Bridge piercing is a type of facial or nose piercing that pierces the thin skin on the bridge of the nose, between the eyes. Another variation of this is the vertical bridge piercing, which is also a surface piercing. The straight barbell piercing is the most typical type of jewelry for this style, although people also utilize interesting variations like the curved barbell. Bridge piercing is one of the most recent bodies alteration trends. Body artists are quickly adopting it as a preferred alternative to septum piercings despite the fact that it is a relative novelty to the market.
What is a Bridge Piercing?
A horizontal bar over the bridge of the nose, often known as an Erl, is a bridge piercing. Because most people don’t have much flesh in this location for the jewelry to grip onto, it’s termed a surface piercing, and the risk of migration and rejection is significant.
Do Bridge Piercings Make You Cross-Eyed?
Contrary to popular belief, no Erl piercees have experienced involuntary eye-crossing as a result of their piercing. Most people are unaware that it exists. The bar is probably too long if you notice the jewelry out of the corner of your eye. It shouldn’t be any more noticeable than your nose.
Additionally, it does not interfere with the use of eyeglasses or sunglasses. You should be fine if you just make sure it’s pierced high enough.
Pain and Healing Time
“Everyone’s pain tolerance is different, so it’s difficult to pinpoint pain level,” says Tess Dipple, a piercing artist at Ink’d Chronicles in Pomona, California. “However, because the bridge piercing is pierced through tissue, rather than cartilage or an area with a lot of nerves, people say it’s not that painful of a piercing,” she adds. “It appears that you are experiencing some discomfort.”
“Bridge piercings could be a little higher on the ‘pinch and pressure’ meter,” says a representative from New York Adorned, “but if you’ve gotten any cartilage piercings on your ear, you should be able to withstand a bridge piercing.”
“A bridge piercing can take eight to ten weeks to heal, sometimes even up to 12 weeks,” says Dr. Paul B. Dean of Skin Resource. MD. If necessary, you can switch to a shorter curved barbell after this time, but the inner tissue will need to heal for many weeks longer. “The complete healing process could take up to eight months before reinstalling jewelry is painless,” Dean adds.
Cost of Bridge Piercings
“At New York Adorned, all piercings, including bridge piercings, cost $40,” said the salon’s representative. Be aware of salons that price a lot less because they could not be trustworthy. Dipple claims the bridge piercing and titanium jewelry, “which is sterilized in our hospital-grade autoclave and is included in the price,” costs $50.
Every shop will charge differently for piercings, but if you pay between $30 and $50, you should be safe provided you’ve done your homework. The jewelry will be the most expensive item.
Aftercare
“A bridge piercing should be cleansed twice a day with a gentle cleanser and twice a day with a warm salt water rinse to eradicate any bacteria,” Dean advises. Piercers offer NeilMed Piercing Aftercare Fine Mist Wound Wash ($14) to their clients at New York Adorned. “It’s a mild spray that we recommend people use morning and night.”
You shouldn’t poke and prod your new piercing too much, even rotating it, contrary to popular opinion. "Aftercare used to involve twisting and turning the jewelry, but new recommendations suggest leaving it in place for the duration of your recovery and refraining from tampering with it.
The only items that should come into contact with that area are warm water and saline spray. In the end, you want to make sure that the affected region does not experience any pain while it is healing." According to a statement made by a representative from NY Adorned.
Summary:
A horizontal bar over the bridge of the nose, often known as an Erl, is a bridge piercing. No Erl pierces have experienced involuntary eye-crossing as a result of their piercing. Bridge piercings can take up to 12 weeks to heal.
How to Change Out a Bridge Piercing
“We recommend coming in to see us (or a reputable piercer in your region) for advice if you want to swap out your jewelry, as body jewelry can be tough to maneuver especially if you’re not experienced with it,” says the New York Adorned official.
It’s critical to wait a sufficient amount of time following the initial piercing before changing your jewelry. Dean advises against removing or replacing jewelry until the region has healed.
What Type of Jewelry Is Used for Bridge Piercing?
Your piercer will decide the initial gauge of your piercing based on the amount of tissue available in this location. The higher the gauge you can wear comfortably, the better (to hopefully prevent rejection).
Curved barbell: A little curved barbell is the perfect jewelry for a bridge piercing. A straight barbell will put too much tension on the fistula’s edges, increasing the risk of migration.
What Jewelry Material Is Used for Bridge Piercing?
Titanium:
This nickel-free metal is a good choice for most people, though it is more expensive. “We always recommend that your piercer choose implant quality titanium or solid gold jewelry, especially for an initial piercing,” explains a representative from New York Adorned.
Dipple concurs, stating, “Because titanium jewelry is hypoallergenic, I wear it for all of my piercings. Titanium is a higher-quality metal than surgical steel, which contains nickel, which causes allergic reactions in most people.”
Gold:
As long as you don’t have any known sensitivities, high-quality gold (usually 14k and higher) is another good alternative. Cheap gold or gold plating might cause illness, so don’t cut corners here.
Because they tarnish more slowly than other metals, these are the best choices for body piercings. Plated jewellery, on the other hand, can be detrimental to the healing process and to long-term wear.
Summary:
A little curved barbell is a perfect jewelry for a bridge piercing. A straight barbell will put too much tension on the fistula’s edges, increasing the risk of migration. Opt for implant quality titanium or solid gold for your initial piercings.
Bridge Piercing Side Effects
The bridge piercing, like any piercing, can cause complications. Fortunately, most of these adverse effects may be avoided with sufficient care, but some can still occur even if you follow all of the instructions.
Piercing infections:
Piercing infections are among the most commonly discussed side effects. They are, however, rarer than you might imagine, and usually occur as a result of poor aftercare. Intense swelling, a heated feeling around the piercing site, yellow or green discharge, and heavy bleeding are all signs of a piercing infection.
You might see lines flowing from the piercing site in extreme circumstances. If you suspect a piercing infection, seek medical attention right once.
Piercing bumps
Piercing bumps is the most prevalent penetrating side effect. Poor aftercare, moisture exposure, damage to the piercing site, snags, and inflammation can all cause them. Pustules (pimple-like bumps), irritation bumps (rash-like bumps), and hypertrophic scarring are the most frequent piercing bumps.
Fortunately, most of them will go away on their own or with proper treatment over time. Consult your piercer about treatment options if you get a piercing bump.
Piercing rejection
Piercing rejection commonly happens as a result of a snag or the piercing not being pierced deeply enough. Red, flaky skin surrounding the piercing site, a developing piercing hole, or jewelry that has migrated noticeably are all signs of piercing infection.
It normally happens during the healing process, although it can happen at any time over the life of the piercing. If you feel your bridge piercing is failing, discuss your alternatives with your piercer. Unfortunately, they will probably advise you to remove the jewelry and wait for the piercing to heal before trying again.
Keloids
Keloids are frequently mistaken for a typical piercing issue. This is completely incorrect. Keloids are caused by a hereditary condition that affects only around 10% of the world’s population. They can arise after an injury, including bug bites, and are caused by excessive collagen production.
They’re fairly huge and discolored, and removing them requires surgery. It’s almost guaranteed that you won’t acquire a keloid as a result of your piercing if you or a family member has never had one before.
Summary:
The bridge piercing, like any piercing, can cause complications. Piercing bumps is the most prevalent penetrating side effect. Consult your piercer about treatment options if you get a piercing bump. Keloids are caused by a hereditary condition that affects only around 10% of the population.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Following are some of the important questions:
1: How painful is a bridge piercing?
Of course, everyone’s pain tolerance is different. Bridge piercings, on the other hand, are less painful because they primarily go through the skin. You should be prepared for a brief pinch as the needle is being inserted.
2: How long does a bridge piercing last?
When it comes to healing, the bridge piercing is very simple, but you should wait at least 12 weeks before removing it for safety reasons. If you are urgent to change your jewelry after 8-10 weeks, it should be healed sooner than this.
3: Are bridge piercings safe?
Since it pierces the fragile skin, it is possible that the piercing will be rejected or migrate. When you put a foreign thing in your body (in this case, a piercing), your body perceives it as a threat to your health and rejects it.
4: What is the Ashley piercing?
According to Kenzi Gamble, a licensed piercer at Ink’d Up Tattoo Parlor in Boaz, AL, "an Ashley piercing is a solitary piercing that goes directly through the center of the bottom lip, leaving through the rear of the lip." Ashley piercings are more involved because they are customized to your physique.
5: Do bridge piercings always reject?
Bridge piercing rejection is significant, a bridge piercing may not endure long. After 12 weeks, the bridge piercing should be completely healed, however, it is possible that the piercing will reject. In other circumstances, a bridge piercing that has been healed for several years will suddenly reject.
6: Does a bridge piercing make you cross-eyed?
Contrary to popular belief, no Erl piercees have experienced involuntary eye-crossing as a result of their piercing. Most people are unaware that it exists. The bar is probably too long if you notice the jewelry out of the corner of your eye. It shouldn’t be any more noticeable than your nose.
7: Should I remove the crust from my piercing?
A piercing is a puncture wound, it’s critical to clean the crust that forms around your earrings or along the outside of your piercing. This is because oxygen must reach the punctured tissue in order for your piercing to heal correctly.
8: What piercings can a 15-year-old get?
Cartilage, Nostrils, and Navels in various forms. In addition to earlobes, we can do tragus and conch (and more!) cartilage piercings, as well as nostril piercings for youth aged 16 and 17.
9: How do I get rid of the bump on my bridge piercing?
A natural technique to keep the piercing sanitary, help it recover, and reduce any inflammation that may be generating an ugly lump is to use a sea salt solution. In 1 cup of warm purified or bottled water, dissolve 18 to 14 teaspoons of sea salt, rinse the piercing, and gently pat it dry.
10: How often do bridge piercings reject?
After 12 weeks, the bridge piercing should be completely healed, however, it is possible that the piercing will reject. In other circumstances, a bridge piercing that has been healed for several years will suddenly reject.
Conclusion:
A horizontal bar over the bridge of the nose, often known as an Erl, is a bridge piercing. No Erl pierces have experienced involuntary eye-crossing as a result of their piercing. A bridge piercing can take eight to ten weeks to heal, sometimes even 12 weeks. A horizontal bar over the bridge of the nose, often known as an Erl, is a bridge piercing. Piercers offer Neil Med Piercing Aftercare Fine Mist Wound Wash to their clients at New York Adorned.
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