The Downfalls of Piercing: An Overview

If you are the parent of any child ages ten to 16, you have probably already heard the pitch for the many reasons your teenager needs a piercing. Whether it be the traditional ear pierce. Or the more extreme tongue, belly button, or even eye brow pierce, most every teen will go through wanting to do get this done, much to their parents dismay.

Consider the facts.

Any piercing or open wound anywhere on your body can be a gateway for diseases to enter your body, including hepatitis B and C.

Tongue and genital piercing are most dangerous because of the amount of healing time, as well as the bacteria present.

If done wrong, a nipple piercing can cause scar tissue which actually can close milk ducts in females.

I knew all these things before my experience with piercing.

I always wanted a belly button piercing. I thought it looked so sexy on a nicely toned tummy, so off I went to the salon. I had gotten my ears pierced when I was very young and figured I would have simply to clean the wound with alcohol for a few days until it was healed. Immediately after it was done, I knew that healing would not be so simple. Instead of alcohol, I was told to rinse the piercing out with salt water every day. For two straight weeks the pain was almost intolerable. Ever turn and twist I made hurt terribly. The redness and puffiness stayed for around two months.

After eight months I was scheduled for minor surgery. I was told that the belly ring would have to come out. I hoped that the piercing would not close up during the time I was healing. When I went to put the belly ring back in, it was difficult to insert. After I got it back in, it became swollen, red and it appeared to be infected. I decided that after surgery was not a good time to get an infection and pulled the ring out.

Around six months later I decided to get another belly piercing. So I again went to the salon. This time the man that was doing the piercing was unexperienced. He knew I had a scar from the earlier piercing, so for some reason he tried to go directly through it. Instead he went over the piercing. For a while everything looked good, until one day I noticed that the ring had started to come through my skin!. The salon tech did not go deep enough under the scar tissue and the ring would eventually have grown completely out. I quickly took the ring out and forgot about ever trying it again.

Now I have a scar on my tummy where the rings were, and it looks terrible. Although I realize this story is probably not of the norm the fact is, all these bad things can happen.

So when your teen comes to you with these requests take time out to explain all the responsibilities and risks of associated with piercing. If their health is at risk, then it is not worth it.