Alright, let's get delightfully dirty, and by that, I mean fabulously frank and cheekily candid about piercing hygiene. Below is a guide packed with helpful insights on why piercings smell, battle keloids, fend off infections and allergies, and keep them fresh.
Why Do My Piercings Smell Like Old Cheese?
It's not you babe, it's bacteria.
If your piercings smells like expired camembert, you're likely dealing with a combo of sebum, dead skin cells and bacteria. A creamy (🤢) cocktail your body serves up naturally. It tends to collect around the back of earrings or inside cartilage piercings that don't get enough fresh air.
The Fix?
- Gently clean with saline of fragrance-free soap on a daily.
- Don't overdo it - stripping the skin can lead to more irritation (and yes, even more stink).
- Rotate your jewellery only after it's fully healed, not mid-crust.
Keep it clean but don't be too clinical.
Keloid? Irritation Bump?
Not all bumps are the same, and trust us, not every bump is a keloid.
Not a keloid:
That small, red, raised bump right next to your piercing? Probably just an irritation bump. It's your skin's dramatic littler overreaction to trauma. E.g. sleeping on it, tugging, or fiddling with it when you're bored.
A real keloid:
It's thick. It's growing beyond the piercing site. It's a diva. Keloids are scar tissue that throw themselves a collagen party, and they don't leave without a medical-level breakup (think steroid shots, laser, or surgical removal).
Game Plan:
- Switch to our high-quality, non-reactive jewellery (surgical steel, titanium and solid gold)
- Avoid touching it like a fidget toy
- Use warm saline compresses daily and consider a dab of diluted tea tree oil if your skin likes it.
Still in doubt? Call in a piercer, not Pinterest.
Infection Vs. Allergy: Know Your Enemies
Not every piercing gone rogue is infected. Some are just pissed off because you let a $5 nickel earring crash the party
Infections:
- Red, throbbingm warm
- Yellow or green pus
- Feels hot or feverish
What to do:
Saline soak twice a day. Don't remove the jewellery unless a professional says so. Trapping bacteria inside is worse than airing it out.
Allergic reactions:
- Itchy rash or dry flaking
- No pus, but still angry
- Often triggered by nickel
Solution? Upgrade your jewellery. Our Loveless Friday pieces are crafted for sensitive babes. Chat to us about what material would suit if you're unsure.
The Piercing Aftercare Bible
DO:
- Wash hand before touching your piercings
- Use sterile saline or warm sea salt soask for healing.
- Be gentle, NO alcohol, peroxide or weird TikTok hacks.
DON'T:
- Twist or turn fresh piercings (you're not churning butter).
- Sleep on it until it's healed (your side-sleep era begin can wait).
- Swap jewellery too early. It needs time to bond, like trauma friends.
Healing takes weeks, sometimes months. Be patient. You wouldn't rush a good love story, would you?
If you're looking for hypoallergenic pieces that won't piss off your skin, we have some inspo for your below.
Solid Gold
Titanium
