Body Piercing

Risks to Consider in Body Piercing 

The significance of body piercing as written in the annals of our human history has brought us to where we are today. It has lingered within our ancient culture even up to now.

Posted by Kassie Torsas Today, body piercing is regarded as an art with a very real meaning. But as real as the self expression of art can get, so would the risks. Body piercing is an art done on the closest canvass one can get—the artist’s body, and that’s never without pain and other risks.

If your self-expression and artistic emanation outweighs any real injury, then considering these risks won’t scare you but instead give you a deeper sense of glory because not only have you expressed yourself but you also have survived the risks.

If you are ready, then here they are:

Infection
Any wound exposed to bacteria can always be prone to infection. Of course wounds from piercing are not exempted from the list. Infection is always on top as the main risk associated with body piercings. Lack of proper care and poor choice of piercer can lead to infection. Piercings on moist body parts such as tongue, nose and genitalia carry higher risks than any other body parts since they are already hold bacteria.

Cross-Contamination of Disease
This may be caused by poor usage of piercing equipment like not properly sterilizing it or re-using piercing equipment done on a previous client. Because of this, risks of contamination of diseases like Hepatitis or HIV virus may arise. A way to avoid this is being always meticulous with the sterilization process and avoiding being pierced by a piercing gun.

Allergic Reaction
Our individual immune systems react differently to foreign objects. Some people are sensitive to certain kinds of metal especially nickel. When in contact with the piercing jewelry, the sensitive body may react to the “foreign object” and reject it.

Dental Risks
The metal jewelries from oral piercings may cause problems in the mouth such as chipped teeth, damaged gums and jaw line, and worn enamel.

Misplaced or Swallowed Jewelries
Keep ‘em tight, or they’ll go out of sight. The barbell in your tongue piercing may get unscrewed and end up sucked down in your lungs giving you a lot of problems.

Nerve Damage
If a piercing hits a nerve and severs it, it can be deadened permanently and will be numb. So be sure to avoid hitting those nerves.

Excessive Bleeding
It’s not only the nerve that you should avoid hitting but also blood vessels. An area such as the tongue has a lot of blood vessels to be wary of. If a pierce happens to hit a blood vessel, you could have excessive bleeding which is hard to stop.

Lasting Pain
Did I mention that piercing can hurt? It may not only end on the piercing parlor but it may linger if it has hit some nerves. Not all piercings hurt so long though and some can even man it up.

Keloids (Piercing Scars)
You do have a choice to get rid of your piercing once it has healed, but you may have to consider that scars or keloids may appear. Keloids are a type of oversized scar tissues that look like cysts at the base of a piercing. They are not permanent though because you can remove them.

You can't donate blood for one year
It may not be risky for you but it may surely will for an important person needing your blood. It is one thing you might need to consider not only for you but for others as well.

Judgment and Discrimination
Let’s face it; though the art of piercing is gaining popularity in the mainstream culture, others are still struggling to accept it. You may have trouble in job applications or even in some social gatherings.

After knowing the risks, body piercing would surely appear to be a big decision to make; and well, it really is. It is something that is not to be taken for granted. Along with the beauty of acceptance and appreciation, do not forget to also have a careful consideration of the risks and meticulous observation of prevention and aftercare to ensure an artistic and at the same time healthy body piercing endeavor.