Apr 09 2009
Body Piercing
Body piercing is practically the norm on television. Dancers, singers and models sporting pierced navels and stones in their noses. Male clerks with coins in their earlobes and young teens sporting rings down their eyebrows this just doesn’t seem uncommon anymore.
What so many don’t know is the damage these piercings can cause to the body. The smaller problems range from chipped teeth to swelling but the larger problems can result in antibiotic resistant bacterial infections that eat away the skin and organs.
Body piercing parties are common among today’s teens. This brings a great risk for HIV and bacterial infection. But these can even occur in state certified piercing shops. So many people rush into a piercing without any kind of research. They are often done on a whim a whim that can lead to unexpected problems.
Just this year a teenage diabetic lost her breast after her torso was overcome by an antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection. This infection was a result of a nipple ring she had done at a salon. Another teen experienced major organ damage after piercing her own navel.
Pierced ears have been known to become infected. But body piercing has an even greater risk of this. Anything pierced on the body has the potential of becoming irritated from friction. Furthermore, body piercing can be exposed to more moisture than an earlobe. This can lead to serious infection.
Depending on where the piercing is, the following problems can occur:
- Antibiotic resistant bacterial infections leading to death.
- Organ damage.
- Scarring
- Jewelry aspiration.
- Swelling filled with blood.
- Gum damage.
- Tooth fracture.
- Speech impediment.
- Salivary gland damage.
- Nerve damage
- Blockage of airway passage.
- Allergic reaction.
- Urinary problems.
- Rejection.
If you have a teen, talk to him or her about the potential risks of body piercing. Many states require a person to be 18 before he or she can get a piercing. But there are shops that aren’t inspected regularly. So talk to your teenager about the whims of body piercing and the dangers it can occur.
body piercings can go well if u look after them properly :/ i got my belly done when i was 13 i am now 25 ive had it 12 years happily and am now taking it out for i am pregnant.
also, had for good 12 years and am now grown up and old so dont need anymore was worth it
Hi Mary! So you enjoyed having a belly done? I have seen come cute “belly rings” that were tasteful and looked healthy. Body piercings in the mouth are the most dangerous – it is good to hear from someone who had a positive experience with a body piercing that didn’t have any problems. I’ve always wondered about belly rings during pregnancy. I almost expect they would “pop out” and shoot someone in the eye by nine months! Ha Ha!! Congratulations on your pregnancy!!!
actually saying that mouth peircings are the most dangerous is a very big misconception, if the person doing the peircing is qualified and using sterile equiptment then there is a very low chance of infection as the mouth naturally fights off infection with the host of good bacteria that live there. of course if the jewelry rubs against the teeth or gums excessively then you should have the brains to have it removed but an experienced peircer should be able to place it so it shouldnt rub or recommend against the procedure if your mouth is not suitable. i have had a lip percing for over 3 years now with absolutly no ill effects it healed after a week and i naturally ajusted to it being there. i am a big fan of tattoos and peircings but i am personally carefull not to do anything that will disfigure my body.
all i can say is if you have a child who wants peircings and wont let up , comprimise and go for the nose it heals very quickly and is genrally very small, the only downside is the nose ive found is the most painfull place to peirce on the face , once removed the small hole either heals or is barely visible. teenagers like to experiment and telling them not to do somthing probibly wont work for most, be open minded and positive and your child might be more willing to listen.
i have afew pericings and have experince looking after them, and cannot stress hygiene enough. listen to the piercer or your doctor because alot of advice for cleaning you will find on the net is to fault for scarring infections and delayed healing periods. percings dont have to be offensive looking and clear retainers can be put in if you wish make them not visible for work and/or special occasions. i know i love my peircings but i know others hate them, so i try to be as respectfull as possible in certain circumstances, you will always be faced with people who look down on you for your choice of self expression.
and remeber facial jewelry can always be removed later in life and as long as you havnt had stretchers put in you should be left without any facial disfiguration.
hopefully ive been helpfull , and if i stepped on anyones toes i apologise. afterall when it comes to your childeren the choice is yours ive seen many irresponsible young girls end up with serious infections because of backalley belly peircings so i understand your caution. good luck to all you girls out there.