Everything you need to know before getting a body piercing
Body piercing is a new way of getting chic-approved. Much like tattoos (that gained popularity in the West around the 1960’s, with the mainstreaming of biker and hippie culture), body piercing too has become a part of the lifestyle on the appearance side. Piercing, that was once synonymous with former convicts, delinquents, or perhaps ex-elite troops in the military is now a style statement.
Piercing has been of religious and cultural importance in many countries for a long time. In India, a girl child is made to get her earlobes pierced at an early age because according to Ayurveda, the lobe of the ear has an important point right in the centre, which is one of the most important areas for reproductive health. In ancient Egypt, naval piercings were donned by the royal family to denote their high class and status. Ancient Roman men, pierced their nipples to symbolize virility and their camaraderie with other men. Only later did it become a woman’s practice. In fact, world’s oldest mummified body actually had an ear piercing from 7-11 mm in diameter and the body was proven to be over 5,000 years old. So, these were just a few examples of how mankind has adorned body piercings ever since the dawn of humanity.
Earlobe piercing is the safest and most widely practiced culture even through the history. But, when it comes to the other parts of the body be it tongue, nipples, or genitals, there are several risk factors and health complications that you must consider before opting to go piercing on them.
Tongue piercings – A tongue piercing can cause damage to your teeth and cause you to have block difficulty speaking. Additionally, if your tongue swells after you get the piercing, the swelling can your airway. This will make it harder to breathe.
Genital piercings – A genital piercing can cause pain during urination and sex. The risk of complications is higher if you have other medical conditions, such as diabetes, allergies, skin disorders or a weak immune system.
Nipple piercings – A common side effect of nipple piercing is an infection. Some obvious signs are pus formation, continuous itching or redness. The nipples are also one of the areas of the body that may be more prone to reject a piercing. Rejection happens when the body tries to heal over the piercing instead of around it. This can lead to inflammation in the surrounding skin. Also, the skin around it may show signs of an allergic reaction to the metal of the piercing.
Navel piercings – Although navel piercings typically heal quickly, it is common for them to migrate (when the piercing slowly moves from its first location or reject (when the body forces the jewellery out). Infection, metal allergies, scarring, tearing, and stretching are also common.
Precautions and after care:
When you get a piercing, you’re at risk for catching a bloodborne disease, such as hepatitis C. The degree of risk depends on where you go to get the piercing and the standards of the place and person performing the piercing. So, choose your piercer wisely.
As a preventative measure, ask your piercer to use a needle, not a “gun. The ‘gun’ forces the earring through with pressure, so it causes a lot of unnecessary damage to the tissue. It’s also hard to manage the sterilization of a tool with plastic parts. With a needle, we have more control of accuracy, and it’s totally sterile. It works like a scalpel, making a small incision into the tissue, leaving minimal damage to the area.
Do a sea salt soak. Sea salt has long been revered for its cleansing and healing properties. A sea salt soak hydrates the cells, removes crust, and flushes out the wound to avoid developing bumps or keloid scars as the piercing heals. It can even help relieve some of the swelling and pain. In a small bowl, combine a pinch of non-iodized fine-grain sea salt to 1/2 cup of very warm water. Soak the piercing in the mixture for five minutes. For piercings that are difficult to submerge, such as a belly button piercing, you can do a hot compress by simply soaking a clean towel or paper towel in the solution. Then hold the compress against the piercing for five to 10 minutes. (As it cools, you can soak the compress again in the warm water and reapply.)
Do not use harsh cleansers, anti-bacterials, alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide to clean your piercing, as these can be irritating and dry it out. (Moisture is essential for healing). Go for a mild cleanser made from oils that moisturizes alongside cleansing.
Leave your piercing alone. It might take a few weeks for your piercing to heal completely. Don’t keep touching the site (or playing around with the jewellery) till the skin heals, as it can infect the area or even cause scarring.
