Getting a new piercing can be an exciting experience, but the healing process afterward is not always easy. Some piercings take longer than others to heal fully and can be prone to complications like infections and rejections. When considering a new piercing, it’s important to research how long the estimated healing time is and what factors may make it more difficult to heal. Some of the hardest piercings to heal properly include:
Industrial Piercing
An industrial piercing, which is a single barbell going through two piercings in the upper ear cartilage, is notorious for being tricky to heal. There are a few reasons this piercing tops the list of hardest to heal:
- It’s two piercings in one – Having two fresh puncture wounds so close together with only one jewelry piece means both piercing sites have to heal at the same time.
- Cartilage takes longer to heal – Ear cartilage is less vascularized than earlobes or other fleshy body parts, meaning less blood flow to transport healing nutrients and cells.
- High motion area – The top of the ear is a high friction and motion area, which can lead to irritation and prolong healing.
- Prone to bumps and snags – The long jewelry bar is prone to bumping and snagging, which causes trauma and setbacks in healing.
For these reasons, industrials can take 9-12 months or longer to fully heal. Proper aftercare like cleaning and not sleeping on the piercing is very important.
Nose Piercings
Nose piercings, especially nostril and septum piercings, are infamous for stubborn healing. Reasons they can be difficult include:
- Crusties and boogers – Crusty discharge and nasal secretions can get stuck on the jewelry, leading to irritation and infection.
- Frequent motion – The nose is moved a lot during facial expressions, so the piercing rarely rests undisturbed.
- Sensitive location – The nose is very vascularized and has a lot of nerve endings, making it more reactive to trauma.
If proper aftercare isn’t followed, nose piercings can develop bumps or take 4-6 months to maybe longer to fully heal.
Navel/Belly Button Piercings
Though navel or belly button piercings have grown in popularity, the healing process can be lengthy and tricky, including:
- Slow healing tissue – The navel area has less vascularized tissue and is prone to moisture buildup, impeding healing.
- High irritation area – Clothing, seatbelts, and movement can irritate and prolong healing.
- Prone to infection – Bacteria thrive in the warm, moist navel area even without a piercing.
Without diligent aftercare, navel piercings are prone to painful infections and can take up to 9-12 months to fully heal.
Surface Piercings
Surface piercings like hip, chest, and eyebrow piercings have jewelry that lays flush on the skin. This makes them prone to:
- High rejection rate – The shallow depth and jewelry placement makes migration and rejection very common.
- Snagging hazards – The exposed jewelry is prone to being pulled and snagged, impairing healing.
- Difficult cleaning – Cleaning the site without moving the jewelry too much is tricky.
Surface piercings have a very high rejection rate and can take over 12 months to potentially heal fully if lucky.
Oral Piercings
Oral piercings on the lips, tongue, cheeks, or uvula come with their own set of healing risks like:
- Oral bacteria – The mouth has high levels of bacteria that can infect a piercing.
- Frequent irritation – Eating, talking, and oral hygiene habits can disturb the site.
- Damage risk – Oral piercings have a higher chance of damaging teeth and gums.
Oral piercings require diligent aftercare and have a prolonged healing time of 4-6 months or longer before fully healed.
Genital Piercings
Intimate genital piercings come with specialized risks and prolonged healing like:
- Sensitive tissue – Genital tissue is very vascularized and nerve-dense, increasing pain and swelling.
- Bodily fluids – Urine, menstrual fluids, and other secretions can harbor bacteria.
- Friction – Clothing and activities cause movement that irritates healing.
Genital piercings can take from 4-6 months to over a year to fully heal without complications.
Conclusion
When it comes to piercings, the harder to reach areas or those prone to moisture, friction, and secretions tend to have the most difficult and prolonged healing. Areas like the nose, navel, cartilage, and genitals require careful aftercare and patience during healing. Even “easier” areas have some healing time though, so always follow your piercer’s advice and never change jewelry too soon. With time and proper care, even the most stubborn piercings can eventually heal beautifully!