Any jewelry that you insert into your body should first be cleaned and disinfected. Even if your piercing is healed, you don't know through whose hands your jewelry has passed before it gets to you. Cleaning your jewelry before insertion reduces...
When a properly-trained body piercer performs a nostril piercing, complications are rare, but they do sometimes occur. The biggest dangers related to nostril piercings are improper jewelry and inadequate cross-contamination procedures. When...
The autoclave is an important device for use in the medical field. It is used to sterilize equipment and tools. If you run a body-piercing business, owning a small autoclave adds to your credibility and provides your customers with the safest...
A professional tattoo artist knows how to troubleshoot a tattoo machine when problems arise. During your apprenticeship, your mentor teaches you the components of a tattoo machine and the function of each piece. Lessons from your mentor about...
Proper piercing of any body part requires a thorough knowledge of sterilization techniques and cross-contamination procedure. It is important to remember that sterilization means removing all viable microorganisms on an object, whereas...
Getting a new piercing involves understanding your risks for infection. You can prevent infection from belly rings by following the necessary routine for care and maintenance. Understand the importance of receiving a piercing at a reputable studio...
When performing a navel piercing, all tools should be autoclave sterilized. Contrary to popular belief, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and boiling water are not sterilants. A piercing done without the proper tools and without preventing...
Over the past twenty years, body piercing has become more common in Western society. Many people have expanded beyond single ear piercings to multiple ear piercings or more exotic piercing locations such as the navel, nose, or nipples. Another...
Anyone seeking a body piercing should visit a trained piercer certified by the Association of Professional Piercers. Oral piercings in particular can be dangerous if not done by someone trained in oral anatomy and prevention of...
Gauging is the process of stretching a piercing to accommodate larger jewelry. Most ear piercings are performed at an 18 or 20 gauge, which is very small; however, the lobes can be stretched to 3 inches in diameter or more. While it is possible...
If you've had your navel pierced for six months and the piercing has completely healed, you may be ready to change jewelry, or perhaps you've just decided to remove the jewelry altogether. Navel piercings are usually done with a stainless steel...
The most common method by which earlobes are stretched is with a surgical steel taper. This process of stretching is sometimes incorrectly called "gauging" and the jewelry incorrectly called "gauges." In fact, the word "gauge" refers to the...
Safely getting your tongue pierced requires more than just flipping through the phone book and finding a piercer. In many parts of the country, piercers are unregulated and require no formal training or examination to pierce. Complications from...
If you're getting your ears pierced for the first time, you may be feeling nervous about the pain. Most people find that because a piercing is over very quickly, the anticipation of the pain was worse than the pain itself. There is no reason to be...
Even a piercing performed by a trained piercer using proper sterile technique has a small chance of getting infected. Most infections occur as a result of improper aftercare. According to Dr. Janet L.H. Keating of the Duke Family Medicine Center,...
Many of the things an expectant mother does to her body can affect the developing baby. If you are considering getting a tattoo while pregnant, know that there are risks involved. It is best to wait until after delivery to get a tattoo, according...
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) is a rare but fatal brain disorder than can be transmitted from person to person through direct contact of infected brain tissue. It cannot be spread through the air or by casual contact, such as physical touching....
An eyebrow piercing is a vertical surface piercing, which means the entrance and exit areas go through a flat piece of skin. Piercers mark dots above and below the brow, usually at the outer edge. They then clamp the skin with forceps and use a...
Lots of tattoo parlors offer body piercing, but this doesn't guarantee that piercer has enough experience to give you a successful piercing. Ask about the procedure and what experience or training the piercer has. Insist on inspecting facilities...
Skin that has been tattooed should be kept out of the sun until it has healed completely. Your tattoo will remain sensitive to sunlight permanently. Since sunlight may fade the vibrant colors, a tattoo will require some care when sunbathing. Apply...
Getting your ears pierced is a rite of passage for many girls, and even some boys too. The words "ear piercing" may well conjure memories of a trip to the mall, where you sat in a chair in the jewelry shop trying to look brave, watching anxiously...
As a piercing heals, scar tissue forms. In the process of forming scar tissue, your body sheds dead skin cells. Your piercings may also secrete blood and plasma. While a foul odor coming from a piercing can be a sign of infection, it may simply be...
The most common gauge, or thickness, for nostril jewelry is 18, though 20-gauge or 16-gauge may also be used. The higher the number, the smaller the gauge. For example, a 20-gauge is the thinnest and a 16-gauge is the thickest. Facial piercings...
The word "gauge" refers to the thickness of a piece of jewelry. Nostril piercings are commonly performed with 18 gauge needles, though 20 gauge may be used as well. Bent studs called nostril screws are sold in both sizes. These are the same gauges...
Just because you're having a baby doesn't mean you have to give up your navel piercing. Traditional metal barbells often become uncomfortable around the fifth month of pregnancy and should be removed to keep them from tearing the skin, according...
Earlobe stretching is a body modification practice that has been around for centuries. In order to stretch a piercing, an object slightly larger than the hole is inserted, causing microscopic tears. The larger object, usually jewelry, is left in...
The jewelry most commonly worn in a nostril piercing is a nostril screw or captive bead ring. Either is appropriate for an initial piercing. Some piercers prefer to use a ring, as a nostril screw can come out during sleep if it gets caught on a...
Sterilization of the needle, tools, supplies and jewelry for a navel piercing is crucial for your safety. Performing a navel piercing without sterilizing the equipment can lead to bacterial infections and the transmission of diseases, according to...
The potential for infection or transmitted diseases may deter you from obtaining a tattoo or body piercing. If you are a first time tattoo or piercing client, you depend on the professional performing the procedure to provide a safe environment...
Tattoos effect your ability to donate blood. Learn the laws for donating blood with tattoos in this free video clip from a blood donation center.
