Piercing: What to Consider?

Piercing has a long tradition in many cultures and has been experiencing a real renaissance for years. A ring in the belly button or a piece of jewelry in the nose are certainly eye-catching – but they also carry risks. Anyone who wants to undergo such beauty procedures must therefore take health aspects into account. Adherence to certain hygiene rules is the basic prerequisite for largely eliminating risks.

Piercings – what are the dangers?

Piercing are associated with some risks to health:

  • When choosing the material, pay attention to high purity. Pure titanium, high gold or platinum are recommended. Alloys containing nickel or other base metals can cause allergies and should therefore not be used.
  • Piercing results in open wounds. If the hygiene rules are not followed, there is a risk that viruses or bacteria can get into the wound.
  • With improper insertion of a piece of jewelry, there is also a risk that blood vessels or nerves can be injured.
  • Proper wound care with sterile dressing prevents purulent wound infections.
  • In rare cases, a so-called keloid, an exaggerated form of scarring, can occur after about 6 weeks. Then the piece of jewelry must be removed immediately and should also no longer be used at this point.

In which places should not be pierced?

A piercing in the belly button, the eyebrow or a plug in the nose are defensible if professionally inserted, according to many experts. A piercing of the lower lip or tongue is more problematic because it can cause damage when eating, drinking or swallowing. These piercings easily touch the inside of the teeth when swallowing. Since we swallow many hundreds of times a day, teeth can be shattered in this way over time. Piercings in the genital area are often desired to improve sex life. However, they also more often lead to complications, such as infections. There is a risk of such infection spreading to the genital organs. In the worst case, infertility can be the result. Such an infection can also lead to chronic inflammatory bowel diseases. In addition, such piercings can lead to painful wounds and injuries. Experts therefore warn against intimate piercings.

Piercing in the oral cavity: what to consider?

Lip piercings and tongue piercings enjoy great popularity. However, dentists point out the risks. This is because tongue and lip piercings can damage the teeth and the periodontium. The possible consequences include inflammation, pain and damage to nerve tracts. For example, a tongue piercing that constantly strikes the teeth can cause irreparable cracks in the enamel, making the teeth sensitive to pain and also promoting tooth decay and irritation of the dental nerve. A piercing in the lower lip, on the other hand, presses against the gums and can lead to their recession. In one study, subjects had deep pockets in their gums after only a few months. Such gum recession can cause teeth to fall out in the long run.

8 tips for piercing piercings.

When piercing piercings, keep the following tips in mind for the sake of your health:

  1. Prerequisite for healing without complications is a sterile procedure when inserting the piercing and sterile instruments and materials.
  2. First, the skin in the entrance and exit area of the piercing channel must be carefully cleaned and disinfected.
  3. The ring is then inserted under absolutely sterile conditions. Therefore, all instruments used and the ring to be inserted must also be sterile.
  4. All required instruments must be removed from the sterile packaging only immediately before the procedure.
  5. The use of sterile gloves is also required. Hand disinfection, lasting at least 30 seconds, must be performed before putting on the gloves.
  6. Even if a plug or other form is used later, first of all a ring that ensures that the puncture channel is lined by skin is the best.
  7. After inserting the jewelry, the wound must be cleaned, disinfected and covered with a sterile dressing.Careful wound care is necessary for a good and fast healing process.
  8. A separate room with sink, soap and disinfectant dispenser and disposable towels is also necessary for hygienic work.

Bottom line: if you want to get pierced, go to a professional who can assess the risk and guarantee a professional, sterile procedure.