how to unscrew a septum piercing ball that is stuck

Unscrewing a stuck septum piercing ball can be a bit of a tricky task, but with some patience and the right approach, it can be done safely at home. Septum piercings usually have a circular barbell with two balls that screw on to either end. When the balls get stuck, it’s often because of skin oils, dried lymph or a thread that has been tightened too much. Follow these step-by-step instructions to unscrew a septum piercing ball that is stuck:

Prepare Your Work Area and Tools

Firstly, you need to prepare your workspace and the tools you’ll need for the procedure:

1. Clean your hands: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water to prevent introducing bacteria to your piercing.
2. Gather materials: You’ll need clean paper towels, a pair of latex or nitrile gloves for additional grip, and piercing aftercare solution or warm saline solution.
3. Disinfect tools: If you choose to use tools such as pliers, make sure they are covered with tape to avoid scratching your jewelry, and sterilized before use.

Loosen the Ball

Next, try loosening the ball:

1. Apply warm saline solution: Soak a clean paper towel in warm saline solution or piercing aftercare solution and apply it to your septum piercing for a few minutes. This can help loosen any debris that might be causing the ball to stick.
2. Wear gloves for better grip: Put on the gloves to help you grip the ball better.
3. Identify the movable ball: Determine which ball is meant to be unscrewed. Usually, one ball is fixed, and the other is the one you can remove.
4. Hold the fixed part: With one hand, hold the fixed part of the jewelry firmly to provide resistance.
5. Turn the ball counterclockwise: With your other hand, gently turn the ball counterclockwise. While most balls unscrew counterclockwise, a few may have reverse threading, so if it doesn’t budge, try turning it clockwise instead.

Using Tools

If the above steps don’t work, you might need to use tools:

1. Pad the pliers: Wrap the ends of your pliers with tape to prevent scratching the jewelry.
2. Secure the jewelry: Hold the fixed part of the ring with one hand, covered with a clean cloth to protect your skin from getting pinched by the pliers.
3. Use pliers gently: Carefully use the pliers to grip the ball and turn counterclockwise. Be gentle to avoid injury or damaging the jewelry.

Aftercare

Once the ball is unscrewed:

1. Clean the jewelry: Remove any debris or buildup from the threads of both the ball and the jewelry with a saline solution.
2. Apply aftercare solution: Use the piercing aftercare solution to clean your septum piercing.
3. Observe: Keep an eye on your piercing for signs of irritation or infection following the removal of the stuck ball.

Tips and Warnings

• Never force the ball to turn as it can cause injury to your piercing or break the jewelry.
• If you have swelling or signs of infection, contact a professional piercer or healthcare provider before attempting to unscrew the ball.
• A professional piercer can also assist with stuck jewelry using specialized tools and techniques.
• Avoid using unsterilized tools as they can introduce bacteria to your piercing.

If you follow these steps and take the necessary precautions, you should be able to unscrew a septum piercing ball safely at home. However, if at any point you feel uncomfortable or unable to unscrew the ball, seek assistance from a professional piercer.