Weekly Q&A: Is My Piercing Getting Rejected?

Is My Piercing Getting Rejected? I Saw This Happen, and Here's What to Know

This week, I came across a Reddit post that caught my eye. A user shared photos of their eyebrow piercing looking increasingly shallow, and commenters quickly pointed out, "That looks like rejection."

If you're new to piercings, rejection can sound pretty scary, but even for veterans, it's not something to be ignored. Let's talk about it today.

What Is Piercing Rejection?

Piercing rejection is when the body recognizes a piercing as a “foreign body” and tries to push it out of the skin surface. It's most common with surface piercings, such as eyebrow piercings, the back of the neck, navels, and even some cartilage piercings (if they're too shallow).

In the Reddit case, the jewelry appears to be moving closer to the skin's surface, the piercing is getting bigger, and more metal rods can be seen than before - all classic signs of rejection.

⚠️ What Causes Rejection?

Several factors can cause rejection.

•  A piercing that is too shallow or at the wrong angle, which leaves insufficient supportive tissue to be "pushed out."
• Poor jewelry materials or metal allergies: The body recognizes these materials more quickly.
• Frequent friction, pressure, or pulling, e.g., sleeping on it, catching it in your hair, or changing it too soon.
• Individual differences: Some people are naturally predisposed to rejecting certain types of piercings.

️What You Can Do About It

If you suspect your piercing is rejecting:

Stay calm, but act quickly. The sooner you address the issue, the more likely you are to save the piercing.

Have a professional piercer check it out. Sometimes what looks like rejection is just localized irritation.

Replace it with high-quality jewelry; implant-grade titanium or niobium is recommended.

Avoid friction and pressure by changing your sleeping position or tying your hair differently.

If the jewelry is about to be "pushed out," it is advisable to remove it to avoid large scars. After it has healed completely, consider re-piercing the jewelry in a different position.

Personal Thoughts

I've seen several of these cases recently - not only eyebrow piercings, but also nose piercings and belly buttons. The thing about piercings is that they aren't always “forever,” and they don't have to last forever. Rejection doesn't mean you're doing something wrong; it's just the body making its own choices.

Got a similar story? I'd love to hear it — message me or leave a comment!