Are piercings actually unclean

The rise of self expression through bodily piercing has seen a great rise in the 2000’s. While the creation of artificial holes in the body has existed for a long time, piercings have now become a symbol of individuality and freedom for many people. There is still, however, apprehension and doubt attached to the idea. Because piercings involve penetrating through skin, the risk of infection is high. Piercings can be very delicate and if not handled with care, they can be very harmful and turn septic. Especially in the case of younger children and babies, when skin is still developing and can be extremely sensitive.

These are some things to look out for before you get it done

Sterilization Everything that comes into contact with your skin must be sterilized. From the gloves to the actual needle. It greatly reduces the risk of infection and allows for an easy recovery process. Personally make sure that it is getting sterilized for you, because sometimes needles are only sterilized they’ve pierced multiple people already. Clean Articles Tissues, napkins, cloth. Piercings can release liquid and it is imperative that they are cleaned up right then. Make sure that the cleaning cloth you get is clean and fresh. Used tissues, stained napkins or soggy paper are all signs of it having been used before and could come in contact with your piercing- having foriegn substances so close to torn skin is a very bad idea No display pieces Many piercing parlours keep their best jewellery on display trays and the immediate reaction is to get pierced with one of those. However, those pieces have been gathering all sorts of dust and germs for long periods of time. While they can help you get inspired, DO NOT get pierced with a piece from a display tray. Most jewellery comes in pre-sterilized packaging and if that’s not available, make sure you get a fresh piece that is still sealed.

Pre existing conditions If you have skin allergies or are sensitive to specific metals, it is extremely important that you plan your piercing around that knowledge. The wrong metal could trigger a whole set of reactions and skin conditions that might be very harmful or worsen already bad allergies. Having clean metals that don’t damage your skin is very important for the piercing to sustain itself.

Washing and Cleaning Because piercings split skin, all sorts of liquids accumulate around the hole. These liquids, if left alone, could form masses of dried gunk and filth. Depending on your piercing, the healing process requires care and patience. Coconut oil, salt water and rose water are some of the substances used to make sure the gunk is cleaned and the piercing remains untouched.

Piercings can be sources of great joy, within a certain set of precautions. If proper care is taken, the piercing can be very fun to experiment with. However, please remember that hygiene is always a first when it’s about your body, so make sure you do it right!

Stay Safe!

Maya Ribeiro SHARP