Body piercing has been around for centuries. Shakespeare had his ears pierced, and many of our African ancestors adorned their bodies with pieces of gold. Today, piercings are more popular than ever, even though the practice is frowned upon by some people in society. For most adolescents, however, piercings act as a statement of self and should be appreciated.

Very often, however, we get caught up in the hype of piercings and overlook the various problems that can arise when we fail to care for a piercing.

Tongue Piercing

This type of piercing comes with some very interesting misconceptions. Many who have tongue rings are often stigmatised as freaks or homosexuals. There is also the idea that having the tongue pierced can result in the permanent paralysis of it. This is NOT so.

What can be expected, however, are: pain, inflammation, infection and heightened levels of saliva production. A tongue piercing may also contribute to damaged teeth or dental work, leaving you more vulnerable to the transmission of certain diseases such as hepatitis.

When piercing the tongue, you should ensure that the jewellery is made of either surgical steel, titanium, 14 or 18 karat gold or even niobium. In caring for the tongue, one should avoid the use of hydrogen peroxide or mouthwash, as both are highly concentrated with alcohol. After piercing, you should avoid touching the tongue, eating spicy foods, drinking alcoholic or hot beverages, engaging in oral sex and open-mouth kissing for approximately four to six weeks, as this is the healing period.

Nose Piercing

It should be noted that the nose consists of cartilage, and therefore is not generally pierced with a gun. Therefore, chances are that there will be a higher level of pain, unless your technician uses something to numb the area.

You should use a nose ring and not a nose stud as nose rings are made of surgical steel, while studs are not. Failure to do this often results in irritation and infection, as these studs are capable of sinking into tissue. With a newly pierced nose, the primary thing to avoid is moving the nose ring for six to eight weeks.

Genital Piercing

Clearly, though not the most accepted of piercings, this has been growing in popularity in recent times. In clearing up the general misconception, it is (most times) not the actual clitoris being pierced, but the skin around or near it, as the clitoris itself cannot support the weight and size of the jewellery.
Additionally, the action of piercing this area is often too intense for women and so most opt for the other options.
Generally speaking, there are three different types of (female) genital piercings; the Vertical Clitoral Hood (which takes one to four weeks to heal), the Horizontal Clitoral Hood (which takes two to three months to heal) and the actual clitoral piercing which takes four to six weeks to heal.

If you are brave enough to try it, please note that sexual intercourse must be avoided for about four weeks after the procedure as well as swimming pools for about six to eight weeks. It is also not recommended to blast hot water on the area soon after piercing it, for obvious reasons.

Belly-Button Piercing

This is a very cute and trendy piercing to have. However, proper maintenance is often neglected and as such, many persons are forced to re-do their tummies.

It is imperative to wash the area at least twice a day with antibacterial soap, but no more! One can also soak the area in diluted non-iodised salt water for five to seven minutes to kill bacteria. Also, with a navel piercing, persons should avoid using a dangling ring for the initial piercing, as it can get caught in objects and prolong the healing process. Also, persons should avoid playing around with the navel, and avoid any heavy movements for the first few days after the procedure.

Nipple Piercing

Again, very taboo! Many persons feel that this can interfere with breastfeeding or even sensitivity in the nipples. Well, if taken care of properly in order to prevent infection, nothing of the sort will occur.

With a nipple piercing, a piece of tissue should be used to dry the area instead of a towel, which often holds additional bacteria. It is also advised to sleep in a clean bra for the first few nights and when exercising, keep the jewellery in place by either covering with sticking plaster or wearing a bra.
The following should be avoided: epsom salts, table salt, bedatine tea tree oil, topical solutions and ointments, sun block, sun tan lotion and baby oil.

General Care for Piercings

- Don't fondle unnecessarily.
- Turn jewellery only when cleaning, nothing else is required.
- Disinfect daily.
- Avoid swimming, hot baths and saunas as these may cause infections from the softening of tissue.
- Cover the pierced area during sun tanning.
- Keep the areas dry as much as possible.
- Avoid topical ointments as they can: 1) limit oxygen circulation to the area causing infection and 2) leave a sticky, unwanted residue.

The most important thing to remember about piercings is that these are things which have permanence, even though they can heal after being removed, they often leave scars behind. Therefore, serious consideration should go into getting one done, as whatever happens, just don't regret it!

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