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.