The Perils of Body Piercing---Is it Worth the Risk?

When questioned about it, the pierced persons usually give one or more of the following reasons for doing it.

1. They say that body piercings are "cool."

Are they really? A girl that waits on us occasionally in a local restaurant has an eyebrow piercing, a nose piercing, and a lip piercing. It doesn't look "cool" to me, and I'm always glad when she takes our order and leaves, because her piercings are almost painful to look at. She would probably say that my reaction is my problem---it is her body and she can do what she likes with it, but, since I also notice other patrons cringing when they look at her it may soon become her problem, too. When employers sense that an employee's looks are distracting to customers, they quickly find an excuse to let that employee go. There may be laws against firing an employee for piercings, but most employers can find other reasons to base a dismissal on, and will.

And, as unfair as it may seem, most employers, when faced with a choice between a person with distracting body piercings and a person without obvious piercings will almost always choose the latter if both candidates are equally qualified for the job.

Among the pierced person's friends, the piercing may look "cool," but will it still look cool 5 or 10 years from now? Although jewelry can be removed, the piercings themselves, in many cases never disappear, and other complications (discussed below) may also cause permanent after effects.

2. Kids claim their friends are all getting body piercings so they want one, too.

This isn't a legitimate reason to have your body pierced although many parents have heard the old, "But all my friends are doing it," refrain until they want to pick up a needle and do a little piercing themselves. In the first place, it isn't true. Most kids are not getting body piercings, at least not in unusual spots, although ear piercings still seem to be extremely common for girls.

If they are honest, most kids will admit they believe that getting a body piercing will make them stand out among their friends. After the piercing, they often experience a sense of bravado as a result of daring to step out to do something a bit extraordinary.

3. Kids say that it's their body so they have a right to do whatever they want with it.

In a lot cases, body piercing is a symbol of freedom from parental guidance. The child has either badgered their parents into giving permission for a piercing, or they have had a piercing without parental consent. This rebellion makes them feel in control of their lives and, they think, makes their friends envious.

Now you've heard what the kids have to say about body piercings. What do health authorities have to say?

Here are just a few of the complications that may develop during a body piercing, after the piercing, and even years later.

1. Excessive bleeding at the time of the piercing.

2. Allergic reactions.

3. Infection from the use of non-sterilized equipment during the piercing.

4. Infection after the piercing due to improper aftercare.

5. Swelling of the tongue following a tongue piercing.

6. Swallowing of jewelry or jewelry pieces following a tongue piercing.

7. Skin dimpling after jewelry is removed.

8. Keloids which can occur if scar tissue interferes with normal skin tissues.

9. Cracked teeth or gum and soft tissue damage caused by tongue jewelry

10. Disqualification from donating blood for a year after a body piercing.

11. Various kinds of nerve damage.

12. Obstructed air passage due to tongue swelling after tongue piercing.

13. Belly button infections.

14 Damage to milk glands during nipple piercing.

15. Death from infections that spread throughout the body.

If you or one of your children are thinking of having a body piercing, please take a moment to visit some of the following websites to see if the satisfaction you will get from having a body piercing is worth the possible risks involved.

REFERENCES:

http://beauty.indobase.com/body-piercing/body-piercing-danger.html

http://www.dentistryiq.com/index/display/article-display/250008/articles/rdh/volume-26/issue-3/feature/the-perils-of-oral-piercing.html

http://ezinearticles.com/?What-are-the-Real-Risks-of-Body-Piercing?----Advice-for-Parents-and-Teens&id=2961

http://www.nytimes.com/2000/04/04/health/personal-health-fresh-warnings-on-the-perils-of-piercing.html?pagewanted=2