Health Watch: Avoiding a Painful Piercing
Lisa M. Wilowski, APRN
Issue date: 4/5/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Body piercing has become more popular today with adults and adolescents alike. Traditional earlobe piercing is being replaced by displays of needles, rings and steel posts as adornments on noses, navels, brows, nipples and numerous other body structures. When considering a body piercing, one should be aware of some important facts. Because the piercing industry is not regulated, the ability of the person performing the piercing and sterility of the procedure cannot be assured. Becoming an educated consumer prior to pursuing a piercing may help one decrease his/her chance of experiencing complications.
Methods of Piercing
Two types of piercing are generally used: spring-loaded guns and needles. Spring-loaded guns can be used with or without a disposable setup or autoclavable part. Because these guns are not easily cleaned and disposable parts may not be used, it is recommended that they only be used for ear piercing. Needle piercings are more popular and involve bringing the jewelry through the hole after piercing. Different gauge sizes of needles are used depending on the area of the body to be pierced.
Piercing Sites
Earlobe piercing has been the more traditionally chosen site, but other sites have become more popular. Common oral and facial piercing sites include the cartilage of the ear, nostrils, nasal septum, eyebrows and lips. Torso piercings include navel and nipple areas, and genital areas of the male are meatus, glans and scrotum. Of the female are clitoral hood and inner and outer labia.
Complications
All piercing sites break the integrity of the skin and decrease the natural barrier to infection. Some common side effects of piercing are pain, redness and swelling occurring at the site, bleeding, infection, drainage, scars, cyst formations and trauma. There have been other more serious complications reported such as allergic reactions, hematoma formations, damages to veins and nerves, sexually transmitted diseases and neuroma.
Infections can range from mild to severe. Most infections occur as the result of improper piercing technique, poor hygiene or improper post-procedure site and skin care. Mild infections are site specific, while severe infections can progress to sepsis and toxic shock syndrome. Most bacterial infections heal with treatment if medical attention is sought in a timely manner.
Two cases of tetanus, spore-forming bacteria, have been reported. Viral hepatitis has also been reported with piercings. Shared and unsterile jewelry and piercing equipment increases the likelihood of transmitting hepatitis B and is a risk factor of hepatitis C. While there is no immunization for hepatitis C, people considering piercing should be up-to-date on their tetanus and hepatitis B vaccinations. HIV transmission is a potential risk but not as great as hepatitis, because HIV dies at room temperature. Sexually transmitted diseases are more easily transmitted with genital piercing. The sterilization of instruments with an autoclave greatly reduces these risks.
The choice of jewelry can cause complications. If the jewelry is too thin, it can cut through tissue and migrate out of position. If jewelry is not inserted deeply enough, it may lead to rejection by the body. Jewelry must be of sufficient diameter and appropriate for the chosen site to heal properly without expulsion of the jewelry from the pierced site. Jewelry with a nickel-base can cause allergic reactions in 10 percent of women and two percent of men. Surgical-grade stainless steel, solid 14 or 18 karat gold or niobium, titanium and platinum are recommended jewelry metals.
Some complications are site specific. Multiple piercings on the rim of the ear cartilage take longer to heal and are more susceptible to infection due to the reduced blood supply of cartilage. Nose piercings have increased infection due to the natural presence of bacteria in this area. Embedded jewelry is a common complication at this site.
The tongue has more piercing complications than any other site. Reported complications include: aspiration or choking with airway obstruction, edema, cracked teeth, cellulitis of the mouth tissues, speech impediments, interference with chewing and swallowing, nerve damage resulting in permanent loss of taste and numbness, prolonged bleeding, increased salivary flow and increased risk of infection due to the natural presence of bacteria at this site.
It is recommended that persons who need prophylactic antibiotics for dental procedures should also use this same antibiotic treatment prior to tongue piercing. Nipple piercings experience trauma from clothing, possible scar tissue at the areola, infection, rejection and migration due to improper positioning of pierced jewelry.
Genital piercings can cause more serious health threats, which include mucosal trauma with sexual activity, condom tears risking STD transmission and pregnancy and an increase risk of infection with intercourse while the wound is healing.
Preventive Care
Proper skin is essential beginning immediately after the piercing. Do not handle or touch the pierced site unnecessarily. This can increase the chance of infection. For the first six months, the site should be cleaned twice a day with a mild antibacterial soap. After cleansing, a small amount of antiseptic should be applied (not rubbing alcohol because it's too drying). Tongue piercings should be cleansed with antiseptic mouthwash several times a day until healed.
Jewelry should not be removed until the site has completely healed. Healing times vary according to placement; those with exposure generally heal faster than those covered with clothing. Healing times range from one to two months for ear lobes, four to six months for ear cartilage, two to three months for nose and three to four months for labia. Healing can take as long as 12 months and proper site skin care should continue for the whole time to prevent an increased chance of infection.
If the site becomes infected, don't immediately remove the jewelry (unless nickel-based). It is probably not associated with the infection and removing it before the infection is cleared up can lead to an abscess. Increased cleansing three to four times a day with antibacterial soap and application of an antiseptic should be promptly instituted. Seek medical attention with any signs of infection: redness and swelling, drainage, increased pain, swollen glands or fever. If an antibiotic is prescribed, remember to finish the entire dose, usually 10 days.
How to increase you chances of a "safer" piercing
There are no 100 percent safe piercing procedures, but knowing what to look for in a piercer and piercing studio can increase your chance of a better outcome.
If these conditions are not satisfactory, seek another facility and professional piercer. The American Professional Piercers' Web site www.safepiercing.com lists safe studios.
Knowing more about body piercing prior to seeking the procedure can help eliminate some of the more common problems associated with body piercing during the procedure, and it increases the chances for a more successful outcome after the procedure.
Methods of Piercing
Two types of piercing are generally used: spring-loaded guns and needles. Spring-loaded guns can be used with or without a disposable setup or autoclavable part. Because these guns are not easily cleaned and disposable parts may not be used, it is recommended that they only be used for ear piercing. Needle piercings are more popular and involve bringing the jewelry through the hole after piercing. Different gauge sizes of needles are used depending on the area of the body to be pierced.
Piercing Sites
Earlobe piercing has been the more traditionally chosen site, but other sites have become more popular. Common oral and facial piercing sites include the cartilage of the ear, nostrils, nasal septum, eyebrows and lips. Torso piercings include navel and nipple areas, and genital areas of the male are meatus, glans and scrotum. Of the female are clitoral hood and inner and outer labia.
Complications
All piercing sites break the integrity of the skin and decrease the natural barrier to infection. Some common side effects of piercing are pain, redness and swelling occurring at the site, bleeding, infection, drainage, scars, cyst formations and trauma. There have been other more serious complications reported such as allergic reactions, hematoma formations, damages to veins and nerves, sexually transmitted diseases and neuroma.
Infections can range from mild to severe. Most infections occur as the result of improper piercing technique, poor hygiene or improper post-procedure site and skin care. Mild infections are site specific, while severe infections can progress to sepsis and toxic shock syndrome. Most bacterial infections heal with treatment if medical attention is sought in a timely manner.
Two cases of tetanus, spore-forming bacteria, have been reported. Viral hepatitis has also been reported with piercings. Shared and unsterile jewelry and piercing equipment increases the likelihood of transmitting hepatitis B and is a risk factor of hepatitis C. While there is no immunization for hepatitis C, people considering piercing should be up-to-date on their tetanus and hepatitis B vaccinations. HIV transmission is a potential risk but not as great as hepatitis, because HIV dies at room temperature. Sexually transmitted diseases are more easily transmitted with genital piercing. The sterilization of instruments with an autoclave greatly reduces these risks.
The choice of jewelry can cause complications. If the jewelry is too thin, it can cut through tissue and migrate out of position. If jewelry is not inserted deeply enough, it may lead to rejection by the body. Jewelry must be of sufficient diameter and appropriate for the chosen site to heal properly without expulsion of the jewelry from the pierced site. Jewelry with a nickel-base can cause allergic reactions in 10 percent of women and two percent of men. Surgical-grade stainless steel, solid 14 or 18 karat gold or niobium, titanium and platinum are recommended jewelry metals.
Some complications are site specific. Multiple piercings on the rim of the ear cartilage take longer to heal and are more susceptible to infection due to the reduced blood supply of cartilage. Nose piercings have increased infection due to the natural presence of bacteria in this area. Embedded jewelry is a common complication at this site.
The tongue has more piercing complications than any other site. Reported complications include: aspiration or choking with airway obstruction, edema, cracked teeth, cellulitis of the mouth tissues, speech impediments, interference with chewing and swallowing, nerve damage resulting in permanent loss of taste and numbness, prolonged bleeding, increased salivary flow and increased risk of infection due to the natural presence of bacteria at this site.
It is recommended that persons who need prophylactic antibiotics for dental procedures should also use this same antibiotic treatment prior to tongue piercing. Nipple piercings experience trauma from clothing, possible scar tissue at the areola, infection, rejection and migration due to improper positioning of pierced jewelry.
Genital piercings can cause more serious health threats, which include mucosal trauma with sexual activity, condom tears risking STD transmission and pregnancy and an increase risk of infection with intercourse while the wound is healing.
Preventive Care
Proper skin is essential beginning immediately after the piercing. Do not handle or touch the pierced site unnecessarily. This can increase the chance of infection. For the first six months, the site should be cleaned twice a day with a mild antibacterial soap. After cleansing, a small amount of antiseptic should be applied (not rubbing alcohol because it's too drying). Tongue piercings should be cleansed with antiseptic mouthwash several times a day until healed.
Jewelry should not be removed until the site has completely healed. Healing times vary according to placement; those with exposure generally heal faster than those covered with clothing. Healing times range from one to two months for ear lobes, four to six months for ear cartilage, two to three months for nose and three to four months for labia. Healing can take as long as 12 months and proper site skin care should continue for the whole time to prevent an increased chance of infection.
If the site becomes infected, don't immediately remove the jewelry (unless nickel-based). It is probably not associated with the infection and removing it before the infection is cleared up can lead to an abscess. Increased cleansing three to four times a day with antibacterial soap and application of an antiseptic should be promptly instituted. Seek medical attention with any signs of infection: redness and swelling, drainage, increased pain, swollen glands or fever. If an antibiotic is prescribed, remember to finish the entire dose, usually 10 days.
How to increase you chances of a "safer" piercing
There are no 100 percent safe piercing procedures, but knowing what to look for in a piercer and piercing studio can increase your chance of a better outcome.
Does the studio look clean?
Does the reputable or licensed piercer provide thorough instructions about the procedure, risks, consent and aftercare?
A safe and professional piercer is active in selecting the proper jewelry for the site, and is sensitive to the person's needs.
A single use setup should be used for the piercing and the piercer should wear gloves.
Single use needles should be used. Look for brown stripes on the packaging indicating the product has been sterilized.
An autoclave is used to sterilize the piercing items.
The skin area to be pierced should be cleansed with topical antiseptic.
If these conditions are not satisfactory, seek another facility and professional piercer. The American Professional Piercers' Web site www.safepiercing.com lists safe studios.
Knowing more about body piercing prior to seeking the procedure can help eliminate some of the more common problems associated with body piercing during the procedure, and it increases the chances for a more successful outcome after the procedure.
Be the first to comment on this story