Piercing Risks | Health Awareness
There are a number of reasons for getting piercings, tattoos, and
other body modifications. Like the rest of the body modifications
such as Branding, Scarification, Body Implants etc may cost you a
lot of money and there are several things you should be careful.
Many of the risks associated with body piercing can be inconvenient
and even painful, but some risks can be life-threatening. Here's how
to protect your health when having a body piercing.
One of the most preventable body piercing risks is an allergic
reaction to nickel or brass. This isn't likely to be a problem with
your initial piercing because most body piercing studios only pierce
with non-reactive surgical stainless steel, niobium, or titanium
jewelry. Although there is a small amount of nickel in surgical
stainless steel, it is generally not enough to cause a reaction. If
you are allergic to nickel, brass, or any metal for that matter,
your best bet may be to stick with non-reactive metals such as
titanium to avoid the discomfort of allergic rash. Perhaps the most
common risk people think of when getting a body piercing is a
bacterial infection. This is swelling, redness, and often pus around
the sight of the new piercing. Infections should be treated
immediately, usually with antibiotics, and there are rarely
life-threatening side effects. Proper cleansing and aftercare in the
days just after a piercing will decrease your chances of bacterial
infection.
Infection in cartilage areas, such as the top of the ear, can be
more difficult to treat because antibiotics are often ineffective.
In some cases, the area will develop an abscess and must be drained
by a medical professional. If you're having cartilage pierced, make
sure you follow any piercing aftercare instructions carefully. Keep
it clean to keep infection out. More serious complications occur
when proper sterilization isn't performed prior to piercing. Any
blood-borne infection can be transmitted by equipment that hasn't
been sterilized. Examples are hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, and
tetanus. Most people are familiar with the dangers of HIV, but both
hepatitis B and C can develop into chronic conditions that can cause
liver damage and/or failure. The importance of sterilization in a
body piercing studio can't be over-stressed.
Get to Know Your Studio
First and foremost, it's important to know the safety procedures at
the studio you plan to be pierced at. A quick visit and a few
questions should tell you all you need to know about the studio and
the piercers. By all means, if you aren't comfortable, move on.
There are plenty of body piercing studios out there, and even if you
need to travel a short distance to another one, your health and
safety are worth it.
Take a look around the studio: does it look clean? Ask about their
autoclave (often called a 'clave). This is the machine that
sterilizes jewelry and equipment before it's used. They should have
a current Spore Test that shows the 'clave was tested and is in good
working order. These are usually done every month or so, so make
sure they have a current one on file.
Does the studio use piercing guns? If so, you might want to
reconsider. Piercing guns cannot be sterilized in a 'clave and most
piercers do not use them for any reason. They can also smash and
damage skin--ouch! The piercer should open freshly sterilized
equipment and jewelry--with gloved hands--just before use. And most
will do this in your presence when they pierce you. When in doubt,
ask. You should be provided (and by all means read!) a set of
written aftercare instructions. Read them before you get pierced.
They will lay out how to keep your new piercing clean and healthy.
Even if everything seems great after the first few days, keep up the
aftercare!