Piercings
are a great and inexpensive way as an alternative to
tattoos, but the risks of piercing can be far more greater
if not done properly. When it comes to choosing a
professional piercer, many of us automatically assume that
if he or she is working at a replicable department store
or piercing studio, it’s ok for them to pierce us, which
is far from true. Non-sterilized or improper use of
equipment can easily cause serious infections and even
blood-borne diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis and
hepatitis.
Knowing
what to look for when choosing a professional piercer can
greatly decrease your chance of infections and diseases
and ensure a safer piercing experience.
If
you’ve decided to go to a professional piercing studio,
ask a trustworthy friend where he or she got their
piercing done. Did he or she have a good experience? Was
the place clean?
If you
don’t know of anyone, find a popular piercing studio and
check it out for yourself. Cleanliness should be number
one in any reputable piercing studio. Make sure the entire
studio is clean.
Also
make sure that they sterilize their reusable equipment
with the proper tools. Equipment should be stored in a
sterilized autoclave bag as well and the date of
sterilization should be written clearly on it. If they are
using throwaway needles, look to see if they are disposed
of in a safety container.
Make
sure that the piercer is wearing a fresh pair of gloves
during all procedures and that he or she washes their
hands before putting the gloves on.
There
is a lot of controversy as to whether or not piercing guns
are actually safe since they can’t be sterilized properly.
However, many department stores still use these guns for
simple earlobe piercings. If you’re concerned with the
risks of infection where a piercing gun is concerned, ask
about other piercing options for the ears. Piercing guns
should not be used anywhere else.
Before
picking out your piercing jewelry, check to see that it is
non-allergenic. If a piercer is recommending nickel or
brass-plated jewelry when you are getting pierced, find
another professional piercer.
After
you have your piercing done, your piercer should give you
instructions on how to care for your piercing. Pay
intention to the information and please follow it. The
information is given to you for a reason and that being to
ensure your piercing heals properly. Don’t remove the
jewelry until your piercing has completely healed. Your
healing process will depend on where you were pierced.
There
may be times when even with the proper aftercare,
something goes wrong and you find that your piercing has
become infected. When this happens, first and foremost, DO
NOT remove the jewelry piece. If you remove the jewelry,
the opening of the piercing will close and trap the
infection that can lead to further complications. Instead,
contact your local doctor for treatment of the infection.
If the
stud irritates your nose, move it slightly until a
comfortable position is found. Occurrence of Infections
Increasing redness, swelling and tenderness usually signal
some form of infection. Do not be slow to react to any
problems related to the tattoo or piercing. If you
experience any problems with your piercing, seek medical
attention immediately. General symptoms of an infection
are often similar to the symptoms of flu. You may
experience pain, swelling, a high fever, nausea and often
discharge of a yellow or green pus coming from the
piercing.
You may
find that after your piercing has successfully healed,
you’d like to change the jewelry piece. The Captive Bead
Ring is usually the most common piece of body jewelry worn
and also the most difficult to change. While there are
many different styles of the ring, generally they all have
a bead used in closing the ring. Most professionals
recommend seeing your peircer for instructions on removing
this type of piercing.
If you
can’t go there, you might want to invest in a pair of
jewelry pliers meant for removing the Captive Bead Ring.
If you can’t find those a pair of needle nose pliers will
work, however wrap the tips in some kind of soft tape to
keep from scratching your jewelry.
When
attempting to change your jewelry, always make sure you
are doing so with clean hands.
Place
the needle nose pliers in the center of the ring and begin
slowly prying the ring apart until the bead loosens and
you are able to catch the bead. Once you have removed the
bead, there should be a space big enough for you to gently
slide the ring out. If not, gently pry the ring further
apart until the gap enables you to remove the ring from
your body.
If the
piercing is new and you have simply changed your mind
about keeping it, you should go back to the piercer and
have him or her remove the piercing.
In
general barbells and navel rings can be removed after
healing, by simply unscrewing the ball from the barbell
post. When in doubt, ask your piercer, after all it is
part of their profession!
