Over the past few years, body art has become popular, and it's hard to walk down the street, go to the mall, or watch TV
without seeing someone with a piercing or a tattoo. Whether it's ears, lips, nostrils, eyebrows, belly buttons, tongues, or even cheeks, you've probably seen piercings - maybe multiple piercings
- on lots of people. You might think body piercings look cool and you've thought about getting one. But are they safe? Are
they a good idea? And what should you be aware of if you do decide to get one?
What Is a Body Piercing and What Can You Expect?
A body piercing is exactly that
- a piercing or puncture made in your body by a needle. After that, a piece of jewelry is inserted into the puncture. The
most popular pierced body parts seem to be the ears, the nostrils, and the belly button.
If the person performing the piercing provides a safe, clean, and professional environment, this is what you can expect
from getting a body part pierced:
- The area you've chosen to be pierced (except for the tongue) is cleaned with a germicidal soap (a soap that kills disease-causing
bacteria and microorganisms).
- Your skin is then punctured with a very sharp, clean needle.
- The piece of jewelry, which has already been sterilized, is attached to the area.
- The person performing the piercing disposes of the needle in a special container so that there is no risk of the needle
or blood touching someone else.
- The pierced area is cleaned.
- The person performing the piercing checks and adjusts the jewelry.
- The person performing the piercing gives you instructions on how to make sure your new piercing heals correctly and what
to do if there is a problem.
Before You Pierce That Part
If you're thinking about getting pierced, do your
research first. If you're under 18, some places won't allow you to get a piercing without a parent's consent. It's a good
idea to find out what risks are involved and how best to protect yourself from infections and other complications.
Certain sites on the body can cause more problems than others - infection is a common complication of mouth and nose piercings
because of the millions of bacteria that live in those areas. Tongue piercings can damage teeth over time. And tongue, cheek,
and lip piercings can cause gum problems.
Studies have shown that people with certain types of heart disease might have a higher risk of developing a heart infection
after body piercing. If you have a medical problem such as allergies, diabetes, skin disorders, a condition that affects your
immune system, or infections - or if you are pregnant - ask your doctor if there are any special concerns you should have
or precautions you should take beforehand. Also, it's not a good idea to get a body piercing if you're prone to getting keloids
(an overgrowth of scar tissue).
If you decide to get a body piercing:
- Make sure you're up to date with your immunizations (especially hepatitis and tetanus).
- Plan where you will get medical care if your piercing becomes infected (signs of infection include excessive redness/tenderness
around the piercing site; prolonged bleeding; pus; or change in your skin color around the piercing area).
Also, if you plan to get a tongue or mouth piercing, make sure your teeth and gums are healthy.