Actually, I'm the dummy because I knew zero about piercings before researching this article. Other than my ears, I have never had any desire to poke holes in myself. Like tattooing, body piercing has become very popular and no part of the body is exempt. Even genitals and nipples are pierced. You might say, beauty is in the eyebrow of the beholder.

The decision to get a body piercing is one that will be with you for the rest of your life. Keep in mind that your tastes may change with time. What happens if you get tired of your piercing? What if it becomes a fashion no-no in ten years? There are many things to consider before you get a piercing.

Things To Think About

One thing you want to consider is there are still many places where piercings carry negative connotations. Think about what you will do if you become tired of having other people judge you because of a piercing. It is useful to think about this before you decide to receive a piercing because this is a permanent procedure that can never be fully undone.

In certain religions tattoos and piercings are considered unacceptable. Some Christian denominations and members of the Jewish faith cannot be tattooed or pierced. According to Leviticus 19:28, ''You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh . . . or tattoo any marks upon you'' Ask your religious leader if tattoos and piercings are permitted in your religion.

Piercing Procedure

Body piercing is not a pleasurable feeling—it hurts! If you’ve had your ears pierced you may think it’s not so bad, but the tissue, muscles, and nerve endings in other parts of your body are more sensitive to pain and infection. The pain of the piercing lasts only a few minutes, but it is replaced with a soreness that will last for several weeks.

A piercing exposes your body to infection. It also involves the insertion of a foreign object into your skin, which your body may or may not accept. Infection may result. Your new piercing should always be kept clean. Do not touch it with dirty hands. In the shower, wash the piercing with an antibacterial soap, and afterwards pat it dry. Initially, you may wish to apply an antibacterial ointment to the piercing.

You should know that common complications include staph infections and contact dermatitis which is often picked up from the nickel composition of the piercing jewelry. Dermatitis is an allergic reaction to a substance that comes into repeated contact with the body. When it develops, the pierced area won't heal, and the skin festers, swells, and gets sore.

There is also the possibility of pull-through injuries, where jewelry gets hooked on something. Eyebrow pull-through, where the jewelry ripped out of the hole, often requires plastic surgery. Sometimes a plastic surgeon can perform microsurgery to remove the original pierced tissue and close the new wound. However, plastic surgery can be quite expensive.

Aftercare

Piercing breaks open the skin and exposes the body to infection, so a new piercing must always be kept clean. The piercing site should be washed at least three times a day for as long as it takes to heal completely. Since flesh can heal onto the jewelry, the jewelry in the piercing should be turned at least three or four times a day (with clean hands). The piercee must avoid swimming for two weeks after being pierced.

Sometimes the body will reject a piercing. In this case it will not heal and will become infected no matter how carefully it’s cared for. If this happens, the jewelry must be removed so that the piercing can heal and close, leaving a scar behind. However, it's possible that the body will reject a piercing in one area and accept it with no problems in another.

Caring for a piercing or tattoo requires patience and effort. It may be many months before you can show off your new decoration. You should also be prepared for the possibility that your body may reject your piercing. An allergic reaction can occur even if you follow all the rules to prevent infections and other complications