Why is my piercing itchy? Is your piercing up to par?

Are your piercings itchy? You are not alone. Even if you follow your T-T piercing care plan. Often itching starts a week or more into the healing process. We answer if it's a problem, what causes it, and how to prevent piercing itching.

Is it normal for piercings to itch?

Fear not, itchy cartilage piercings are completely normal. Actually, this is a good sign. An itchy piercing is a sign that your healing is progressing properly. Remember that even if itching is normal, itching is a bad idea. 

What Causes Piercing Itches?

When you get a piercing, your body treats it like a wound. Swelling and scabs are common in the first few days as your body tries to defend itself. When the swelling subsides, your body may try to remove the jewelry.

To do this, the connective tissue around the piercing jewelry slowly moves towards the surface of the skin. This results in an itchy sensation, which is essentially the body's attempt to get you to scratch the piercing and remove the jewelry.

It's important for your body to go through this process to heal around your new piercing, but resist the urge to scratch. However, severe itching or a rash is not normal. If you have severe itching or a rash, this may be the result of: 

Improper care after piercing

When you get a piercing, any qualified piercer will provide detailed piercing care instructions to clean and care for the piercing. If these instructions are not followed, an infection that causes itching can occur. If you think you have an infection, see your doctor or piercer.

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Soap is also a likely culprit. Cleaning the puncture site with soap containing harsh chemicals or triclosan (a common ingredient in laundry soap) can cause itching. Replace with an antimicrobial, fragrance-free clear glycerin soap or PurSan. 

Also, if you use too much salt in sea salt baths, you can irritate or itch at the piercing. Harsh chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide are another potential risk. 

Selection of jewelry

Jewelry is a likely candidate for an itchy piercing, especially if you didn't purchase it from a professional piercing store. Nickel allergy is a common cause of itching or rashes, and nickel is found in many cheap body piercings. 

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When buying jewelry for a new piercing, look for titanium alloy or 14-18 carat gold. These materials are lightweight and do not contain nickel.

We advise you to continue using these materials for as long as you have the piercing, but once the piercing is completely healed, you can replace it with other materials. Just watch for signs of an allergic reaction. If you get a rash or itching, switch back to nickel-free jewelry.

What can you do to stop or prevent itching?

As mentioned above, the first thing to do is to make sure you are properly caring for and using the right products. Then look at the decorations. Poor quality jewelry is a potential cause. If this is not the source of the problem, there is more you can do.

Try to air out the piercing. A piercing covered by clothing, such as a navel piercing, needs to breathe. Wearing light, breathable clothing can help, as well as removing obstructive clothing at home. 

Salt baths can also help relieve itching from piercings. Keep the salt ratio below ¼ teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt to 1 cup of warm distilled water. You can do as many salt baths as you need throughout the day.

If you have dry, itchy skin, there are suitable ointments. Use only a small amount of ointment. You want to have enough to hydrate your skin without blocking the oxygen supply to the piercing. If additional redness develops after using the ointment, stop using the product. 

Don't scratch. The worst thing you can do for an itchy cartilage piercing is scratch it. This increases itching, aggravates the piercing, and can even cause damage.

Make sure your piercing aftercare is up to par with piercing experts

When it comes to your health and safety, it is always worth entrusting the care of yourself to professionals. At Pierced, our professionally trained piercers always put your safety first. We will advise you on suitable jewelry and offer an individual piercing care program.

Book your piercing today or stop by our Mississauga Square One mall.