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Body piercing





NHS Choices Syndication


Body piercing

Caring for a new piercing

After having a piercing, it is important to keep the area clean and dry.

Many piercers advise gently cleaning new piercings with a saline (salt water) solution twice a day, preferably after washing or bathing.

You can do this by submerging the area in a clean jug or bowl containing a saline solution (1/4 teaspoon of sea salt per egg cup or shot glass of warm water) for a few minutes at a time. Alternatively, you can wet a clean cloth or gauze in the solution and apply it as a warm compress.

This can help soften any discharge and allow you to clean the entry and exit points of the piercing with a cotton bud or gauze. Once the discharge is removed or softened, the jewellery can be gently moved so as to work a little warm water through the piercing. When you have finished, make sure you are careful to dry the area with a fresh piece of disposable paper towel or kitchen roll.

However, not all experts agree that new piercings should be regularly cleaned in this way, as it involves fiddling with the piercing and getting it wet, which could actually increase the risk of infection if the saline solution is not strong enough. Over-cleaning can also irritate the skin and delay healing.

In either case, it is advisable to keep the piercing as dry as possible for at least three days after the procedure. If you have an ear or facial piercing, having baths rather than showers will help to keep the piercing dry. Lower body piercings are harder to keep dry, so it may be best to sponge-clean your body for the first three days.

Wash your hands with warm water and antibacterial soap before touching or washing your piercing, and ensure that any clothing and bedding that may come into contact with the area around the piercing is clean.

If you get an infection

If your piercing becomes infected, the surrounding skin may be red and swollen. It will probably hurt when you touch it and may produce a yellow or green discharge.

If you have a fever or any of the above symptoms, see your GP immediately. A delay in treatment can result in a serious infection.

Leave your jewellery in unless your doctor tells you to take it out. This will ensure proper drainage and may prevent a painful collection of pus (abscess) from forming.

In many cases, the infection can be treated without losing the piercing. Minor infections may be treated with antibiotic cream, and a more serious infection may need antibiotic tablets. Your doctor will be able to give you advice about which treatment is best for you.

Published Date
2014-05-16 12:10:17Z
Last Review Date
2013-02-14 00:00:00Z
Next Review Date
2015-02-14 00:00:00Z
Classification
Body piercing






NHS Choices Syndication


Body piercing

How body piercing is carried out

Before carrying out a body piercing, make sure the piercer explains any complications that may arise.

You’ll usually need to sign a consent form to confirm that you wish to go ahead. Children under the age of 16 may need to have a parent or guardian with them.

The skin is disinfected with an alcohol solution and allowed to dry before it’s pierced. The piercing equipment must be sterile.

Earlobe and ear cartilage piercing

During an ear piercing, a hole is made through the fatty tissue of the earlobe or the cartilage at the top of the ear, and an earring is inserted.

This is often done with a piercing gun, either by a jeweller or a professional body piercer. Piercing with a gun should only be carried out on the ears and not on any other part of the body.

Most piercing guns have sterile disposable cartridges to help ensure that the piercing is clean and sterile. If you don’t want your ears to be pierced with a disposable piercing gun, you can go to a professional piercer who can pierce ears using a sterilised hollow needle.

Whichever way you choose to have your ears pierced, make sure it happens in a clean, no-smoking environment. The person carrying out the piercing should wash their hands first, disinfect the area of skin, wear surgical gloves during the process and throw them away straight after use. 

If you feel at all unsure about the person who’s doing the piercing or where it’s being done, go somewhere else.

Other types of piercing

All other types of piercing should be carried out using a hollow needle, which is pushed through the skin and tissue of the body part being pierced. This ensures that there are clear entrance and exit holes. A piece of jewellery, usually a decorative bar or ring, is then inserted into the hole.

Some other types of piercing are discussed in more detail below.

Belly button

A belly button piercing is usually made just above the navel. A curved bar is inserted through the hole and metal balls are screwed on each end. A small metal ring fastened with a clip-on ball may also be used.

Special care must be taken with a belly button piercing as this area is difficult to keep clean and dry. You’ll need to wash the belly button with soap and water before the piercing. Make sure the piercer cleans the area properly first with an alcohol solution.

Afterwards, you should wear any belts well below the area until it’s fully healed. Expose it to air as much as possible.

Nose 

A hole is pierced through the skin or cartilage of the nostril. A nose stud is then inserted through the hole. 

There are also some disposable gun-like devices that are designed especially for the soft outer parts of the nose, but not the areas of cartilage.

Tongue

The tongue is clamped to hold it in position while it’s pierced. A bar with a screw-on metal ball at each end is inserted through the hole.

Nipple

The piercing is normally made through the end of the nipple. A thin metal ring or straight bar is then inserted.

After a piercing

When a piercing is finished, the area may bleed slightly. This should stop after a few minutes, although it may bleed again for short periods over the next few days.

There may also be some clear or whitish-yellow odourless discharge that forms a crust over the jewellery during the first few days after a piercing. This is normal and is not usually a sign of infection. Do not touch any crust that forms, as it can help protect against infection.

A new piercing can be tender, itchy and bruised for a few weeks after it is carried out.

It is important to take good care of your piercing to reduce your chances of problems developing. This involves keeping the area dry and recognising the signs of infection. See caring for a body piercing for more information.

Published Date
2014-05-16 09:35:17Z
Last Review Date
2013-02-14 00:00:00Z
Next Review Date
2015-02-14 00:00:00Z
Classification
Belly button,Body piercing,Ear,Nipple,Tongue






NHS Choices Syndication


Body piercing

Introduction

If you decide to have a body piercing, make sure you find a reputable, licensed body piercing shop or piercer.

Piercing of the ears, nose, belly button and tongue are especially popular among teenagers and young adults. They are all fairly safe procedures, as long as they’re performed by a licensed specialist and care is taken by the piercer and yourself to avoid infection.

Finding an approved piercer

Most local councils keep registers of approved piercers who have passed hygiene and safety standards, and who are regularly inspected by health and safety officers.

Contact your local borough, city or county council for further information.

Do not try to carry out body piercing yourself. This can be very dangerous as there is a high risk of infection or scarring.

If you’ve already found a body piercing shop, take a look around before you go ahead with the piercing. Check for any potential health risks. You should be able to answer “yes” to all the questions on our safety checklist

Possible risks

Nowadays, bacterial infection is the main risk associated with body piercing. Sometimes an abscess (build-up of pus) forms around the piercing site, which can become very serious if left untreated.

All professional body piercers in the UK use sterile instruments, so it’s very rare to catch conditions such as hepatitis and HIV/AIDS through body piercing.

Read more about the risks of body piercing.

How body piercing is carried out

The skin is disinfected with an alcohol solution and allowed to dry before it is pierced using sterile piercing equipment.

Only ear piercings can be done with a piercing gun, by either a jeweller or a professional body piercer. Refuse a piercing if the piercer intends to use a gun on any other part of the body.

All other types of piercing must be carried out using a hollow needle, which is pushed through the skin and tissue of the body part. You’ll normally feel a quick, sharp sting while the skin is being pierced.

After a piercing, the area may bleed slightly and it may be tender, itchy and bruised for a few weeks.

Read more about how piercings are carried out.

Avoiding infection

Follow the specialist’s advice after you’ve had your piercing. This will usually involve keeping the area clean and dry, as well as recognising the signs of infection.

Do not touch or fiddle with the area and do not turn the piercing. If a crust develops over the piercing, do not remove it – these form naturally and are the body’s way of protecting the pierced site.

Read more about caring for a body piercing

Healing times

Healing times for the most common body piercings are as follows:

  • earlobe – six weeks
  • top of the ear – at least three to four months
  • belly button – up to a year
  • tongue – one to two months
  • nose – two to three months

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Published Date
2014-08-15 14:34:59Z
Last Review Date
2013-02-14 00:00:00Z
Next Review Date
2015-02-14 00:00:00Z
Classification
Body piercing






NHS Choices Syndication


Body piercing

Risks of body piercing

Bacterial infection is the main risk associated with body piercings.

An abscess (build-up of pus) may form around the piercing site. If left untreated, this has the potential to cause a scar and may need to be surgically drained. In some cases, it may develop into blood poisoning (sepsis) or toxic shock syndrome, which can be very serious. Blood poisoning can also occur without an abscess.

Tongue piercings carry a small risk of bacterial infection, despite the high number of bacteria present inside the mouth. Nevertheless, it would be wise to brush your teeth or cleanse your mouth before asking for a tongue piercing. Bleeding from the vein under the front of the tongue can also occur if the piercing is too close to it.

Earlobe piercings are generally safe, but care must still be taken to keep the piercing clean and dry.

You can reduce your risk of developing an infection by keeping the piercing dry. Before touching the piercing, make sure you wash your hands with soap and water and dry them with a disposable towel first. However, you should try to avoid touching it if possible – there is no need to turn it. 

See body piercing self-care for more information.

Viruses causing hepatitis or AIDS used to be the main risk from piercings, but now all registered premises use disposable sterile needles and other equipment, so the risk of passing on these infections should now be almost non-existent.

Other general risks

Other possible problems that come with body piercing are:

  • bleeding and blood loss, especially in areas of the body with a lot of blood vessels, such as the tongue
  • swelling of the skin around the piercing
  • scarring and the formation of keloid (a type of oversized scar) – tell your body piercer if you know that your skin has a tendency to form keloid scars

Specific risks

Any piercing that interferes with the normal functioning of the body carries a higher risk of causing problems. Specific piercings each present their own risks, for example:

  • Oral (tongue) piercings can cause speech impediments and chipped teeth if the jewellery wears away tooth enamel. There’s also a higher risk of bleeding and the risk that your airways will become blocked.
  • Genital piercings can interfere with the functions of the genitals, sometimes making sex and urination difficult and painful. This is particularly common with piercings on and around the penis.
  • Ear cartilage piercings (at the top of the ear) are riskier than earlobe piercings. If the site becomes infected, you may develop a painful abscess. This is because the skin is close to the underlying cartilage and pus can become trapped. Antibiotics do not successfully treat this problem. Surgery is usually required to remove the affected cartilage. This can lead to a deformed ear.
  • Nose piercings are riskier than earlobe piercings as the inner surface of the nose (which can’t be disinfected) holds bacteria that can cause infection. 
Published Date
2013-07-18 11:26:00Z
Last Review Date
2013-02-14 00:00:00Z
Next Review Date
2015-02-14 00:00:00Z
Classification
Bacterial infections,Body piercing,HIV infection and AIDS






NHS Choices Syndication


Body piercing

Safety checklist

A few days before having your piercing, visit the shop to check for any potential health risks.

Make sure you can answer “yes” to the following questions before going ahead:

  • Do they use a clean pair of disposable surgical gloves for each customer?
  • Do they wash their hands regularly and use disposable paper towels to dry them?
  • Is the shop clean, with wipe-clean surfaces throughout (including the floor)?
  • Do they use single-use needles and discard them after each piercing?
  • Are instruments kept in sealed packaging ready for use, or in an autoclave (steriliser) until needed?
  • Have the earrings been pre-sterilised?
  • If the piercer is piercing just one ear, will they take the earring from an unopened, pre-sterilised pack of two (rather than using a loose earring left over from a previous piercing)?
  • Is the piercer wearing clean, practical clothing, with long hair tied back?
  • Have they covered any cuts or wounds on their hands with waterproof dressings?
  • Is the jewellery used appropriate for the type of piercing?
  • Is it made of non-nickel metal?
  • Does the piercer have a clear policy regarding age restrictions and parental consent?
  • Is the piercing area a no-smoking zone?
  • Are food and drink banned in the piercing area?
  • Are animals prohibited from entering the shop?

If you’re taking medication, have heart disease, diabetes or any other medical condition, and are in doubt about the risks of piercing, talk to your GP. 

Published Date
2013-07-18 11:27:36Z
Last Review Date
2013-02-14 00:00:00Z
Next Review Date
2015-02-14 00:00:00Z
Classification
Body piercing,HIV infection and AIDS


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