This is a 'Personal Interest' paper I wrote for a college class I took recently. Hope you like.
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact [email protected] Body Piercing 101:
What You Should Know Before You Go
Written By: Angela Rudisill
Body piercing is, in the 21st century, a new way for many people to express themselves. For some it may be a fad, for others an opportunity to express themselves in a truly unique way. Some may do it for the shock value, some may do it to be trendy and for some the appeal might be purely aesthetic. Whatever the case, the popularity of body piercing shows no signs of waning. Indeed, this may be just the beginning of a revolution of modern primitives. With this brave new world, however, come concerns about safety and personal responsibility. Getting a new belly button piercing just like Britney's might sound great, but there is a darker side. These are very real: disease, pain, infection, migration; however, with a little bit of research and some good old fashioned common sense, these risks can be mitigated and that navel piercing might not be such a pain after all.
As body piercing continues to gain widespread popularity, particularly among adolescents, concerns about the associated health risks continue to grow as well. Although no hard data is available, anecdotal evidence suggests a link between body piercing and the spread of blood borne diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis and tetanus. There are also risks of abscesses, infection, scar formation and other piercing-related complications. As a first line of defense, many states and cities have recently enacted ordinances governing tattoo and body piercing shops, which require them to maintain minimum standards of cleanliness. While such laws are a step in the right direction in preventing the spread of disease, the only real precaution is education and preparedness.
The first thing someone wishing to obtain a piercing should do is take advantage of the incredible amount of information that can be found on the Internet. Web sites such as Body Modification Ezine (www.bmezine.com) provide numerous articles, photographs and experiences sent in by readers. The reader experiences can be especially beneficial for those who want to know exactly what to expect, from a layperson's point of view.
Most body piercing is done out of tattoo shops. This can be daunting, but these days, most tattoo shops are a far cry from the sleazy, rundown establishments of lore. Reputable shops have comfortable, clean, private areas in which the piercing is done. Some resemble not so much hospitals as tattoo parlors! Most shops will refuse to pierce minors, 16 being the age limit in some areas, 18 in others, while some may require parental consent for minors. There are many reasons that shops will not pierce minors; in fact, some city and states laws explicitly prohibit shops from piercing or tattooing minors. Often teens get pierced without their parent's knowledge or consent, causing untold problems when unsuspecting parents find out. There is also the problem that certain piercings may not be suitable for bodies that are still maturing. Unfortunately, teens also often fail to comprehend the responsibility involved in caring for a healing piercing. Neglecting a fresh piercing is tantamount to begging for a nasty infection.
An experienced body piercer is essential for anyone considering a new piercing. The only way to ensure a safe and comfortable experience is to have a knowledgeable piercer. The piercer should demonstrate proper sterilization techniques, recommend appropriate jewelry and placement, go over aftercare thoroughly and leisurely and be able to answer any and all questions without hesitation. More importantly, a piercer should put clients at ease. A good piercer can minimize any potential risks and help clients to achieve their desired result with little pain or discomfort.
Any piercer worth his weight in Captive Bead Rings would not think of using a piercing gun. Piercing guns are ironically inappropriate for body piercing, and indeed are often unsuitable for even basic ear piercing. Ear piercings studs are dull, causing undue trauma at the piercing site. This can result in scarring, pain and/or infection. The piercings studs are also usually far too short to accommodate initial swelling, which can also result in scarring, severe discomfort, abscess or migration (rejection). Ear piercing guns cannot be sterilized, and are usually only passably disinfected. This means that there is an alarming possibility that blood products (potentially infected with HIV, Hepatitis C, or other communicable disease) can remain on the instrument and be passed from client to client. (Daelner, 2001). Professional piercers use brand-new, very sharp one-time-use needles, ranging from 16 gauge and up. Anything smaller than 16 gauge can produce the "cheese-cutter" effect and easily be torn from a fresh piercing.
With so many jewelry options, and so many different types of piercings, it can be hard to know what type and size of jewelry to use. Most piercers will be able to recommend not only the appropriate jewelry � which includes barbells, curved barbells, and captive bead rings - but also the appropriate size (or gauge). There is not one type of jewelry that works for every piercing and since anatomy varies greatly from one person to the next, jewelry and sizing often depend on the individual. Proper jewelry and placement are important because, while most people will suffer no ill effects from the piercing itself, there is always a risk of migration. Migration occurs when the body does not adapt to a foreign material being introduced to it. The body in effect 'rejects' the jewelry and pushes it out. This happens often with eyebrow rings, even when proper aftercare methods have been followed. An educated piercer will help clients select the best jewelry for the piercing that will decrease the possibility of migration and resultant scarring.
Piercers should have a thorough knowledge of anatomy. There is a common misconception that various piercings, if done incorrectly, can cause paralysis. When asked how to avoid 'hitting a nerve' � that sensitive nerve in the ear, tongue or eyebrow area that, if pierced or nicked, can allegedly cause paralysis - piercer and body modification advocate Aubrey Jones says, "Basically, you'll always hit nerves. The nerves that 'they're' talking about are larger nerves that send information from all the periphery nerves to the spinal cord and finally to the brain. These are in specific areas, travel fairly well-defined routes, and thusly, it's possible to miss them when piercing." (Jones, 2001). To date, there are no reported cases of piercings causing paralysis.
There are a number of things to look for in any reputable piercing establishment. A shop should absolutely have a reliable autoclave on the premises, and offer the results of its most recent spore test upon demand. Spore testing is a method of testing the autoclave's ability to kill spores, to make sure that the device is working properly. In a spore test, the operator sends an autoclaved sample to a lab. The lab checks the sample for spore growth and sends the shop a test report showing a pass (no growth) or a fail (growth was detected). It is recommended that shops test their autoclave units monthly. (Monte, 2001). Many respectable shops will even post these results conspicuously for clients to be able to see.
Piercing needles should be new, never re-used and certainly never used on more than one person. Clamps, and any other instruments used during the piercing procedure, as well as jewelry, should be autoclaved, or sterilized with a glutaraldehyde-based germicide such as Wavicide�, at a minimum, prior to use. Any material that cannot be safely autoclaved must be treated with Wavicide� or a similar substance to ensure sterilization. Cleaning and disinfecting via boiling, rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide is not enough to kill blood products. Therefore, blood borne pathogens can still be transmitted between customers. Clients must insist on seeing the results of an autoclave spore test and be assured that materials have either been autoclaved or that a suitable germicide has been used.
Piercers should wear latex gloves at all times during a procedure. A conscientious piercer will change gloves each and every time there is a possibility of contamination. A piercer who wears gloves and then proceeds to touch everything in sight is not ensuring a safe procedure.
Once the piercing itself is done, the body piercer should go over his or her preferred method of aftercare. Some piercers recommend diluted mouthwash for oral piercings, while others swear by saltwater rinses. For other piercings, he might suggest washing gently with a mild antibacterial soap twice per day. Most piercers will recommend that clients stay away from cleaning products that can damage or dry out a fresh piercing, such as Bactine�, rubbing alcohol or peroxide. These are often far too harsh for healing. The best advice from the industry is to trust your piercer, use his or her suggested aftercare routine and return to that individual immediately with any problems or questions regarding a new piercing.
By working together with a responsible piercer, potential piercing candidates can be assured of their own safety and well-being. Too often, consumers put themselves in the hands of so-called professionals, trusting that those professionals are competent. In an industry where there are no certifications, or even standards of training or conduct, it is easy to misplace confidence. It is much easier to do the research and find a trust-worthy body piercing professional than it is to visit the emergency room when a piercing is botched. Knowing the risks and how to avoid them reduces the likelihood of pain, infection and even disease. That eyebrow piercing can last for years after all! Or at least as long as it is still cool to have one.
References
Daelner, L. (2000). Why a needle piercing is superior to a gun piercing. Retrieved July 30, 2001 from http://www.bmeworld.com/heidi/guns.html
Jones, A. (2001). Question of the day, February 10, 2001. Body Modification Ezine. Retrieved July 31, 2001 from http://www.bmezine.com/qod/index.html
Monte (2001). Question of the day, March 31, 2001. Body Modification Ezine. Retrieved July 31, 2001 from http://www.bmezine.com/qod/index.html