteria entering the wound, which can happen in several ways.
Metals. Staying away from nickel is always a safe bet — look for earrings that use stainless steel, platinum, or titanium metals. Additionally, you can consider gold or sterling silver, but Dr.
As you can see your choice of piercing can influence how likely it is to reject. For example, there is less chance of a Daith piercing rejection or nose piercing rejection compared to an eyebrow piercing rejection or bridge piercing rejection.
The snug piercing is known to be the most painful ear piercing for the majority of people to receive. On the pain scale, it ranks at around a 9/10 compared to other piercings. However, keep in mind that even the most painful piercings will likely hurt less than getting a paper cut.
Dr. Rabach also endorses titanium for new piercings, explaining that this metal "is a top choice for piercings because it's biocompatible (meaning your body won't recognize it as foreign and form a reaction against it). Titanium is so safe that it is often used as the metal of choice for surgical implants."
Some piercing locations — like your ears and nose — are more likely to bleed than others due to the rich blood supply in that area of the body, says Dr. Harshal Ranglani, MD, a practicing clinical and aesthetic dermatologist. It's why she says a slight spotting from blood in the first few days is completely normal.
#1: Nostril Piercings
Nose piercings are overall the most popular piercings for women. Around 19% of pierced women have at least one nose piercing. Nostril piercings are the most popular of these and can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.
Daith piercings can usually only be performed using a specialized needle that was first designed by Erik Dakota. Although it was initially done for aesthetic purposes, today Daith piercing for anxiety is common. After getting the piercing, some people claim that it helps reduce their anxiety.
Daith piercings are one of the most fun piercings to style! Located on the smallest fold of the cartilage in your ear, where the outer ridge of your ear meets your inner ear above the ear canal, this is a unique piercing that can handle a wow-worthy statement piece.
Nipple piercings tend to take longer to heal because they're so sensitive and easily irritated by daily activities, like getting dressed, sleeping, or any kind of rough physical contact. If they're well taken care of, however, they can heal as quickly as eight months.
Oral Piercings – Especially the Tongue & Webbing!
The tongue takes from 3 to 4 weeks to heal, the lip 2 to 3 months and the tongue webbing 8-10 weeks. Oral piercings from the tongue, the webbing underneath the tongue and behind the lips, and even the lips themselves are some of the fastest healing parts of our bodies!
The standard lobe placement is most individuals' first piercing. These piercings arguably rate the lowest on the pain scale compared to other common placements. Because there is no cartilage on the earlobe, these piercings will heal fairly quickly – within approximately six to eight weeks after your session.