Overview

Body piercing is very popular. Many areas of the body are used for piercing.

The ears are the most common piercing site. Most of the time, an earlobe piercing heals without any problems. Piercing other areas of the ear usually involves piercing the cartilage that gives the ear shape. Piercing ear cartilage creates a wound that is harder to clean, takes longer to heal, and is more likely to become infected than earlobe piercing.

Other popular sites include the lips, tongue, nose, eyebrow, navel, nipples, and genital area. Each body piercing site has its own normal healing time and its own set of possible problems. Careful aftercare at home can help speed healing of the wound and prevent problems. At first, a body piercing site may be slightly swollen. A small amount of blood or fluid may drain from the site.

Common problems that develop from body piercing include:

• Infection of the site.
  • Infection of the lips or tongue may cause speech, chewing, or swallowing problems or swelling that can block the throat.
  • Infection of a nipple can cause an abscess and scar the breast tissue.
  • The infection could be serious or life-threatening and involve the entire body (systemic).
• Splitting or tearing of the skin, which may cause scar tissue to form.
• Problems with the type of jewelry used, including allergies to a metal. Make sure to use the type of jewelry designed for your piercing site. Use only nonallergenic jewelry.
• Other problems caused by the jewelry.
  • Jewelry in the lips or tongue can cause chipping or cracking of the teeth, gum problems, and trouble chewing or swallowing. Jewelry can also become loose and be swallowed.
  • Jewelry in the navel can get caught on clothing and linens. This constant irritation can delay healing. Navel piercings can take up to a year to heal completely.
  • Jewelry in the genital area may cause injury to you or your sex partner. It also can cause condom breakage. Piercings in the penis can change the urine flow, cause recurring genital warts, and result in erection problems.
• Damage to blood vessels or nerves under the skin.
• Scarring of the piercing site.

If a sterile technique isn't used, there's a chance of spreading diseases, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or tetanus. Blood infections (sepsis) can occur if a sterile technique isn't used.

You can reverse a body piercing fairly easily by removing the jewelry. This allows the hole to close.

Self-Care

Careful aftercare of your body piercing can help prevent problems and promote healing. If you received written instructions from the person who did the body piercing, follow those instructions carefully. If you didn't get instructions for care of the piercing site, try using these.

• Stop any bleeding.

  Do this by applying direct pressure to the piercing site.

• Apply a cold pack.

  This can help reduce swelling or bruising. Never apply ice directly to the skin. This can cause tissue damage. Put a layer of fabric or a cloth towel between the cold pack and the skin.

• Keep the wound clean.

  Clean the area 2 times a day with a mild soap and water, gently removing any buildup on the jewelry. Wipe away any moisture around the jewelry.

• Elevate the piercing area, if you can.

  This will help reduce swelling.

• Take extra care with a mouth or tongue piercing.
  • Use an antiseptic (alcohol-free) mouthwash to rinse your mouth 3 or 4 times a day.
  • Use ice chips or cool liquids to help reduce swelling and pain.
  • Avoid smoking, and don't drink alcohol or eat spicy foods until a mouth or tongue piercing site is fully healed.
• Avoid tight clothing over the piercing area.

  Tight clothing may irritate the piercing site. If irritation develops, it is best to bandage the site. Piercing sites usually will heal well with or without a bandage.

• Don't remove the jewelry if the piercing site is red or may be infected.

  A little bleeding, swelling, or redness is normal after a piercing. As it heals, if you notice new redness in the area, you can treat it with warm compresses and an antibacterial ointment. But if it isn't better in 5 to 7 days, it could be infected.

  Symptoms of an infection may include fever and chills, increased pain, swelling, warmth or redness, or pus draining from the area. An infection can be serious.

How fast the wound heals depends on the piercing site. The wound may take 4 to 6 weeks or longer to heal. Some sites may take up to a year to heal fully.

How long it takes to heal

Each body piercing site has its own normal healing time. Common sites usually heal within the time frames listed below. Healing depends on many things. It can depend on how big the piercing is and how thick the tissue is at the site. Your own ability to heal can also affect healing time.

A piercing may not heal as fast if it gets infected or irritated or if scar tissue forms. You may need to see your doctor if your piercing does not seem to be healing.

Safe jewelry choices

Not all jewelry is appropriate for body piercing. Choose jewelry for body piercing sites that:

• Is removable.
  • If you have your mouth pierced and you use oral jewelry, make sure it can be removed. For example, you should be able to unscrew the ball on one end of a barbell-shaped device to make the device easy to insert and take out.
• Allows for full cleaning of the piercing site.
  • Ear studs or other jewelry designed for the ears are not appropriate for other body sites. Other body sites are hard to clean or may easily tear or snag if you use jewelry designed for the ear in them.
• Is smoothly polished, free of nicks, scratches, or jagged surfaces that might damage the skin.
  • The back of an earring can pinch and damage tissue when used in places other than the earlobe. Backs of earrings are not smooth enough to prevent skin and tissue damage.
• Is the right thickness for the body site being pierced.
  • Jewelry that is too thin can tear right through the skin. The thickness of the average ear stud is too small for most other body piercing sites.
  • Jewelry that is too thick for the site can cause an abscess, a cyst, or scar tissue formation.
  • Jewelry that is too large can easily catch on clothing.
  • Jewelry that is too small can be absorbed into the body tissues.
• Is made from metals that do not cause allergic reactions.
  • Only use nonallergenic jewelry, such as surgical steel, gold, or titanium, in a new piercing. Do not use nickel or brass-plated jewelry.
• Is sterilized before it is put into the piercing site.
  • Choose jewelry that has not been used or worn or that has been sterilized.

When to call for help during self-care

Call 911 if any of the following occur during self-care at home:

• New or worse trouble breathing, wheezing, or tightness in the chest.
• New or worse swelling of the throat, tongue, lips, or mouth.

Call a doctor if any of the following occur during self-care at home:

• New or worse signs of an allergic reaction, such as swelling, hives, or itching.
• New or worse belly pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
• New or worse signs of infection, such as redness, warmth, swelling, pus, or a fever.
• Symptoms occur more often or are more severe.

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