Neck Piercing

Aisling!

Hi all,
I've had a surface piercing on the back of me neck for about the last year and a half, about a month or so ago I noticed it had started to become a little bit unhealthy (there was alot of excess gunk comin out of it!). I just gave it a little bit more attention cleaning wise and it seemed to heal ok, but recently someone pointed out to me that there's a dark purple line running across my skin where the bar is ( Probably should have noticed sooner but I can't see the back of my neck). I'm just wondering would this be caused by me taking it out and putting it back in quite a bit? Will this heal or would I be better off taking the piercing out altogether? Any advice would be great!
Thanks

Shelli

You take it out and put it back in? I don't think your supposed to take out surface piercings at all, I could be wrong, but I think it's supposed to be avoided. Check with your piercer.

melekalikimaka

i've had nothing but hassle with them neck bars, going to be my third one once i heal fully.a year and a half is very long to have it still in. i'd check with a pro tho, doesn't sound normal. where did you get it done?

Will

could the material of the bar, was it done in a reputable place?

amazingemmet

Sounds likes its rejecting to me. Best to get it checked out though

Gauge

Sounds like the infamous line of death to me.

Aisling!

I did get it done in a reputable place (I'm not sure whether I'm allowed to name it or not?), I just thought after having it done for quite a while it would have rejected it sooner. I looks like scar tissue or something but I'm not sure, whats the infamous line of death??? Has anyone come across this before?

Gauge

Yep, the red line of death USUALLY means it is rejection Rejection can be caused by lots of things, including irritation, which is why it's not a good idea to take a nape piercing in and out. Excess gunk is also a sign of this: when my nape started rejecting the first signs were it was lymping (gunk) like crazy, the holes got red and pissed off, and a line started appearing over the bar (line of death).

So, I'd advise you to go back to your piercer and see what they think (i'm not a piercer, and I'm not qualified to tell you if your piercing is rejecting, but it sounds like it)

If it is, the sooner you take it out, the less scarring there will be, and it'll be easier to get it repierced if you want.

A surface piercing is always on a balance, no matter how long it's been there- if that balance gets tipped and the rejection process starts it's usually impossible to reverse it.

Either way, your piercer should be able to advise you on what to do.

garthv

Ive had my nape done over 3 years now( i think),
Havent taken it out once, cant say that would be too good for it tbh!
Red line across the piercing sounds like the skin underneath is tearing so im gonna guess at rejection!

Aisling!

Thanks guys looks like I better get it checked out so, I kinda hope I don't have to take it out though I like it!

Fantasy_Suicide

Yeah, sounds pretty dodgy to me. However....

I did have the same problem with the top of my arm. Line of death appeared. So I started soaking it and looking after it alot better. And now it's doing fantastically. Then again. I have weird skin like that.

As the lads say, go have it checked. If it has to come out, it's not that much of a big deal. There's always the possibility of having it redone. You'd have to wait for the scar tissue to heal a bit (9 months, I've been told) or have it pierced below/above the original spot.

My advice is to give it a good soak next time you're in the bath. I know it's a pain, but it's worth it. A tablespoon of SEAsalt to the bath water and try soak it for 45mins. It does wonders. The next day you'll notice a load of gunk and crap around the bar. Clean it off, and keep an eye on it! Good luck!

rannerap

it sounds like rejection:(you could always try healing it though