8 myths about piercings you need to stop believing

Ear Piercing Gloves
Piercings seem to never go out of style, but there are a few myths you ought to debunk before your next appointment.

In 2018, ear and body piercings seem more ubiquitous than ever. Multiple ear piercings are increasingly common. With no small help from Kylie Jenner, nipple piercings are trending again. '90s nostalgia has many experts expecting a resurgence in belly button piercings.

Still, despite the popularity of piercings, several misconceptions persist. There are a number of myths about the healing and piercing process that the public believes to be true despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. When opting for a facial or body piercing, it's important to research after-care instructions and go into the experience informed; acting on rumors or word of mouth can be dangerous.

From healing instructions to piercing guns, here are eight piercing myths that are unequivocally false.

Even if you take out the stud, the piercing will leave a mark.

Body jewelry may be temporary, but taking out a piercing does not necessarily leave the skin behind smooth and unblemished. Some scars are worse than others, but most piercings don't magically dissolve into nothingness.

Dermatologist Amy J. Derick told the Huffington Post that "scarring, bumps, depressions or holes may remain" after jewelry is removed regardless of the piercing. Furthermore, Brian Keith Thompson of Body Electric told Refinery29 that he tries to counsel young patrons before piercing their faces to warn them of the long-term outcomes.

"If a young girl comes in [for a nose piercing]… I really counsel them and say, 'Hey this is going to leave a mark on your face for the rest of your life,'" he said. He also warns consumers against uninformed cheek piercings: "I tell people once you go down this road with a cheek piercing, there's no coming back. This is an actual body modification and you're changing your body pretty much forever."

It shouldn't cause any issue.
Christinne Muschi/Reuters

There's a persisting myth that nipple piercings and breastfeeding are mutually exclusive. This is false. Nipple piercings can cause complications or scarring, but fortunately, they should not impact any woman's ability to breastfeed a baby.

It doesn't quite work that way.

This is definitely not always recommended. Ryan Ouellette of Precision Body Art told Bustle that if a piercing is rejected, it should not be re-pierced.

"Scar tissue is much weaker than healthy tissue," he told the outlet. "Piercing under an abandoned fistula can cause bacteria and oils to build up in the old site causing drainage problems similar to acne at the site."

If you're looking to re-pierce a site, consult with an expert first.

Sometimes the quirky piercings heal quickly.

There's a perception that "standard" piercings like the ear heal quickest and out-of-the-box piercings (like genitals) take much longer. This isn't always true: piercer Elayne Angel told Cosmopolitan.com that "because the area is protected by clothing," genital piercings have a very low chance of infection.

They're popular but that doesn't mean they're simple.

This goes hand-in-hand with the "wild piercings" rhetoric. There's a wide assumption that ear piercings are no big deal, but a popular 1998 study found that 35% of nurses surveyed at a hospital reported complication with their ear piercings. (And they're nurses, so you know they followed the after-care instructions).

It could be making it worse.

Not only does ointment not exacerbate healing, but it can actually hurt the process. According to the Huffington Post, dust or "other irritants" can actually stick to the ointment and work to infect the piercing.

The standards vary.
Paul Stein/Flickr

Going into a professional piercing parlor is always preferable to doing it yourself, but not all shops are created equal. Contrary to popular opinion, there are no federal regulations in place for the piercing industry, so standards vary from state to state. Currently, only 37 of the 50 states regulate the body-piercing industry, so do your research.

Plastic can only be cleaned so much.

There's something marginally less terrifying about a bit of plastic piercing your ear rather than a three-inch needle. Still, experts say piercing guns are far from ideal.

"You can't actually sterilize a piercing gun," Good Housekeeping noted. While disinfectant is helpful, it isn't possible to fully sterilize anything made of plastic. This makes piercing by needle all the more alluring.

Sign up hereto get INSIDER's favorite stories straight to your inbox.

SEE ALSO: 12 horror stories that will scare you out of getting a tattoo or piercing

FOLLOW US: INSIDER is on Facebook

More: Features Piercings Freelancer Beauty