The term “piercing,” derived from English, refers to the act of piercing or penetrating the skin and to body jewelry that is inserted through the skin. Rings or bars of many different designs are used to adorn the body. This is also common among indigenous peoples, who typically choose their lips or ears for their traditional body jewelry. As early as about 7,000 years ago, various tribes adorned the body with jewelry—some more conspicuous than others—for spiritual or religious reasons. Today, in our culture, piercings have no religious significance; they serve purely decorative purposes.
What should you keep in mind when getting your first piercing—on your face?
In principle, piercing the earlobes to wear earrings is also a form of piercing; it is, in fact, the only type of piercing that has been performed in Europe. Until 1970, only women wore earrings; after that, more and more men began to do so as well. Piercings can generally be done in many places on the face, but special caution is advised here due to the risk of infection. Facial piercings can be found here:
- Eyebrows
- Upper lip
- lower lip
- Nose
- Labial frenulum
- Ear cup
- Tongue
When getting your first piercing, you should definitely make sure you are not allergic to the material of the jewelry. Depending on the location of the piercing—such as the tongue—the tissue may swell. Before undergoing such a procedure, everyone should thoroughly verify not only that the piercer has sufficient experience, but above all that they adhere to hygiene regulations. Disinfection of equipment and materials, hand hygiene, and general cleanliness are absolute prerequisites. Likewise, you should not get a piercing if you have certain medical conditions, such as AIDS, hepatitis, leukemia, or even if you are diabetic, due to the tendency for poor healing. Depending on where the piercing is to be placed, inflammation in the mouth, tooth decay, skin conditions in the immediate vicinity of the piercing site, and several other factors can be counterproductive. Of course, patients taking warfarin should not get a piercing, and people with a heart valve defect or other serious organic diseases should also refrain from getting a piercing.
What should you keep in mind when getting your first piercing, and how is it done?
A navel piercing is one of the most common types of piercings and is also one of the least invasive. The procedure involves marking and preparing the area, securing it with forceps, and inserting a larger piece of jewelry. After the healing period, this can be replaced with a permanent piercing; the initial pieces are always made of sterile surgical steel. The process is essentially the same for other areas; piercings are also performed in the genital region of both men and women.
