Dermal Removal: Piercer VS Doctor

I don’t want to submit a photo of this individual because not only is it filtered (instagram) so that the redness and infection is difficult to see, it is on her very-identifiable face and I don’t wish to play that game. But here is my story:

About a year ago, my side-by-side dermals beneath my collarbone had a very nasty accident with my fuzzy pillow, which is filled with fuzzy-pillow bacteria being that I can’t just throw my fuzzy pillow in the washer after I drool on it and rub my hair and skin oils all over it all night - it has to be steam cleaned. They ripped but didn’t come out because I was quick to stop moving and untangle them from the fuzzies. I called my mom crying, and she refrained from “I told you so” and simply made an appointment with the doctor for the next afternoon. When I arrived, he took a look and informed me that he had never even heard of these piercings and was not sure how to remove them. I explained to him, complete with a diagram of the jewelry, how the piercing was done, and which side of the gem had the long leg and short leg under my skin. Two injections of local anesthesia later, he was snipping tissue and I felt nothing but pressure. After removal, my doctor (with gloved hands, of course) applied pressure to the area and squeezed out any pus (etc.) that he could, and gave me wound care instructions and a prescription for antibiotics to kill any infection that was still there.

Had I not gone to the doctor, and my piercer had removed them, chances are my skin would have healed over the infection and an abscess would have formed (which can be deadly if not attended to). My doctor learned something new, and he caught on quickly because he is a smart man - if your doctor is not a smart man who is quick to learn, you should find another doctor.

Last fall, a girl from my area (who I’d never even met or heard of up until after this) started following me on instagram out of the blue. I followed back, and I couldn’t help but comment politely with my advice (based on my experience) one day when she posted her infected facial dermal, crying about it. She became very rude and told me I was stupid and that I don’t know anything about piercings (I’ve had over 15 piercings, most of which I’ve had done after serious research), and she was going to her piercer friend who did all her piercings and knew everything about it. I explained to her that it would be more painful that way and the piercer couldn’t give her any antibiotics for the infection, and told her good luck. She then commented on a photo of my ear (I had just gotten a new double forward helix recently) - one of my earrings was shaped really oddly, and she chastised me for having poorly aligned piercings and told me I was unqualified to give her advice (all because my earring was shaped in a way that you can’t really tell where the post on the back is). I explained that to her, wished her the best again, and blocked her from contact.

All I can say is that I hope her “piercer friend” referred her to a doctor as well and refused to remove it.

LESSON TO LEARN: IF YOUR PIERCING IS INFECTED, PLEASE GO TO A DOCTOR. SKIP THE PIERCER - THEY CANNOT PRESCRIBE ANTIBIOTICS FOR WHAT COULD BE A DEADLY INFECTION.

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MODERATOR’S COMMENT:

I agree with the sentiment that if you believe you have an infection, you should go straight to see your doctor for antibiotics. This is the same advice a professional piercer should give you if you go to see them about infection, anyway.

HOWEVER, I would like to make it clear that there is absolutely NOTHING WRONG with a piercer removing a surface anchor. In fact, that is the way I prefer it be done. Doctors cause much more trauma when they cut them out. A skilled piercer could remove the surface anchor just with massage and pressure, because they have a greater understanding of the jewelry and the piercing. There is absolutely no need to use a local anesthetic or cut them out, and it greatly increases the healing time and the chance of scar tissue.

I would’ve suggested going to your doctor about the infection, and then having your piercer remove them after being put on antibiotics. They are different professionals for different problems.