As teenagers and young adults, the minute we graduate from high school to college, that’s when we begin to explore in an attempt to find ourselves. 

Tertiary institutions afford us that freedom, so it can feel like the world’s our oyster. Chop and colour our hair? Sure! Get fancy tattoos? Bunch of piercings?

One too many times I have encountered various youngsters with piercings that either irritates their skin or it’s infected. It is important that you do your research before you get a piercing, as you never know what you might be exposing yourself to. Here are a few guidelines you may want to have with your new piercing. 

1. Be obedient. Ask your parents permission before getting your piercing. This is important as in the event that the piercing gets infected and you need their help for medical attention. 

2. Research! Do you know your skin type? Is your skin sensitive, do you have keloid? These are some of the questions you need to answer before you get that piercing.

3. Never do your piercing on your own. Even if you have watched countless amount of YouTube videos and you have a few friends who said they did theirs on their own. No, do not conduct this procedure by yourself.

4. Cheap is not always the best way to go. Go to a professional piercing shop, not just the one you know down the lane. Are you seeing credentials on the wall? Is the shop fully sanitized? You cannot ignore these little things.

5. After you have gotten your piercing, follow your piercer’s instructions. Do not grope your piercing with unclean hands. You do not need to clean the piercing every three seconds with alcohol, that may lead to an infection, which you don’t want.

6. Finally, you need to look for early signs of infection. If you have sensitive skin, chances are your piercing will be more likely to still get infected, even after following all the instructions. If you see any abnormalities, it is best to go straight back to your piercer and let him/her advise you on the necessary steps. Do not ignore the signs until it gets worse and you have to remove the piercing. 

Be creative, try new things, but remember, be smart in all these decisions, be responsible and most of all, be healthy.