Body Piercing
- Be Informed First! -

"Body piercing" is the practice of puncturing or cutting a part of the human body to create an opening, usually for the purpose of wearing jewelry.

Body piercing has been around for centuries and has become quite popular recently with both men and women.

Piercing ears is the most common site plus the mouth, tongue, nose, eyebrows, nipples, genitals, and navel -- all with these sites having their own risks and precautions so be INFORMED first!

For many families and parents, they’ve set age limits and rules regarding body piercing; others have not. Best to discuss this as a family and reasons for the decisions plus consequences for going against family boundaries/rules.

Aside from all that, it costs money too... is it worth the cost and can you really afford it?

And ask yourself WHY you want it done in the first place?? (impress someone, look cool, to fit in, just like the look of it, etc.)

When our own redheads were growing up, the subject of body piercing came up because their friends were doing it and saw it in the media. So, we gave an age when they could decide for themselves, with mixed results. We talked about the risks, permanency, how other people would look at you in the workplace, why the rush, etc. Later, they did decide to pierce and/or tattoo, which we still aren’t crazy about it, but it was their decision. We still love them, holes (and tattoos) and all.

SO – for you TEENS (or whoever) out there considering puncturing your body for beauty’s sake, art’s sake, or for "Edward’s” sake...

KNOW THE LAW!

KNOW THE LAWS in your area regarding body piercing. If you are under 18 or 16 years of age, considered a minor, some places won’t pierce without a parent’s consent... and some will.

As a parent, I feel it’s my right to be informed about this type of body modification procedure being performed on my child who is a minor; it’s for their own protection. That’s my job as a parent, to protect them. However, not everyone agrees.

Each state law in the USA is different; and each country is different. According to the "National Conference of State Legislatures" website (as of January 2010):

“Advocates of prohibiting minors from getting tattoos or body piercings want state laws to reflect parental rights and allow them to have the final word on minors altering their appearances in this way. A number of states have laws prohibiting these practices on minors without written parental consent ..... Many of the laws across the country establish financial penalties, prison time or both for violators. Most of the laws define "violator" as the person who performed the tattoo or piercing.”

TALK TO PEOPLE FIRST!

• Talk to people who’ve had body piercing done themselves and find out about the pros and cons of doing it, any problems, regrets, and recommendations.
• Talk to adults, parents, family members -- not just your friends or someone like a 'boyfriend' pressuring you to do it.
• Some people have strong religious beliefs on the subject as well so explore that if necessary.
• Ask your dentist and your doctor and/or nurses about risks and precautions.

KNOW THE RISKS:

• Some BODY SITES that you can pierce have more complications:
  -- Nose and mouth (tongue, lips, cheek) because of the abundance of bacteria in those areas. Mouth piercings can cause gum tissue problems and/or teeth problems like chipped or cracked teeth as well as problems speaking or swallowing or chewing; plus there is a risk of aspiration or swallowing/choking on the jewelry if it becomes loose in the mouth.
  -- Jewelry in the genital area may cause personal injury, condom breakage, or even affect a sexual performance.
  -- Be aware that infection of a nipple from piercing can scar the breast tissue and might affect the ability to breastfeed later on.
  -- Jewelry in the navel can get caught on clothing and linens, thus delaying healing, possibly taking up to a year to heal.

• Some people develop keloids (which is excessive scarring when wounds heal) so that could be an issue.

• Some medical problems (immune system issues, allergies, diabetes, skin issues, infections, congenital heart disease, endocarditis, etc.) or being pregnant may require special precautions when getting pierced, so ask your doctor first!

• Be aware that you may not be able to donate blood if you’ve had body piercing or tattoos done within the past year. Why? - they both can transmit diseases passed in the blood and you may not have even realized it was passed on to you at the time.

• Allergic reactions to the metal in the jewelry.

• Infections from bacteria or viruses, some chronic, including hepatitis and tetanus.

• Trauma or tearing of the piercing site from bumping, friction, or getting caught on clothing.

• Prolonged or uncontrolled bleeding, nerve damage, or chronic inflammation.

• Abscess or boil formation (collection of pus under the skin) at site of piercing.

FOR REDHEADS ESPECIALLY: Many redheads do have extra sensitivity to pain and medical and dental procedures and/or anesthesia. Many also have very fair, sensitive skin so this could be an issue when it comes to body piercing and body manipulation procedures! And...what’s the rush? – before rushing into body piercing, give it some more thought!

IF YOU DO DECIDE TO PUNCTURE:

• Be up to date on your immunizations like hepatitis and tetanus.

• Make sure you know if you’re allergic to any metals.

• Have a physician’s office or medical clinic where you can go in case the piercing gets infected, red and tender, etc.

• Have healthy teeth and gums first before doing any mouth/tongue piercing.

• Do NOT pierce yourself or even have a friend do it! Have it done by a professional in a safe and clean environment.

• Ask friends/family who have had body piercings (especially oral ones) about their experience, if they had complications or suffered any ill consequences. If no problems, then ask them to recommend the name of their piercing studio.
  
  
• Go to a Piercing shop that is safe and sanitary, taking precautions against infection and blood-borne transmission of diseases. (Some are trained by Association of Professional Piercers.) Each state regulates differently.

  -- CHECK OUT THE PIERCING STUDIO / SHOP:

  • Ask for their Health Certificate.
  • Be sure the shop is clean.
  • Ask if all staff members involved in the piercings are vaccinated against hepatitis B? They should be.
  • See if the person doing the piercing washes their hands with germicidal soap and wears fresh disposable gloves.
  • Ask if they autoclave (sterilize) instruments and keep them sealed until used.
  • If disposable instruments are used, they're thrown away properly after use, a new needle us used each time.
  • Used needles and gauze with blood is thrown away properly in a sealed container.
  • Ask about types of jewelry offered at the shop and they use only nontoxic metals (platinum, surgical steel, solid 14-karat gold, titanium..)
  • Go to a different shop if you feel uncomfortable there, it’s not clean, or your questions aren’t answered. It’s YOUR body, not theirs!

  

• Know about NORMAL healing symptoms:
  Each body piercing site has its own healing time. However, after a piercing you should have only minor temporary symptoms like mild pain and some swelling where you were pierced. A whitish or clear discharge or drainage is normal. If you pierced your tongue, you’ll probably have increased saliva too. Depending upon which body part you punctured, healing may take a few weeks or up to a year.

  

• Know the warning signs/symptoms of infection. Seek medical attention if you notice:
  -- Yellow or green discharge from the piercing site (Note: A whitish or clear discharge is normal).
  -- Scarring or thickened tissue that builds up and darkens around the piercing site.
  -- Increased redness, pain and tenderness, or swelling at the piercing site; or a pimple-like abscess on the piercing site
  -- Bleeding or tearing after the initial healing of the piercing
  -- A low-grade fever that is persistent in the days following piercing.

• Know about proper post-piercing care:
  Get instructions from your professional that did the piercing. Take good care of the piercing. ALWAYS wash your hands FIRST before touching it or cleaning it. Clean with soap (not alcohol or hydrogen peroxide). Do NOT fiddle, tug, or pick at it either. If the pierced area isn’t healing well or you think something is wrong, go to a medical professional.
  

  -- For mouth piercings, brush and rinse with an antibacterial (alcohol-free) mouthwash after eating. Avoid sticky, hard, spicy foods and alcohol; eat soft foods. Don’t use tobacco products of any kind or smoke. Rinse your mouth often with warm salt water. See your dentist if you any concerns and to suggest vitamins or treatment for safe healing.

IN ALL HONESTY, I personally hope you choose NOT to pierce and puncture, but that's my own view of the issue and I know other people disagree. Regardless, PLEASE take time to learn about it, think about how you'll feel having it 5 or 10 or 20 years from now, the cost, the risks, ask yourself WHY you are doing it, and not be in a big rush! If you are a Christian, pray about the matter and ask God to tell you His thoughts about it. ---- Give it some time.... then decide.

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