Frequently Asked Questions

Keloids (left) are semi-permanent dark or skin toned bumps on a piercing. They can progress past the point of one initial bump and will not go down on their own. These growths must be removed either surgically or using steroid injections administered by a dermatologist and can not be treated with at home remedies or oils. Please inform your piercer if you have a history of keloiding as getting pierced can increase the risk of growths.

Piercing irritation bumps (right) are often fleshy, red, and filled with fluid. They can manifest as a singular bump on the front or back of a piercing. These growths can be treated and will likely go down over time. Irritation bumps are often caused by trauma such as but not limited to: snagging, pulling, touching, twisting, or changing your jewelry too soon, being pierced at an improper angle, size, or with the wrong shape or style of jewelry. Some internal factors can cause irritations to form such as sickness, stress, or improper physiological care. Most often because these bumps are fluid filled we never recommend popping them but instead using the regularly recommended sterile saline spray an additional time a day (3x a day instead of 2x) to help dry it down and give it time. Never remove your piercing before speaking with your piercer first.

Bodies come in all shapes and sizes. A common misconception is that the size of your body and your weight dictates whether or not you can have your navel pierced. This couldn't be further from the truth. The most important factor in getting a navel piercing is the shape of the navel and whether or not there is a ridge thick enough to support 14g - 12g Jewelry. 

Let's start with navels that can't be pierced. Outies and vertical navels typically can't be pierced. While outies seemingly should just be able to be pierced right through that bulb it unfortunately can cause severe damage to the internal organs should it be done improperly. Vertical navels tend to have too little tissue in the area to safely hold jewelry in place and can in turn increase the risk of rejection and leave you with scarring.

Navels that can be pierced starting with the most commonly advertised Light bulb shaped navel has a rounded shape that doesn't tend to flatten out when the client sits down or bends over, making it the perfect shape for Double Gemmed Navel Curves. Round, Horizontal, or Deep hollow Navels can also frequently be pierced with a slightly different style of jewelry called a Floating Navel Curve. This style of jewelry focuses on blinging out the top of the navel and using a small bead or disk on the inside of the navel to decrease excess pressure on the piercing channel and prevent migration or rejection from pressure caused when sitting or bending down. 

There is a test piercers will do in order to determine the anatomy and jewelry style best suited to be successful. A piercer might have you sit, stand, and bend to see how your navel moves or flattens. Should it flatten out they may recommend Floating Navel Jewelry. Another thing they may do is run their finger up from the inside of your navel, this is to test the ridge. Should the finger slide right up and not catch on the skin fold it might not be possible to pierce your navel. Always check with a piercer before assuming your anatomy isn't sufficient. Worst case scenario if a piercer doesn't think you have great anatomy, get a second opinion!

There are two types of irritation associated with navels. On the top of the piercing it is normal to experience redness, discoloration, and even bumps. These are most often caused by excess movement which is had to avoid given the nature of the area. The second is moisture irritation on the inside of the navel. These bumps tend to be fleshy, wet, and can often bleed. These moisture irritations are based in jus that, moisture. The best way to treat moisture irritation is by mindfully drying off your piercing after bathing, cleaning, or submerging your piercing in anything that may trap moisture inside the navel. Once the moisture issue is addressed the bump should start to go down slowly.