Adorning your body with piercings not only makes a strong fashion statement, but it also can give you a boost of confidence and a feeling of independence. But as with all human activities, benefits are balanced by risks. Once you know the risks of lip piercing, you will be better able to assess the benefits and can go ahead with plans for piercing, switch to piercing a different part of your body or finding another way to express your personality.
Sensitivity to Cleaning or Jewelry
Signs of sensitivity include soreness, redness, itching or burning, according to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Use a mild cleaning solution or antibacterial soap, not alcohol or peroxide, to clean the piercing site, and use nontoxic metal for jewelry to minimize the risk of sensitivity. Palo Alto Medical Foundation recommends jewelry made from surgical steel, 14K or 18K yellow gold, niobium or titanium to protect against sensitivity. YoungWomensHealth.org advises you not to choose silver, as the tarnish darkens your skin permanently.
Minor Infections
Any open wound is subject to infection, with soreness that doesn't go away, redness, swelling and pus accumulation. According to YoungWomensHealth.org, infections can occur from improperly sterilized piercing equipment, piercing when you had a skin irritation and bacteria getting into the piercings site from your hands or from jewelry. Because lip piercings take two to three months to heal, the risk of infection is especially great during that time, but it can occur later as well. See your doctor if you suspect your piercing is infected---trying to treat it yourself could cause further damage.
YoungWomensHealth.org also says that piercing guns can never be sterilized and that all piercings should be done by sterilized needles instead. The website also recommends choosing a salon where employees wash their hands frequently, wear sterile gloves while piercing and use disposable needles, used only once and then thrown away.
Serious Infections
Most infections are bacterial, but according to YoungWomensHealth.org, there is the possibility that other infections could occur, such as those caused by hepatitis, HIV, tetanus and yeast. Take your time to choose a salon that practices good sanitation and ask questions about best safety practices before you choose a piercer.
Damage to Teeth and Gums
According to Palo Alto Medical Foundation's Dr. Irene Lin, all the dental organizations she contacted discouraged mouth piercings due to reports of receding gums and infection. YoungWomensHealth.org also cites damage to nerves and teeth and swelling of the tongue as possible risks.
Other Risks
With any kind of piercing, allergic reactions to jewelry and excessive bleeding are possibilities. YoungWomensHealth.org refers to the Association of Professional Piercers that say those with diabetes, hemophilia, auto-immune disorders and heart conditions should not get piercings. The site also lists thick scarring, or keloids, as a possible risk.
