There is a number of body piercing fans throughout the world and for such devotees of this kind of art there are a number of piercing parlors available too. But it is highly suggested that only that parlor should be considered reliable which holds license of piercing. Otherwise the risk of getting infections and contamination on your skin would be unavoidable. Many teenagers today thoughtlessly go for piercing without consulting their doctor for their skin type. Proper purification and post-piercing care information should be provided by the piercer. Sometimes the lack of hygiene can result into a deadly infection which takes ages to heal. Also care must be taken for those whose skin is very sensitive and prone to viruses.

There are some people who pierce for religious or mystical reasons, while others pierce for individualism, for artistic value or to confirm or rebel from their social group. There are some forms of piercing which has been controversial especially among youth. Such piercing is restricted by schools, offices, employers, and religious groups.

Ear piercing and nose piercing is the most common and the oldest form of piercing known to man. While lip, tongue and navel piercing came in the later times especially in American and African tribal cultures. In the western world piercing was first culturally unacceptable even for women but then later on it gained popularity among the females as well as males specially when the punk culture picked up. Following that, piercing became popular among homosexuals and gays. This even gained more admiration and fame until the government started a law that erotic piercing and sharing of needles was banned as many viruses were widespread due to sharing of needles. Even in the courts it was announced that decorative piercing is not illegal but sensual is.

It is an essential tip that the size and shape of the piercing area should be taken into account. A good piercer will carefully check the area before piercing and guide the client according to what is best for him or her. It is advisable to clients to properly listen to the guidelines and not take a greater risk with piercing if the piercer doesn’t approve of it. Overall, body piercing should be a fun experience if taken good and appropriate care and should not be neglected by one as the outcome of it can be really damaging for one’s own health and life.

The reasons for piercings can vary individually. Some get piercings done as a form of spiritual and religious expression such as the Indian monks. Others get it done as a source of self expression or for sexual pleasure. Some get piercings are done to conform to the values of society such as in African tribes while others do it to rebel against the norms. Contemporary body piercings emphasize the use of safe and properly sterilized environment and using specialized equipment to reduce risks of infections, allergies, potential scarring and unexpected physical injuries. The time to heal for piercings may vary according to different areas of the body; it can take as little from 1 week to as much as 2 years, especially in the case of navel piercings.

In contemporary styles of piercings there are various tools used for puncturing the skin; such as the piercing gun, piercing needle, cork and forceps and anesthesia. Piercing guns are used most commonly for ear piercings however; they can also be used for other body parts. Piercing guns are not advised by professional body piercings since the amount of pressure used to punch in the studs can damage body tissue and are also unsuitable for use due to hygienic reasons. The piercing needle is the standard way of piercing the skin in United States. A medical needle is used to puncture the skin by hands or sometime a needle pusher. Its tip is about the same size as that of the jewellery that will be worn in it. While the needle is still in the skin, the jewellery that has to be worn is pushed in the skin, which follows the back side of the needle. As the jewellery is pushed in, the needle is taken out. Cork and forceps are instruments that can be used to aid needle piercings. Lastly anesthesia can also be used to numb the skin to decrease the sting of pain cause by inserted the needle or the gun. However, the use of anesthesia has to be administered by professionals and hence is not legally allowed to be used in the United States.

Body piercing is a not a procedure without risks. From infections to allergic reactions to nickel and the formation of scars and keloid (which is the formation of excessive tissue upon healing) and even physical trauma which involve tearing of the piercing site, body piercing is a very risky procedure. Hence, proper care and research should be done before getting any type of body piercings.

Every body part looks unique. So when considering any type of body piercing, it’s important to first consider the unique curvature of the body part. For example, the nose is just a small body part on the face. For this reason, most designs tend to look exquisite and elegant. It is almost impossible for fanciful designs due to the limited surface area of the nose.

When going for nose piercing, choose the art piece carefully. The art piece refers to any piece of jewelry that will be used as a decorative piece on the nose. This piece of jewelry doesn’t have to be costly. You just have to look good with it. Make sure you try out different pieces in front of the mirror before going through with the piercing. If you find yourself running out of ideas, you can always refer to the thousands of traditional designs that have been passed down from generation to generation. Body piercing is, after all, a form of traditional art.

As for body piercing, there are certainly more options available. The term body piercing can refer to any body part – the nose, the lips, tongue, ears, navel, and even nipples. The tricky part is to make sure that all the art pieces match one another so that the entire design looks flawless. You don’t want to choose jewelry pieces that don’t match with one another. For instance, if you are going for the simple and elegant look, then choose jewelry pieces that are simple in design with limited colors. You don’t want to weigh yourself down with huge and colorful pieces. As mentioned, body piercing is a form of self expression. So the type of design you choose ultimately reflects your own personality.

Is body piercing dangerous? Like all procedures that involve some kind of skin pricking, there are some risks involves. The most obvious risk is the risk of infection. An open wound, when attacked by bacteria, can become infected and this may cause severe pain. However, such risks are minimal, especially when the procedure are carried out with due care. For example, piercing tools must be kept clean at all times. An antiseptic solution can be used to clean the pierced area after the procedure has been completed.

Can piercing be done on your own? The answer is yes. But if you are unsure of how the piercing is being done, it’s better to pay a small fee and leave it to the professionals.

The exact history of the concept of piercing can be traced back to the Egyptian races where they used to pierce their body parts to express strength, virility and wealth overall giving such impressions to people around them. The navel piercing was done by the pharaohs only and none else in the kingdom was permitted to do the same act. The Romans as well as Greeks also had been significant names in body piercing. These piercing were also done as to symbolize vigor. Nipples and head of the pe*** were pierced as to avoid their involvement in any kind of sex activities without the permission of their kings.

The body alterations historically transformed into an excellent art these days known as the art of body alterations and this art has appealed a great deal of people in the previous years. Despite the process needs special care and attention once the body is pierced, more and more people are following the track and coming up to salons around the world to get their different parts pierced. Even if you are looking for piercing, you need to consider a few precautions before you move along the process. These precautions are important because mishandling could result into dangerous effects soon after you get the body part pierced.

The first and prior thing while making the deal is to select the appropriate place and the right person for the job. This is a precise job involving some of the very sensitive areas of your body; you need to make the selection very carefully as you leave no mistake. The equipment must be sterilized so that you don’t adapt any of the transmitting diseases. Try opting for a good reputed saloon for the job.

Once you are done with the main part, that is piercing, the care phase starts where you need to give your pierced area the right time to heal up. Covered areas take more time to heal. Just after the piercing, avoid using low quality ornaments and stick to the high quality ones like gold that does not affect your skin type for sure. Pure metals should be used instead of the artificial types commercially available in the market. Body piercing can develop into infections so you need to be extra careful about the issue.

 One of the most common was the nipple piercing which they considered as the sign of vigor. The gladiators were made to pierce their genital areas such as the head of the penis. This prevented them to get indulged in sex activities without the consent of their kings. The beauty of Body Piercing is attracting more and more people; however, one must be a little careful while opting for such practices. It may cause infections or other problems if certain issues are ignored. The first thing that must be taken into account is that one should consult a good piercing expert. Piercing should always be done from good places.

 Advice from two or more experts will help you decide whether you should go for piercing in the specific area, you are thinking of. Infections, in most of the cases are due to the kind of jewelry that has immediately given after piercing. One must go for good quality ornaments such as gold. Other than gold accessories, pure metals such as Titanium or Backline are also able to serve the purpose. Healing time of such Body Piercing depends on the area you have pieced. In case of areas like navel or nipple, which is most of the time covered with clothes, needs some extra time to heal. One must be very careful about such piercing as they are more prone to infections. Proper care as advised at the time of piercing will prevent such infections. If the infection still persists; it is always suggestible to consult a doctor.

 The piercing cost depends on the type of piercing done. Generally it ranges somewhere in between £20 to £30. It is not a wise decision to go for a cheap one as they often ignore the importance of using well-sterilized equipments and good jewelry, which is very essential for avoiding germs. Other than this, another vital factor is to go to a professional piercer rather than doing it anywhere. Other cautions are equally important such as for a pregnant woman, it is advisable to take out any navel ring made of metal. One can put a circular barbell instead, which is made in such a way that it will bend as the stomach expands. Thus, certain small points are enough to get a safe and attractive Body Piercing.

Bodily piercing in a cultural perspective

 There are a few facts which relate to the most popular forms of physical piercing. Here are a few of them.

 Ear piercing – Ear piercing is considered to be one of the most popular types of piercing, whether today or in the past. Even during the early days, people were known to pierce their ears and wear jewelry. According to old tribes, piercing the earlobes and wearing metal ornaments will drive away evil spirits.

 Nose piercing – Nose piercing may not be as popular as ear piercing, but this practice has been in vogue since the early times. Even during the biblical times you will find that the Book of Genesis speaks about so-called nose jewels. In the Pacific Northwest for instance, nose piercing adds to the status symbol of males, especially among the Native American tribe of Nez Perce. Also in the East, nomadic tribes in the Middle East and women in India are known to wear nose jewelry.

 Tongue piercing – According to the belief of the Aztecs, a pre-Columbian civilization, piercing one’s tongue allows for the successful communication with the gods and immortals.

 Lip piercing – Tribes in America and Africa have been known to go for lip piercing for a number of reasons. In North American tribes this signified status symbol while in Malawi this was considered primarily as art.

 You can use gold, titanium, silver, steel and plastic for body jewelry. For body piercing however titanium is a popular choice.

Among the biggest concerns of any one who may wish to have a part of his or her body pierced are the risks involved. Actually, it’s not a complicated procedure, at all, but since it is nonetheless invasive, there are risks of developing infections. You will experience bleeding and some drainage during the first few hours, and these are normal. However, when the discharge turns to yellow or green and there is some inflammation on the affected area, consult your doctor at once.

Depending on the body part to be pierced, the cost of a body pierce ranges between $25 and $100, and healing can be somewhere around six weeks to a year, depending also on the body part concerned.

Yes, it does hurt to get your body pierced, but the pain is tolerable. Some describe it as dull and aching, and may be relieved by over-the-counter pain relievers.