Body Piercing

Piercing

Research on the topic of body piercing was conducted by three nurses. They addressed the clinical as well as the social aspects of the subject. It is their conclusion that school nurses should be well informed about piercing because they can present the facts to students in an objective way. They recommend that school nurses organize discussions among students where they will hear pierced students relate positive as well as negative outcomes and Nurses, as most adults, do not like the procedure, but the students are already talking about it and doing it. Instead of using scare tactics which will not work anyway, concrete information, presented before students have an impulse to have piercing done, may empower them to make a more considered choice.

This study gave some history of body piercing, pointing out that all through history some people of most countries have considered body jewelry as high fashion.

Today, in the US, it is mostly practiced by the same clientele that would be tattooe d, and the same kind of unlicensed practitioner does the work.

The chief difference is that tattooing is permanent (not counting laser surgery) while body jewelry can be removed easily.

The Procedure

In one group of students interviewed they reported the following on how long it took for their piercing to heal.

Face and ears, - 6 wk.
Tongue and nipple - 8 wk.
Navel - 38 wk.
Genital (no students)

The most frequent regret voiced by students who went through with the process was that they made the mistake of not going to a "professional". They all agreed it was a mistake to let a friend perform the procedure. This was by no means the only regret voiced. They also discussed costs of social rejections.

Though nobody is licensed to give an anesthetic, this does not deter many young people who say they do not want to miss the "rush" felt from the puncture. Usually the hole is made with ear piercing guns or hollow needles.

Ear lobes are the simplest site, getting more complicated as the holes advance up the ear.
The tongue, being vascular, swells
Nipple piercings penetrate some lactating ducts.
Navel piercings often pull out because they are made superficially.
Genital piercing, by both sexes, is done in a variety of places.

Care of wound

The cosmetic jewelry often worn in ears is not suitable for body piercing. To avoid infections and allergic reactions inert, nontoxic metal such as surgical stainless steel, 14k gold, niobium, or titanium is recommended. The wearers must keep their hands off the metal once it is inserted except for frequent cleansing. Some products used for cleansing are: bactine for the face, diluted Hibiclens for the body, Listerine & Gly-Oxide for the mouth. Alcohol is not to be used.

(Armtrong, et al. J Sch Nurs. 11(2)22, 4/95)

COMMENT: This article is in response to a request from a school nurse for information on piercing.

Some students are also engaging in branding with hot metal, cutting (carving) and scarification to produce a design on the skin. To us adults, this sounds pathological, but it is happening. If a nurse does try to get a discussion group started, it would be well to follow the guidelines set forth by Annstrong, et al, and if possible be prepared with first hand knowledge--by witnessing the procedure, talking to actual people who have done this, and seeing their results.

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