My question: I'm guessing they're already grown in... now, on my right ear, there's this bump. It's not an infection bump because it does not hurt and it doesn't push down and then flatten, then get into a bumb again. It feels more like there's a piece of flesh or something in there-- I saw on google it might be tissue scarring or something. On the left ear, I feel what used to be the piercing.
Would it be dangerous and/or painful to get my ears pierced again, in the same place I got them pierced in the past? at at Claire's? (because, truly, I believe it's more than definitely my fault (and not the piercing place's) for not cleaning my ears regularly when I first got them pierced.)

The bumps are probably just scar tissue, you could re-piece through it but it might be harder (than unscarred tissue), it might be better to re-pierce near the original spot rather than right through it.

I'd advise against going to Claire's though, like I said guns increase the chance of infection and damage the tissue more. Also, their staff aren't trained piercers, whereas someone who does it for a living will be better able to advise you on re-piercing scar tissue. The solution they sell is more or less a waste of money, boiled water with some sea salt is just as effective, if not more so. This is if you have somewhere with a professional piercer in your area though, if not I guess you'll have to go with Claire's, but still keep in mind the sea salt solution and a regular cleaning schedule.

Fun fact I just remembered - it's not actually a good idea to twist healing piercings, this is a leftover from the days when people used to use porous materials like string to keep as piercing open. Ick

AitB, I think I might have the same weird bump thing you're talking about. I thought mine was a cyst or something and got as far as an appointment with a plastic surgen to try and get them removed. My earring holes haven't closed over or anything though, but sometimes they hurt. The surgeon basically just said he didn't think they were anything to worry about and he wasn't going to do anything about them anyway, and that he thought it was just buildup in the hole that would cause that. I don't know if that was true or not, but I DO know I still have the weird bumps.

Yeah, Aslanisthebest, I wouldn't advise going back to Claire's. I got all my piercings done in a tattoo parlor actually, it sounds sketchy but the guy who did them went to school and studied tattoos and piercings from a medical perspective so he's a professional. He said that if you go to the mall the person doing your piercings is probably most likely a high school girl with no real knowledge on it. Plus when he did my belly button piercing he only charged me $35 and at the mall it would have cost me $75.

Valient_Lucy, I often have the same problem with my clothes imprinting on my nails/not drying fast. I got this nail polish from Target called SinfulColors and it dries super fast, the only problem is I have to put 2 or 3 coats on for the full color to show. I used to get my nails done at a salon all the time but I stopped because I realized I can do them almost as good by myself.

Speaking of tattoos...I'm getting one in 10 days! Kinda freaking out about it, but super excited all the same. I wasn't really sure what the tattoo parlor would be like, but it wasn't sketchy at all, it looked very clean, very professional, and everyone was super nice and friendly. I would second trying to get piercings at a professional tattoo/piercing place rather then at a hairdressers or Claires. I had my ears done with a gun at a hairdressers, and thankfully they never gave me problems, but I certainly wouldn't have gotten my nose done there too.

PS: And don't worry, this tattoo is certainly not a rash decision. I've wanted one since I was about 16, and had this idea in mind since I was 17 (the words "it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring" wrapped in bright blue around my left wrist). I went in with a friend when I booked my appointment (she was getting on as well but our schedules clashed, so not on the same day sadly), and one her friends was getting a tattoo done so we went back to watch. Definetly didn't seem too horrible, the girl who was getting it done said it didn't hurt too much and the whole process seemed very...sterile and normal, somehow.

Ah, thanks for reassuring me that it's nothing bad, Shantih. Actually, instead of a gun, they used a staple on my ear. Is a needle the best way, then, since guns and perhaps staples don't do much good? O.o
At Claire's, I got the antiseptic solution for free (well, you have to buy the earrings, so the piercing and everything isn't "free" as advertised....), but I'm all for a natural solution. Thanks for that, I'll definitely remember that!

After what Shantih, Val, and Moonlight have said.... I'll look for a professional piercer. My sister also wants a cartilage piercing, and was thinking about Claire's, but has heard some things about it and now... yeah.

Ahh, it's good to know I'm not alone, Val! That thing feels so so weird. Do you currently wear earrings or just let your ears be?

No, no, yeah, I totally understand what you mean, MoonlightDancer. I'm kind of scared of tattoo parlours, because I'm freaked out they'd mishear me and give me a tattoo. xD (Okay, well, not really....) But I'll look around for a piercing/tatto place that looks nice.

Needles are the best way, they're more sanitary and piercing needles are actually a slightly different shape to regular needles - they're hollow and the end is cut at an angle that makes them far easier and less painful to pierce with.

Tattoo parlours might seem a bit scary at first but once you talk to the people in them you'll see there's nothing to worry about. Tattoo parlours are far more sterile and orderly environments than a shop!