What Happens To Your Body When You Get A Piercing

While piercings are relatively common, many might not know the after-effects of piercing your body. Similar to a tattoo, piercings are, well, altering a part of your body in less than natural way (via HuffPost). Thus, it makes sense that your body can undergo some internal changes.

What are these changes, however? Well, per HuffPost, one change you can experience due to a piercing is redness and swelling. So, if you see your belly ring slightly swollen, don't freak out — it's natural. Plus, it's important to remember that a piercing is (technically) a wound, so your body is only trying to heal itself, and what you use to treat your new piercing can make all the difference. "We see more redness due to harsh [cleaning] products," Maria Tash, who owns two piercing services in New York City, said to the outlet.

If redness is a problem for you, simply ice your piercing to reduce its swelling (via Teen Vogue). You should also be sure to prep your piercings for any exposure, such as traveling or harsh environments. "I especially tell clients who travel to apply ice to the area they've recently pierced about 30 to 40 minutes before landing, since flying is hard on the body and usually causes swelling," J. Colby Smith, a celebrity piercer, said.

Not only will you experience some swelling, but it also might be hard to sleep, according to Teen Vogue. The outlet revealed that you could feel some discomfort when resting after your piercing, so try to adjust accordingly. 

So you've gotten a new piercing that you're super excited about, but come two days after your new addition, you're seeing some weird stuff happen. In most cases, don't worry, we have the answers you're looking for. First and foremost, you might have an allergic reaction to your piercing, per HuffPost. Most jewelry is made of nickel, a common allergen, according to the outlet. So, if you're allergic to a certain type of metal, it may not be in your best interest to pierce your body anytime soon.

But it's not just an allergic reaction you have to worry about — there's discharge too (via Romper). Yes, that's right, your piercing can produce discharge, which is typically a sign of infection. So, please take care of your piercing.

If you have an oral piercing done, you can (possibly) experience some dental hygiene issues in the future, per Refinery29. The outlet added that oral piercings can cause chipped teeth and receding gums. And, that's not even the worst of it. Piercings can even tear your skin, meaning your skin can become (permanently) damaged.

So, as you now know, many things can happen to your body when you get a piercing. It's important to stay informed before heading to your nearest jeweler, as there are some piercings that you might just want to avoid.