Piercings are still polarizing today – either you love them or you hate them. Are you toying with the idea of getting pierced? Your piercing studio has compiled all the relevant information so that you can make a well-considered decision.
Risks – a piercing is always a puncture in the skin
First and foremost, a piercing is always a puncture in the skin resulting in a wound which grows over in a controlled manner. The aim is not for the body to restore the original condition. Instead, a kind of tunnel is created in the skin and the piece of jewelry is inserted into this new tube surrounded by the skin. Therefore, the body is injured in order to bring about a change – no wonder that piercings are still critically viewed by some people.
Choose your position carefully
Before you get your piercing, you should be clear about its exact location. In aesthetic terms, this means: do you always want the piercing to be visible on your face (lip, eyebrow, nose, ear)? Or is it rather an intimate thing, something between you and your body (navel or nipple, for example)? The risks associated with healing also depend on the body area. Sometimes the body area is easier to look after, whereas on other occasions it is more difficult. It goes without saying that a lip or a nipple is more sensitive to pain than other body areas.
Risks and consequences
Piercing is a bodily injury, and this can be explained by the term itself. The English verb “to pierce” means “to pierce” or “to pierce through”. No matter how hygienic and professional the piercer is, the wound can always become infected. Inflammation of the pierced area is quite common. As a result, bacteria or other pathogens can enter the body through this area. The tissue under the pierced area, such as blood vessels, can also be injured. You can recognize this by the fact that the area turns blue-purple. What looks like a “bruise” is simply a bruise formed under the piercing. If nerves are hit, piercings can even lead to paralysis.
Allergy sufferers have another problem – they cannot tolerate jewelry. The body’s allergic reaction causes the skin to turn red, itch or burn and blisters form. The skin which is irritated in this way is susceptible to infections. Skin reactions are often caused by jewelry containing nickel. Titanium jewelry is lighter and stronger and absolutely nickel-free. It is simply important that you look out for nickel-free jewelry. If you have an allergic reaction, you should of course consult your piercer immediately.
Once the piercing has healed properly, the risk of late effects is reduced. Still, one remains – scars. New skin tissue has formed in the body area where the skin was pierced. If you remove jewelry, a bump may remain visible and it might be like this for the rest of your life. Therefore, it is irreversible. Scars are small and inconspicuous if your piercing has healed properly and if it has been pierced correctly. However, large, clearly visible scars can also remain. This is a factor that you should bear in mind, especially when it comes to your facial area!
Care prevents negative consequences
Injuries heal better when they are looked after, which is not a secret. A piercing also needs taking care of. You should always follow the instructions of your piercer. Ideally, you will be given detailed instructions concerning what you can do and what you should not do on the days following piercing. An information sheet containing instructions on wound care is also included. Needless to say that you should learn how to clean and look after your jewelry yourself – this is also important because pathogens which you would rather not introduce into a fresh wound can attach to jewelry.
As the scab is a kind of protective layer and helps the skin to heal, rubbing against it should also be avoided. In the same way, prolonged bathing is counterproductive, as water softens the scab and bacteria could penetrate the wound and lead to inflammation.
How quickly your piercing heals depends on your body. For some people, the wound heals very quickly, for others it takes longer. However, you can always avoid complications if you follow your piercer’s instructions.
Important for good wound healing:
Although a few things are actually self-evident, they need mentioning again and again in connection with piercing:
- Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap before touching your piercing.
- Make sure to keep the piercing that has not healed yet free of sweat and saliva (except concerning tongue piercing and saliva – there is of course contact).
- Keep the pierced skin area free from rubbing or pressing clothing and other mechanical stimuli. Furthermore, you should also avoid sport until the piercing has healed..
- Clean your piercing only with pH-neutral care products.
- Disinfect the pierced skin area twice a day.
- If you have piercings in the mouth area, it is better to stop smoking, or alternatively you should refrain from smoking for at least a week. Kissing and other “unclean” contacts are also critical.
Pain is a part of it
We are repeatedly asked the question: how painful is it actually? A piercing is always painful, since, after all, a needle is pierced through your skin. Even a good piercer rarely manages to completely bypass all nerves. This is because nerve tracts are individually designed. Therefore, there is no “map” on which nerve pathways are marked or something like that. How painful it is exactly varies from person to person, which there is a reason for- some people barely feel the pain that makes others faint. This is completely normal and depends on both physical factors (biology) and your condition. How stressed or relaxed you are, whether you have sleep deficits, your nutritional situation, your entire lifestyle – all these have an influence on how you feel pain. Generally speaking, however, we should be clear – the pain you might feel is bearable. Otherwise, so many people wouldn’t be pierced. We are also not aware of any cases where someone has died from pain in a piercing studio. Perhaps that will reassure you a little.
Therefore, the sensation of pain subjective and it depends on the location chosen. A piercing in the genital area is perceived as more painful than a navel piercing. Depending on the area that is pierced, your studio can relieve some of your pain. An ice spray can help in some places, while other areas can be anesthetized locally.
Recognizing good piercing studios – pay attention to this!
Whether your piercing heals well, how high the risk of infection is and whether scars form depends, not least, on the cleanliness of the studio, since obviously wounds can become infected during piercing. Do not just look at the website of your piercing studio, but also try visit the studio before you decide on a piercing. Get some advice and ask the studio staff questions. If you do this at several studios, you will get an impression of which studio works “cleanly”. You may also have some friends who have already been pierced. Ask them if they have a recommendation for you. Check out these points:
- What is the studio like? Is everything clean or rather dingy?
- What does the piercer look like – rather clean or scruffy?
- How much experience does your piercer have?
- Are piercings wrapped sterilely in the studio?
- Does the piercer work using disposable gloves?
- Does the studio take time for you and answer all your questions?
- Are you informed about the risks and possible consequences of your piercing without asking?
- Does your piercer discuss aftercare treatment with you and give you a leaflet with instructions?
If you are satisfied with all those points, you have found your studio! Admittedly, some issues are not so easy to assess when you first visit a studio.
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Cost point – the whole range
How much your piercing will cost depends on various factors. Every studio has different prices, the jewelry itself costs money (sometimes more, sometimes less) and costs differ depending on body areas. The piercer’s training and experience also play a role, as do regional differences. However, we can give you is a rough overview of the costs incurred. This is another point you should consider when choosing your studio: If the cost of the piercing differs greatly from the average, there must be a reason for this. Decide for yourself whether this is trustworthy for you. You can use the following as a guide:
- Piercings in the ear area range between €20 and €60 each.
- As for the nose and eyebrows, you will pay around €70.
- Lip, tongue and nipple piercings are more difficult and cost around €80.
- Intimate piercings require special training and should only be performed by specialists. Expect to pay up to €150.
Did you know that piercings are one of the oldest forms of body jewelry? Many centuries ago, people used metal jewelry to show that they belonged to a tribe and to celebrate their cultural rites. Strictly speaking, every ear piercing is a piercing.
Different types of piercings. What is a tunnel anyway?
A tunnel is usually the first piercing you get. Newcomers opt for this shape. The ear hole, often referred to as a lobe, is widened slightly for this. Ear holes need to be stretched for a tunnel. Starting gently with 0.2 millimetres per month in the beginning and later 0.4 millimetres per month, it is not too painful. If you proceed too quickly, the skin can tear. You must know that a widely stretched ear hole will not grow back. As an alternative to a tunnel, a plug can be inserted into an ear hole that has been stretched this way. These are round piercings, cylinders or disks that completely fill the opening. On the other hand, with a tunnel a ring is inserted so that you can see through the ear hole – just like with a tunnel. However, that is not all:
- A barbell: if you use an elongated piece of jewelry instead of a ring or a horseshoe at the septum, this is a barbell. It is visually reminiscent of a barbell.
- A navel piercing: the piercing is not visible under clothing, except swimwear and underwear. Consequently, this is a more private version of jewelry and, therefore, a perennial favourite. However, it is not easy to handle, as you need to avoid getting it caught in your clothing.
- A fake piercing: this piercing is absolutely bloodless. Without being pierced, you clip a fake piercing where you would actually like to have a piercing. Clip-on earrings are fake piercings.
- A helix: it is an ear piercing on the outer edge of the pinna in the cartilage tissue. A plug or a ring is inserted here.
- An intimate piercing: a piercing in intimate areas is an absolutely private matter. Only you and your partner can see it, because it is really invisible. However, the procedure is also rather painful.
- A septum: a nose piercing is reminiscent of the ring that oxen used to wear through their noses. A septum is not pierced through the cartilage of the nasal septum, but through the connective tissue underneath. The area is slightly more painful than a normal ear piercing.
Conclusion: make an informed decision as for your piercing without any regrets
To summarize, piercings are painful and involve some health risks. However, if you find a studio that works cleanly and follow the rules for good wound healing, the risk of infection is minimized. Besides, piercings are a truly traditional issue. People have been wearing metal jewelry for more than 1,000 years! Take your time to think about what type of piercing you want to wear. Now you have all the information you need to make a mature decision. If you are unsure, sleep on it a little longer. A good piercing studio will also inform you about all these points.