A surface piercing

Piercing

Body piercing: Jewelry for body adornment

Body piercing is the insertion of jewelry into an opening made in an area of the body such as the ear, nose, eyebrow, lip or tongue.

How is it done?
Body piercing is traditionally done without any anesthesia to dull the pain. The practitioner pushes a hollow needle through a body part, then inserts a piece of jewelry into the hole. Some practitioners may use piercing guns, but these are difficult to sterilize and can more easily damage the skin.

What are the risks?
Anytime the skin is punctured, there is a risk of infection. Specific risks include:

Blood-borne diseases. If the equipment used to do your piercing is contaminated with the blood of an infected person, you can contract a number of serious blood-borne diseases. These include hepatitis C, hepatitis B, tetanus, tuberculosis and HIV — the virus that causes AIDS.
Allergic reactions. Some piercing jewelry is made of nickel or brass, which can cause allergic reactions.
Oral complications. Jewelry worn in tongue piercings can chip and crack your teeth and cause gum damage.
Skin infections. Typical signs and symptoms of an infection include redness, swelling, pain and a pus-like discharge. Infections from piercings in the upper ear cartilage are especially serious. Cartilage doesn't have its own blood supply, so taking antibiotics is often ineffective, because the drug doesn't travel to the infection site. Such infection can lead to cartilage damage and serious, permanent ear deformity.
Scars and keloids. Body piercing can cause scars and keloids, ridged areas caused by an overgrowth of scar tissue.
Piercing care
Follow-up care for your piercing depends on the body part pierced. If you have an oral piercing (tongue or lip), use an antibacterial, alcohol-free mouth rinse for 30 to 60 seconds after meals while your piercing heals. Also, use a new soft-bristled toothbrush after the piercing to avoid introducing bacteria into your mouth.

If you have a skin piercing (nose, ears, eyebrow, navel), rinse the site in warm water and use a cotton swab to gently remove any crusting. Then apply a dab of a liquid medicated cleanser to the area. Gently turn the jewelry back and forth to work the cleanser around the opening. Avoid alcohol and peroxide, as they can dry the skin, and avoid antibiotic ointments, which keep oxygen from reaching the piercing and can leave a sticky residue.

Piercing removal

Piercings often heal over, sometimes quickly, once you remove the jewelry that keeps the hole open.


Precautions to protect yourself

You can decrease the possibility of complications if you go to a reputable piercing or tattoo studio. Choose an establishment that's clean and tidy. Also look for and ask about the following:

An autoclave. An autoclave is a heat sterilization machine regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. It should be used to sterilize all nondisposable equipment after each customer. Instruments and supplies that can't be sterilized with an autoclave should be disinfected with a commercial disinfectant or bleach solution after each use. These include drawer handles, tables and sinks.
Fresh equipment. An unused, sterile needle should be used for all piercings. If you're getting a tattoo, watch the tattoo artist and make sure he or she removes a needle and tubes from a sealed package before your procedure begins. Any pigments, trays and containers should be unused as well.
Gloves. The piercer or tattoo artist must wash his or her hands and put on a fresh pair of latex gloves for each procedure. The operator should change those gloves if he or she needs to touch anything else, such as the telephone, during the procedure.
No piercing gun. Don't receive a piercing from a piercing gun. These devices typically can't be autoclaved, which may increase your risk of infection. And such guns may crush your skin during the piercing, causing more injury.
Appropriate hypoallergenic jewelry. Brass and nickel jewelry can cause allergic reactions. Look for surgical-grade steel, titanium, 14- or 18-karat gold, or a metal called niobium.