A piercing is growing out: what does that mean, what’s happening in the body, and what can I do?

When a piercing falls out: Why the body can’t hold onto the jewellery

“Your piercing is growing out.” Or: “If we pierce you, there’s a high risk that your piercing will grow out!”

This phrase comes up every now and then in piercing studios, and many customers aren’t quite sure what it means. What actually happens when something “grows out”? The body begins to slowly push the jewellery towards the skin’s surface. The piercing moves further and further forwards or towards the edge of the skin until, at some point, the jewellery is held in place by nothing more than a very thin layer of skin and may eventually simply fall out.

But why does this happen?

What does it mean when a piercing migrates?

A piercing is, first and foremost, a wound in the body containing a foreign object. During the healing process, a thin layer of skin forms around the jewellery, which becomes increasingly stable as healing progresses, and a piercing channel forms. Once the piercing has fully healed, the body has encased the jewellery in a scar.

However, with a piercing that has ‘grown out’, this channel gradually changes. The jewellery gradually moves closer to the surface. In technical terms, this is often referred to as ‘migration’. When the process is well advanced and the jewellery eventually emerges from the tissue, this is referred to as ‘growing out’ or ‘rejection’.

This does not happen suddenly. Often, over a period of weeks or months, you can observe that the position of the jewellery is changing and the skin between the two puncture sites is becoming increasingly thin. The edge of the puncture channel is usually no longer rounded; instead, the tissue collapses in a V-shape, becomes dry, and is often covered in a scab and appears reddish – although the latter is not necessarily the case.

Why does a piercing fall out?

There can be various reasons for this. One of the most important is anatomy.

Not every piercing works equally well on every body. Some piercings require a certain amount and type of tissue to ensure the jewellery remains stable in the long term. Enough tissue to hold the jewellery in place, even during the weakened phase of healing. In such cases, it is sometimes easier for the body to push the intruder towards the skin’s surface than to encase it. A piercing is always a foreign body which, strictly speaking, has no place in the body; here, the body is simply doing its job – it is simply rejecting the foreign body. The thinner the tissue over the jewellery, the easier this is.

This can be the case, for example, with a navel piercing. That’s why we always want to take a look at your navel beforehand, either in person or via photos (see also our blog post on navel piercings: https://en.nakedsteel-kassel.de/post/navel-piercingel).

The position you lie in is particularly important, as this is where the tissue is most taut; and, especially in younger people, it is sometimes better to wait a little while until the skin is less taut. Even with a bridge piercing or a piercing through very flat nipples, the individual’s anatomy may mean that the jewellery does not have enough tissue to hold it in place permanently. Here, too, it is important to assess the anatomy carefully, although this cannot always prevent the piercing from migrating. Eyebrow piercings usually migrate a little, which does not necessarily mean that the piercing will leave the body completely.

This does not necessarily mean that something was done wrong during the piercing process. Sometimes a piercing is simply not anatomically suitable in the long term. At this point, it is more professional to refuse the procedure or, at the very least, to discuss the risk that the piercing is unlikely to last forever. Many anatomical cases are borderline, and in such instances we leave it up to the client to decide whether they wish to go ahead or not. Factors such as previous piercing experience, current age and attitude towards potential scarring play a major role in this decision.

Some piercings are more likely to heal over

There are also certain piercings where healing over is generally more likely to occur.

These include, for example:

• Bridge piercings

• Eyebrow piercings, where the eyebrow cannot be rolled easily between the fingers and, when the face tenses in surprise, the tissue slips out of the fingers

• Piercings through very flat or inverted nipples

• Belly button piercings, where there is little tissue

• Surface piercings (here we are generally referring to non-permanent piercings, which usually last for around 3–5 years)

• Dermal anchors (here we are generally referring to non-permanent piercings, which usually last for around 3–5 years)

With some of these piercings, the risk is already heightened by the location and the type of tissue involved. In the case of surface piercings and dermal anchors, the design of the piercing itself is a key factor. Movement plays a particularly significant role here, which is why it is advisable not to have these piercings in areas where there is a lot of movement or where clothing rubs against the skin.

However, this does not mean that every one of these piercings will inevitably fall out. Good planning, suitable anatomy and appropriate jewellery can make a big difference.

However, anatomy isn’t always to blame

Sometimes the anatomy is a perfect fit – and yet a piercing still starts to migrate.

In such cases, it’s worth looking at external factors.

Clothing, for example, can regularly catch on the jewellery or exert pressure on the piercing. Jewellery that is too long can also move around more, get caught and thus cause permanent mechanical irritation.

Physical activity also plays a role. Depending on the type of piercing, sport, sleeping, frequent knocks or repeatedly catching on things can cause the tissue to be subjected to repeated strain. Once a tear develops in the tissue, this can cause a piercing that had previously been securely in place to migrate within the area of weakened skin.

The choice of jewellery size is therefore also important: jewellery should not be unnecessarily long, whilst at the same time naturally allowing sufficient space for the situation in question. Thickness is also a factor: depending on the location, it is advisable to use a thickness greater than 1.2 mm for the piercing. Genital piercings, for example, should be done with a minimum thickness of 2 mm depending on the area (we make an exception here for the clitoral hood piercing). In the case of inverted nipples, where there is naturally more tension on the jewellery from the outset, it is also advisable to choose a minimum of 2 mm, or go for a thicker gauge depending on the anatomy. The thinner the jewellery, the greater its cutting effect – think of a thin cheese wire, which is capable of cutting very sharp, fine slices from a wheel of cheese; if the piercing jewellery is too thin, the same thing can happen to the tissue. The right shape and size are crucial factors in choosing the right jewellery.

How can I tell if my piercing is healing over?

A piercing that is healing over doesn’t always look dramatic straight away.

For example, check whether:

• the jewellery is suddenly positioned differently than before,

• the distance between the piercing sites is getting smaller,

• the jewellery looks too long again despite having a shorter bar (see also what a ‘downsize’ is here: https://en.nakedsteel-kassel.de/piercing-downsize),

• the skin between the piercing sites appears thinner or more translucent,

• jewellery becomes increasingly visible through the skin,

• the piercing sites look drier,

• the piercing sites are getting larger or more elongated.

If you notice a change, you shouldn’t just wait and see – you should contact your piercing studio straight away. Photos help to assess the change more accurately. What did the piercing look like straight after it was done, after the downsizing, and when you first noticed the change?

The longer a piercing remains in this condition, the greater the strain on the tissue and the more visible the scar may become later on. The VPP also points out that overgrown or migrated piercings can leave larger scars (external link: https://vpp-piercing.de/piercing-narben/). A scar isn’t a problem in itself if you’re not bothered by its appearance. Bear in mind that scars get bigger the longer you wait to have your grown-out piercing removed. Initially, the scar will be more reddened, but this will fade over time. An area that has already scarred over offers less stability for a new piercing later on, though that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

Can a piercing that’s migrating outwards be saved?

That depends on why it’s migrating outwards.

If, for example, the problem is the size of the jewellery or external pressure, adjusting the conditions can sometimes help. To do this, however, the cause must first be identified.

If the anatomy itself is unsuitable and the body is therefore pushing the jewellery further and further outwards, this process cannot simply be stopped by using different jewellery.

It is therefore important not to try to solve the problem yourself by using shorter jewellery, a different material or changing it frequently. Have your piercing assessed by a professional piercing studio.

And what happens to the scar?

When a piercing has healed over, a scar often remains. How visible this is depends, amongst other things, on how long the piercing caused problems, how much strain was placed on the tissue, and how the individual’s body heals.

It can therefore be a good idea to take action early on.

And even if a scar remains, it isn’t automatically a bad thing. Scars are part of our bodies and can tell a story.

Our most important tip

You shouldn’t wait until the jewellery is almost falling through the skin before having a piercing checked.

If you feel that your piercing is growing out or shifting, it’s best to come to the studio as soon as possible. Together, we can assess whether adjustments can be made to the size of the jewellery, the external conditions or your aftercare routine – or whether it makes more sense to have the piercing removed in a controlled manner.

After all, sometimes the best solution isn’t to try to save a piercing at any cost.

Sometimes the best solution is to give the tissue a rest in good time and then see together later on whether and where it would be sensible to try again.