Body Piercing
Body piercing is a common way for women with brown skin
to decorate our bodies. You might be interested in knowing that piercing
has existed in different forms for as long as 5,000 years and body piercing
is one of the oldest and most telling forms of decoration. Piercing
has had many meanings over time and has signified marital status, social
standing, and more recently, expressions of individuality and uniqueness.
For example, in Africa, Ethiopian women pierce and stretch their ear
lobes and lips as a display of wealth and high social status. In India,
women use nose piercing to induce a state of submissiveness. Today’s
urban vixens use piercing to enhance their attractiveness, allure, sexuality
and individuality. The following sections describe the basics of piercings,
including the what, where, when, how, and who of body piercing. These
are general guidelines and this information is not a substitute for
the advice or care of your health care provider. It is always advisable
to explore many sources when making the decision to modify your body
in any way.
The Piercing Process
After you have decided to have a piercing done, you must decide who
will perform your piercing. The piercing process itself is usually simple
and quick, and, depending on the body part, relatively painless. It
is important to remember that the piercer should be a trained professional,
since you are trusting this person to puncture your body. You want to
be sure that your piercer has the proper credentials and experience.
It is probably best to have the piercing performed by a licensed health
care professional, either a doctor, nurse or physician’s assistant.
However, if you decide to go to a piercing shop or studio, you must
check out the piercer’s credentials. Rules differ by state and
you will want to find out about licensing before you get any work done.
Also, the work area in any shop you visit should be kept in a clean
and sanitary condition and have good lighting. If the piercer refuses
to discuss sterilization and infection control with you, go somewhere
else. If at any time you feel uneasy or unsafe, it is best to leave
that shop. Also, reputable piercing studios will not serve a minor without
signed consent from a parent.
Immediately before piercing, the piercer should wash
and dry his or her hands and put on a new pair of latex or vinyl gloves.
(If you are allergic to latex, request the piercer to use vinyl gloves
or other non-latex materials) These gloves should be worn at all times
during the piercing procedure and gloves should be changed if the piercer
leaves the procedure and touches other objects. The area you want pierced
should also be washed and disinfected before it is pierced. Most piercers
will cleanse the area with an anti-microbial soap and use an alcohol
based swab or pad on the area. The piercer will most likely mark the
spot with a pen (make sure it is a new pen, and that it is thrown away
after its use, since there isn’t much point in cleaning the piercing
area if you don’t know whose body the marking pen touched before
yours). The piercer should have an autoclave (a heat sterilization machine)
to sterilize equipment between customers or utilize a one-use disposable
piercer. You must always make sure any tools that are used on your skin
have been sterilized or are new. This will eliminate the risk of transmitting
infectious diseases.
Now for the actual piercing. First, the piercer will
pass a hollow needle through the chosen body part, which will create
a tunnel. This is usually done quickly. Most people note the prick and
minimal stinging- depending on the thickness of the area being pierced.
This is followed by the insertion of the body jewelry in the tunnel
and the type of jewelry will depend on the body part. A small amount
of bleeding may occur as a result of the piercing, but this should not
last long unless the piercer has nicked a vein. It is also advisable
to discuss with your piercer or health care professional the discontinuation
of aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (such as
Motrin, Advil, Alleve) 14 days prior to piercing, since these medications
can cause excess bleeding. Starter jewelry should always be a captive
bead ring (CBR), barbell, or piercing stud. Sometimes you will be allowed
to choose the size of your jewelry. Remember not to select large or
heavy jewelry. Avoid the use of a piercing gun (unless it is the disposable
single use variety) because it cannot be sterilized properly and may
crush the tissue that is pierced. Also, make sure the jewelry being
used is made of a non-corrosive metal, such as surgical stainless steel,
titanium, or 18-24K gold. This will help prevent allergic reactions
that commonly occur with nickel-containing costume jewelry (even 14-karet
gold jewelry may contain nickel).
Where To Pierce?
Piercing, like tattooing, is a form of body art, and you have many choices
when it comes to decorating your own body. Although you can always remove
a piercing, it is important to take time to consider what you want beforehand.
There is little point in enduring the process only to regret it later.
Remember to think beyond pure beauty and consider if the area is prone
to infection, or if the piercing can affect your ability to continue
your regular activities after you have been pierced. Below is a chart
listing your various options once you’ve decided that piercing
is for you. The chart is informational only, describes piercings that
are available in most urban areas, and does not imply safety or endorsement.
It is important to discuss with your health care provider or piercer
the potential risks and consequences of infection, scarring, nerve damage,
loss of sensation or allergic reactions from the piercings. The chart
lists different piercings, along with some general information about
those parts of the body, their average healing times, and recommended
starter jewelry.
Ear Lobes- non cartilage |
The lobe is the easiest place on the body to pierce and has the highest success rate. It generally heals well, and accommodates many different styles of jewelry. However, ear lobes are the most common sites for keloids to develop. A lobe piercing can also be stretched. |
3-6 weeks |
16-12 gauge CBR (if stud
jewelry is used it should not be too tight, to allow for proper
cleaning and healing) |
Lobe Orbital |
A rare piercing performed only by a very experienced, professional piercer. Jewelry will hang side to side through the lobe, rather than from front to back. |
3-6 weeks |
16-12 gauge CBR |
Helix |
Piercing through the curled (cartilage) ridge on the outer edge of the ear. May be painful and slower to heal. |
2 - 12 months |
16-12 gauge CBR or barbell |
Helix Orbital & Anti-Helix |
Piercing of two holes required rather than one. Jewelry is placed from side to side rather than front to back or it may "orbits" the helix like rings around a planet. |
2 - 12 months |
16-12 gauge CBR |
Rook |
Piercing above the tragus (cartilage). Technically difficult depending on the thickness of the tragus and requires an experienced professional. Infection more likely. |
2-12 months |
16-12 gauge CBR or mini curved barbell |
Daith |
Piercing above the tragus through
a thick section of cartilage. Requires longer healing process,
as a larger wound is created. Infection more likely. |
2 - 12 months |
16-12 gauge SSS or Titanium CBR or small Curved Barbell |
Tragus |
Piercing the thick layer of cartilage
just below the rook. Technically more difficult. A popping sound
may be heard with this piercing. Infection possible. Anti-Tragus
piercing is located across from the tragus. |
2-12 months |
16-12 gauge CBR or mini curved barbell |
Industrial |
Piercings that are connected with
an extra long barbell. |
2-12 months |
The piercer will determine the best gauge and length based on each person. |
Conch |
Also called a "shell" for the
way this part of the ear resembles a seashell. As with all cartilage
piercings, will be subject to soreness and infection. |
2 - 12 months |
12-16 gauge CBR |
Conch Orbital |
Piercing runs perpendicular to the
regular conch piercing, which requires 2 holes allowing the ring
to "orbit" the ear's cartilage. |
2 - 12 months |
12-16 gauge CBR |
Eyebrow |
Piercing along the brow line. Migration is possible if not pierced deeply enough or the jewelry is too thin. Meticulous care required to avoid risk of infection. Waxing and hair removal products should be avoided during the healing process. |
4-6 weeks |
16-12 gauge captive bead ring |
Bridge |
Piercing horizontally across the bridge of the nose, on the skin surface, between the eyes. Migration possible and technically difficult. |
8 - 12 weeks |
Piercer recommended |
Beauty Mark |
Piercing is through the outside of the lip area. Also called the "Monroe" or "Madonna", this piercing simulates a beauty mark. Thicker lips will have more flesh to pierce. Requires both meticulous internal and external care. |
8 - 12 Weeks |
16-12 gauge labret stud |
Cheek |
Piercing in the dimple area of the cheek to simulate the look of a dimple. Requires internal and external care. Avoid waxing or facial hair removers during healing. |
8 - 12 weeks |
16-12 gauge labret stud |
Labret |
Piercing under the lower lip in the
center. Requires external and internal care. Inner disc must not
rub teeth or gums. Watch for tissue growth around the piercing.
Requires a longer stud to accommodate for swelling, but must be
replaced with a shorter one once the piercing is healed. |
6 - 8 weeks |
16-12 gauge labret stud |
Medusa |
A mirror image of the labret with
jewelry placed in the center dimple above the middle of the upper
lip. Requires external and internal care |
6 - 8 weeks |
16-12 gauge labret stud |
Nose |
Any piercing of the soft tissue on the outside of the nose. Difficult healing due to bacteria in the nose. Do not do procedure if you have a cold with a runny nose or during allergy season. Meticulous care required. |
6 - 12 weeks |
16 - 12 gauge captive bead ring |
Septum |
Piercing through the center of the nose in the soft tissue in front of the cartilage. Meticulous care also required. |
4 - 8 weeks |
16-12 gauge captive bead ring or circular barbell |
Jungle |
Vertical piercing through the septum and out through the underside center of the nose. Requires pierced and stretched septum. |
2 - 4 weeks |
piercer recommend labret stud |
Tongue |
Piercings are done at the front of the tongue. Slower to heal due to moisture and bacteria in the mouth. Swelling of tongue common. Requires longer piercing barbell that is later replaced by a shorter stud version. The web of the tongue may also be pierced but may be prone to infection. Care not to swallow jewelry. |
8-10 weeks |
16-12 gauge barbell. |
Naval |
Piercing of the outside skin of the
belly button. Easier to pierce "innies," than "outies" |
6-12 months |
16-10 gauge curved barbell or ring |
Nipples |
The actual nipple is not pierced.
Piercing inserted either vertically or horizontally through the
areola then beneath/ behind the nipple and then exits on the other
side of the areola. Possible interference with breast feeding,
especially if infection develops. |
6-8 weeks |
Piercer will recommend |
Genital |
Multiple types of piercings involving the genital area have been described. May include the vagina, clitoris, fourchette, inner or outer labial areas. As the genital area is responsible for sexual arousal and the sensation of pleasure during sexual activity, it is strongly recommended that you discuss any piercing with your gynecologist and dermatologist as infection, bleeding, loss of sensation, or transmission of infectious diseases would have devastating effects. |
12-16 weeks |
10-12 gauge curved barbell |
Taking Care of Your New Artwork
After you're done in the chair, the most important part of the piercing
process comes in—aftercare! Taking good care of a piercing can
make all the difference in the world, and slacking on aftercare can
cause lots of problems, from infection to rejection of the jewelry.
Many people let instructions from their piercer go in one ear and out
the other and quickly lose the instruction sheet after leaving the shop.
Proper care of the pierced area is extremely important. Poor care may
lead to serious complications, including infection, rejection of the
jewelry and scarring. It is important to understand that the outer layer
of your skin, which is mostly dead cells, protects your internal organs
from the outside environment including organisms such as viruses, fungus,
and bacteria. However, once the needle pierces your skin, it is no longer
protected and microorganisms may enter and cause an infection.
It is important to realize that piercings are very susceptible
to infection during the healing period; therefore, appropriate aftercare
is crucial. You must follow the instructions of your health care provider
or piercer. Certain piercings may require more specialized care, especially
genital, nose and inner mouth piercings, given the bacteria that proliferate
in those areas. In general, caring for your piercing is similar to caring
for most other injuries. It begins with washing your hands thoroughly
with antibacterial soap and water before touching your piercing or jewelry.
The pierced area should be cleaned at least twice a day while it is
healing; but more frequent cleansing is required if the area has been
exposed to dirt, sweat, or bodily fluids. Cleaning an ear piercing or
facial piercing is easiest when done in front of a mirror so that you
can see what you are doing. However, for body piercing, the best place
to clean your piercing may be in the shower. Allow clean water to run
over and saturate the piercing before you begin to wash it. This will
help to soften and wash away some of the dry, crusted discharge or blood
from around and on the jewelry. You will be instructed by your doctor
or piercer as to what cleansing agent to use on the area. This may vary,
from an anti-bacterial soap, to a medicated cleanser, to a saline (salt)
solution. You may also use a cotton ball or swab to aid in cleansing.
When you are done, rinse for a minute or so to make sure all the cleansing
agent has been removed from the wound. When you are finished, pat (do
not rub) piercing dry with a clean, dry paper towel or similar paper
product. Many piercers will tell you to rotate your jewelry. This is
to make sure that skin doesn’t stick while healing, but always
be careful and never force a turn or you could tear the piercing. If
it becomes a problem, or is painful, see your doctor.
Remember that just because your piercing looks and feels
fine doesn’t mean that it has healed. Continue to thoroughly clean
your piercing twice every day for the duration of the estimated healing
time for your particular piercing. Remember, this is an initial healing
period only. Your piercing will not be completely healed until many
weeks or months after the initial healing time is over. Continue to
thoroughly clean your piercing for the entire duration that your piercer
recommends. Furthermore, do not use any ointments, creams, or astringents
on your new piercing and don’t allow your piercing to come in
contact with any bodily fluids while it is healing.
Special care is required after tongue piercing because
the warm, moist environment of the mouth is an ideal place for bacteria
to reproduce. The care of an oral piercing usually involves frequent
rinsing of the mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash as directed by your
doctor or piercer. In the first two weeks it may require rinsing the
mouth every 3-4 hours, as well as after eating or drinking. During the
first 24 to 48 hours following the piercing the tongue usually swells
to almost twice its normal size, but applying ice can reduce this. Swelling
and discomfort should steadily recede during the next 3 to 5 days. It
is important to check threaded jewelry, such as tongue barbells or a
circular barbell in the lip, since cleansing may loosen it and lead
to losing or swallowing parts of your jewelry. Remember, oral jewelry
will collect plaque, especially in the crevice between the ball or disc
and the bar. Removal is important. Also important is to avoid all oral
contact, including kissing and oral sex until the piercing has healed.
Avoid allowing any of your facial piercings to come in contact with
cosmetics, lotions, or perfumes. Typically, most oral piercings show
rapid signs of healing and this can deceive some people into thinking
that they no longer have to care for their piercing. You must clean
your piercing for at least the minimum time recommended by your piercer.
Many people worry about eating after being pierced, but generally your
body will let you know if certain foods aggravate it.
Following body piercings, avoid wearing tight-fitting
clothing. Rubbing of the clothing can irritate the skin surrounding
the piercing and the clothing can trap sweat that may promote infection.
You may also want to watch out for loose knits because they have the
habit of catching on piercings and can cause you to jerk or tear a piercing.
It is also important with all body piercings to avoid
public swimming pools, hot tubs and ocean swimming because of bacteria
that may infect these waters. Also, chlorinated and salt water are both
drying agents and prolonged exposure may cause irritation. While bathing,
avoid bath additives or bubble baths while the piercing is healing because
they often contain ingredients that may irritate your piercing.
If you are thinking of getting a nipple piercing before
you begin breastfeeding, it is important that you consult with your
gynecologist or pediatrician. Avoid nipple piercings until breastfeeding
has been completed for 8 weeks.
Problems with Your New Piercings
As with any sort of body modification, piercing comes with many
potential problems. Below is a chart explaining a variety of potential
problems or complications associated with piercings:
Infections |
Signs of infections include tenderness, pain, swelling and redness at the piercing site. A discharge of yellow, brown, or green pus may be visible. It is important that you contact your doctor for treatment that may include topical or oral antibiotics. Infections involving the nipples could spread to involve the underlying breast tissue. Infections in the eye or genital area may be particularly dangerous. |
Allergic Reactions |
Many people are sensitive
to nickel and other metals found in earrings and this can lead
to complications in the healing process as well as on-going problems
after the healing process has finished. Signs of an allergic reaction
include redness, weeping, or soreness in the area where the jewelry
touches your skin, or a discolored, dry, flaky and itchy area.
Silver and lower grades of gold, mixed with other metals, nickel
in particular, are often the cause of allergic reactions. The
jewelry should be removed and you should see your doctor for treatment.
In the future, obtain jewelry that is less likely to cause an
allergic reaction such as stainless steel, titanium and acrylic. |
Migration |
Jewelry sometimes travels through the skin and settles in a different position from the original piercing. The distance of the migration is usually a few millimeters from the original site. This is also called "parking". Migration may be due to an allergic reaction to the metal or because the jewelry used in the piercing is too big or heavy for the skin to support. Alternatively, very thin jewelry (1-2mm) can migrate easily because it is so small. Abdominal and genital piercings are most prone to migration due to the use of small gauge jewelry. Migration may lead to rejection. |
Rejection |
This phenomenon occurs more often
in the eyebrow and navel areas where your body is literally pushing
the jewelry out. The area of skin that is undergoing rejection
will become red and sore. You will notice the skin appears to
be thinning as the jewelry migrates closer to the skin’s
surface. As time goes on, there will be a tiny amount of skin
holding the jewelry and when the weight of the jewelry becomes
too much, it will fall out. This will cause scar tissue as well
as an indentation or cleft where the jewelry made its final exit.
To avoid rejection and prevent scarring, it is best to remove
the jewelry before it happens. |
Keloid Scarring |
Although keloidal scarring can happen
to anyone, it is more common in people with brown skin. A keloidal
scar can appear as a large red or brown bump or mound at or near
the site of the piercing. Keloids can be sore, painful or itchy.
The earlobes are the most common area for keloids to develop.
Treatment of keloid scarring may involve cortisone injections,
pressure earrings or even excision. If you develop a keloid from
a piercing, it is recommended that you not get any new piercings. |
Stretching
|
If a piercing lies close to the edge
of the skin, the tissue may be stretched too thin. The skin then
becomes fragile and prone to splitting. This splitting occurs
commonly on the earlobes and can lead to laceration of the ear
lobe. It is often necessary for the piercee to visit his or her
doctor to stitch the tissue together. |
Torn Lobes
(Lacerations) |
Because piercings are susceptible
to the environment around you, they are often caught on objects
and torn. This is especially true of earlobe piercings. For those
of you who have ever caught a piercing on a shirt or on your hair,
you know the tweak of pain it will cause, and can imagine how
it would feel to tug out the entire piercing. Also, wearing heavy
jewelry can tear the earlobe. Stretching existing piercing with
weights can also lead to a torn lobe. A tear in the earlobe or
margin of the ear leaves a notch in the otherwise smooth continuous
edge. This defect is usually very visible and will require repair
by your doctor.
Depending on the deformity, reconstruction can take several forms.
In all methods, the skin lining the slot of the piercing is removed
to create a raw edge. The raw edges are brought directly together
using a combination of dissolvable stitches in the deeper layers
and skin sutures that are removed after 10 days. In this operation,
you lose the piercing hole, but after several months of healing,
the ear can be pierced again if desired. A second method is sometimes
used for repair where a flap is used to redistribute tissue and
sculpt the shape of the ear. If your ear piercing has been closed
and you want a new hole pierced, it is best to wait six months
after surgery. With all repaired lobes, it is best to avoid heavier
jewelry. Clip on earrings may be worn six weeks after surgery. |
Bottom Line
Although you now know the basics of piercing, it is
recommended that you explore many sources when making the decision to
modify your body. What has now become a fashion trend began thousands
of years ago with tribes and clans, and spread from Africa, South America,
India, and Asia through ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Now more
than ever, piercing has gained popularity. Piercing is, was, and will
always be, a form of personal expression, and a form of social and cultural
distinction. More so today, your piercing may be what makes you unique,
sexy and beautiful-- what sets you apart from all others. With that
in mind, it is important to remember to choose carefully. The changes
you make in yourself today may influence you for the rest of your life.
