When Can I Change My Industrial Piercing?
An industrial piercing is a piercing with one piece of jewelry that connects two holes. This piercing style can take a good deal longer to heal than some other types, and you’ll want to wait for full healing before you change your jewelry.
If you’re wondering, “When can I change my industrial piercing?” make sure to learn the signs that indicate your piercing has fully healed.
When Can I Change My Industrial Piercing?
You must wait for an industrial piercing to heal completely before you try to change your jewelry. Industrial piercings do not heal quickly, though. It commonly takes a minimum of 6 to 9 months for healing.
Often, the process can last even a year. In other words, it may be a full year before you can swap out your industrial piercing.
Before you get an industrial piercing, it’s important to understand how essential patience is in this process. You should never skip ahead and try to change the jewelry before the site is ready. Otherwise, you risk damaging the hole, which can lead to scarring, infection, or a closed-up piercing.
Can I Change My Industrial Piercing After a Month?
Like many people, you may be anxious to swap out your jewelry as soon as possible. Unfortunately, one month is not enough time for this type of piercing to heal. You’ll need to wait before changing your jewelry.
Can I Change My Industrial Piercing After 3 Months?
Most experts recommend waiting at least six months to change an industrial piercing, so three months is generally not enough time. There are some instances, though, when an industrial piercing may heal in just three months. It’s best to have your piercing evaluated by a professional before moving forward.
How Do You Know When It’s Safe to Change an Industrial Piercing?
To know when your piercing is ready to change, you have to pay attention to the signs that it has healed. Once you pass the test, you can start thinking about putting in a new barbell.
Look for these signs of healing:
- No pain or discomfort
- No redness
- No discharge
- Holes look smooth and have edges that turn inward
- Jewelry moves easily through the holes when you apply gentle pressure
The best way to determine whether your piercing is completely healed is to consult a piercing professional. Visit your local piercing shop and ask to have your holes evaluated. Even if you’re anxious to hear that you can change your piercing soon, listen carefully to what the pro has to say.
Once you’ve determined that your piercing has completely healed, it’s still a good idea to wait a few weeks longer before making your jewelry swap. When it comes to industrial piercings, the more time you can give it, the better.
Image: Aileen Fritz.
What Happens if You Change Your Industrial Piercing Too Soon?
For one thing, one or both holes may close before you can get a new piece of jewelry in. You will lose the piercing for which you have waited for so long.
Also, you can damage the site. A not-yet-healed piercing is prone to infection. Taking one piece of jewelry out and putting another in could introduce bacteria to the area. Plus, the trauma to the unhealed site may cause pain and bleeding.
It’s also possible for a scar to develop if you mess with the jewelry before your piercing is ready.
How to Heal an Industrial Piercing?
There are several steps you can take to help your industrial piercing heal as fast as possible.
1. Use Safe Materials
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You’ll need to choose high-quality jewelry that you aren’t allergic to like K gold and implant-grade titanium. They are hypoallergenic and less likely to be rejected.
You should also ensure you get pierced by someone experienced and reliable who utilizes the right cleaning and sterilization procedures.
2. Clean Your Piercing Twice Per Day
Use a homemade saline solution or an antibacterial cleanser approved by your piercer each day and always wash your hands before touching it.
3. Avoid Touching the Piercing
If you introduce bacteria to the site, it may become infected, which may lengthen healing time. While the area may itch as it heals, do your best not to touch it. If you accidentally scratch it, rinse the area immediately with a sea salt solution.
4. Allow It to Fully Heal Before Changing the Jewelry
You must wait for an industrial piercing to heal completely before you try to change your jewelry.
A not-yet-healed piercing is prone to infection. Taking one piece of jewelry out and putting another in could introduce bacteria to the area. Plus, the trauma to the unhealed site may cause pain and bleeding.
5. Avoid Contact With Scented Soaps, Perfumes, Chemicals, and Other Chemicals
Protect it from cosmetics and hair products as they may cause an infection. If you plan to go to a hairstylist, tell them you have a fresh piercing so they can take precautions against touching it.
6. Avoid Using Headphones or Sleeping on the Ear You Had Pierced
Wear earphones instead of headphones to avoid applying unnecessary pressure on the piercings. Avoid sleeping on the recently pierced ear as this will also apply unnecessary pressure. It is recommended to not get both ears pierced at the same time.
While it can be challenging to sleep with a new industrial, place a clean t-shirt over your pillow so it does not get contaminated with bacteria while you sleep.
7. Watch for Signs of Infection
Finally, watch for signs of infection, such as swelling, tenderness, and pus drainage. If you notice any of these signs, contact your piercer immediately.
After you get your piercing, be sure to follow all instructions from your piercer.
How to Change an Industrial Piercing?
Most industrial piercings use barbell jewelry with balls on each end. The balls screw on and off of the bar.
When it’s time to change your piercing, unscrew both of the balls. Then, lift up the bar so that it slides out of the lower piercing hole. Repeat the process on the other side, gently pulling the bar downward and out of the upper hole.
You can then insert a new bar. Start by carefully pushing into the top hole and then bringing it through the bottom one. Finally, screw on the two balls.
Another option is to have your piercer change the barbell for you. This is often recommended for the first jewelry swap.
Take care to allow for full healing first, and your industrial piercing change — whether done on your own or by a pro — should be a smooth process.
