If you chose to have your piercing performed by a professional body piercer, your chances of contracting a blood-borne disease, such as hepatitis C, are minimal. Professional piercers sterilize instruments and needles in an autoclave to prevent spreading diseases to clients or using tools laden with bacteria. Even though your piercer uses sterile equipment and jewelry, issues with your piercing may arise. Following your piercer's instructions on how to clean your piercing can help alleviate or avoid potential problems with your healing piercing.
Scarring
When you receive a piercing, no matter the location on your body, you will have a scar that remains once you remove the jewelry and allow the piercing to close. If your piercer is a professional who uses a needle of a correct gauge and the appropriate jewelry for your anatomy, the scarring will be minimal. Most scars from professional piercings are as small as the head of a pin, if you follow the aftercare stringently and correctly while wearing your jewelry and care for the open hole after removing the jewelry.
Piercings performed at large gauge, such as 10 or eight gauge, will have larger scars than traditional piercings, which are usually pierced at 14 or 12 gauge. Keloids, a type of scar tissue that grows around and outside of your piercing wound, are possible if you are prone to keloids.
Irritation
Irritation to your skin inside and outside of the piercing is a normal side effect after you receive a piercing. Depending on the length of the healing period for your specific piercing, your immune system and aftercare regimen, your piercing may appear and feel irritated for a minimum of four weeks to one year. When the piercing site experiences irritation, your piercing will appear swollen and red, and exude a clear, white or light-yellow fluid, according to the Association of Professional Piercers. Your piercing may also itch and be tender to the touch. Washing your piercing daily and avoiding harsh products on your piercing can lessen irritation. Changing the jewelry in your piercing too early during the healing period can also cause your piercing to appear irritated.
Infection
Infection is possible in any body piercing. Bacterial infections or allergic reactions are common in healing piercings if you do not take care of the piercing and do not follow your piercer's instructions, according to Elayne Angel, author of "The Piercing Bible: The Definitive Guide to Safe Body Piercing." Inserting inappropriate jewelry into your new piercing can cause an allergic reaction. Bacteria from your hands, if you are constantly touching your piercing, can lead to an infection in your piercing. Oral piercings are susceptible to infection when coming into to contact with another person's bodily fluids. Professional piercers suggest that you avoid deep kissing and oral sex during the healing period for oral piercings to prevent infection.
Bleeding
Bleeding is common during the piercing procedure and for several hours after the procedure. Some piercings, such as the male genital piercing known as a prince albert, may bleed for several days after the piercing procedure. Your piercing may bleed if it experiences a rip or tear from snagging on clothing, during sports or roughhousing or from pulling on the piercing. If you experience a rip or tear in your body piercing, visit your professional piercer. Continue to clean the piercing while the rip or tear heals and remove any excess dried blood from your jewelry.
