If you’ve stepped into the Covetear universe, you’ll know we don’t just follow piercing trends — we set them. But while fashion magazines might tell you what to wear, they often miss the reality of piercing culture: the healing process. It’s a rite of passage for every new piercing, and knowing the difference between irritation and infection is key.
IS IT INFECTED, OR JUST IRRITATED?
The most common question we hear. Irritation is frustrating, but usually harmless. Even if you’re taking meticulous care of your new piercing (your “new baby”), life happens — a snag on clothing, rolling onto it in your sleep, or bumping it while styling your hair. Unless you’ve mastered the Sleeping Beauty pose, chances are you’ve had a few mishaps. The good news? Mild irritation isn’t a reason to panic.
WHAT SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR
We’re here to put you at ease. According to our Covetear Master piercer Sebastian, there are some tell-tale signs to know if your new piercing is in fact infected. “If the area around the piercing is warm to the touch, you notice extreme redness or red streaks protruding from it, and it has discoloured pus, normally with a green or brown tint – then you are experiencing an infection,” Sebastian says.
“You might also notice swollen lymph nodes, which is your body trying to kill the infection.” If your piercing is severely infected, you’ll basically feel like you’re getting a cold, and, in some cases, you might even begin to run a fever. You might also experience some swelling, pain, tenderness of the area, burning, or itching.
THE 'PURE PIERCING METHOD'
At Covetear, we believe luxury starts with the details. A piercing deserves more than a blunt gun and fast-fashion jewellery. Precision needle techniques performed by professional piercers create less trauma, better healing, and a cleaner aesthetic outcome.
Equally important is what you wear during the healing journey. Plated or costume jewellery quickly breaks down with skin acidity, water, or chemicals — leaving your piercing exposed to harsh metals like nickel. The result? Irritation, allergies, and prolonged healing.
That’s why we only work with 14K Solid Gold for all of our piercing jewellery — hypoallergenic by design, and made to last. Add to that our signature flatback posts (designed for comfort and healing) and precise lengths that allow for swelling without scarring, and you have jewellery that doesn’t just look beautiful — it sets the stage for a lifetime of wear.
Can’t make it to our studio? Every Covetear piece is shipped sterilised and ready for safe insertion, so you can upgrade your piercing with confidence wherever you are.
Don’t fret if you can’t make it to our Flagship Studio. All of our Covetear piercing jewellery is shipped certified sterilised. Yep, that’s right. We’re making it possible for anyone to buy quality piercing jewellery, to use at their local studio.
WHEN IT COMES TO PUS, WHAT'S NORMAL & WHAT'S AN INFECTION?
Not all discharge is a sign of infection. Clear or white fluid — known as lymph fluid — is a natural part of your body’s healing process and nothing to worry about. What is concerning, however, is pus that’s yellow, green, or brown, particularly if it’s accompanied by heat or an unpleasant odour. In those cases, it’s important to seek advice from both your piercer and a medical professional as quickly as possible.
HOW DO YOU TREAT AN INFECTED PIERCING?
If your piercing does become infected, don’t panic. Minor infections are often manageable at home. The best approach is a steady routine: cleanse the area with a sterile saline solution three times a day, apply a very thin layer of topical antibiotic ointment, and carefully clean the front and back of the piercing before drying with sterile gauze or a clean paper towel. Be mindful of crust forming around the site, as it can trap bacteria and prevent proper healing. The key is consistency without over-cleaning.
MY PIERCING IS RED, IRRITATED, AND A LITTLE SWOLLEN, BUT DOESN'T SEEM INFECTED - WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Sometimes redness, swelling, and tenderness are mistaken for infection when in reality the piercing is simply irritated. This often happens if the piercing is knocked, slept on, or touched too frequently — and cartilage piercings, because of their placement, are especially vulnerable. Sebastian explains it simply: “Don’t confuse lymph fluid with pus. White or clear discharge is normal in the first few days. But if irritation persists, consider whether the jewellery itself is the problem.”
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