Body piercings: the safe way

Kimberly Smith
Published: August 21, 2008

In my travels this summer I have noticed a lot of people with body piercings. After speaking with Dave Jenkins, owner of Body Expressions at 252 Oak Park Road in Madison, here are some things your should know before getting that piercing you have been so badly wanting.

Body piercing has become very common these days and summertime is usually when you see them the most. Have you ever thought of getting a piercing? There are many places on the body that people get pierced besides their ears, such as lips, nostrils, eyebrows, belly buttons, nipples, tongues and even cheeks. So are you wondering how safe piercings are and what you should know before you get a piercing?

A body piercing is when a puncture is made by a needle in the part of your body you choose to pierce and then is replaced by a piece of jewelry. The most popular places to get a body piercing are the ears, nose and belly button.

When you go in to get a piercing the area is cleaned with germicidal soap, except for a tongue piercing. Then the area you have chosen to pierce is punctured with a one-time use, sterile needle, and replaced with a piece of jewelry that has also been sterilized. The area is then cleaned again. After the person performing the piercing has completed it, you then will be informed on how to take care of it and what to do if there are any problems.

Certain areas of the body can cause more problems then others such as the mouth and nose because of the millions of bacteria in those areas. Cheek, lip and tongue piercings can cause gum problems; tongue piercings can also be damaging to your teeth over time.

If you plan to get any of these areas pierced make sure that your mouth is very healthy.

There are certain health problems you should consider before getting your piercing. Some people with certain types of heart disease may have a higher risk of developing a heart infection after a body piercing. If you have allergies, diabetes, skin disorders or any condition that affects your immune system, any infections or if you are pregnant, it’s always best to check with your doctor before getting a piercing. If you are prone to keloids — an overgrowth of scar tissue in the area of a wound —you might want to reconsider getting a piercing.

Before you go in to get a body piercing it is always best to be up to date with your immunizations especially hepatitis and tetanus.

Even though body piercings are regulated in the state of Virginia, some people may not take proper precaution against health hazards or infection. Make sure you know someone that went to the shop you plan to use before getting a piercing and find out what the other person thought of the shop’s cleanliness and the person doing the piercing.

The person doing the piercing should wash their hands with germicidal soap, wear fresh disposable gloves and also use disposable or sterilized instruments. Piercing guns may not be sterile.

Be aware of the type of jewelry the shop offers, as some people are allergic to different types of metals. Only non-toxic metals should be used for body piercings such as surgical steel, solid 14-karat or 18-karat gold, niobium, titanium or platinum.

As far as the length of time it takes for a piercing to heal, it depends on where you received your piercing. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to more than a year. Never use alcohol or peroxide on your piercing as peroxide breaks down the newly formed tissue. For a mouth piercing use an alcohol-free mouthwash after eating, drinking or smoking.

Kimberly Smith can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 100 or at .