Piercings are still a divisive topic today: you either love them or hate them. Are you thinking about getting a piercing? Your piercing studio has compiled all the essential information you need to make an informed decision!
Risks: A piercing always involves piercing the skin
First and foremost, a piercing is always a puncture of the skin: a wound is created, and it heals in a controlled manner. The goal is not for the body to return to its original state. Instead, a sort of tunnel is created in the skin. And the jewelry is inserted into this new tube, which is enclosed by skin. So the body is injured in order to bring about a change—no wonder piercings are still viewed critically by some people.
Choose your location carefully
Before you get your piercing, you should be clear about the exact location. From an aesthetic standpoint, this means: Do you want the piercing to be constantly visible on your face (lip, eyebrow, nose, ear)? Or is it more of an intimate matter, something between you and your body (belly button or nipple, for example)? The risks associated with healing also depend on the body part. Care can be easier in some cases, while in others it requires more effort. And it goes without saying that a lip or a nipple is more sensitive to pain than other parts of the body.
Risks and Consequences
Piercing is a form of bodily injury, as the term itself makes clear. The English verb “to pierce” means “to bore through” or “to pierce.” No matter how hygienic and professional the piercer is, the wound can always become infected. Inflammation of the pierced area is quite common. As a result, bacteria or other pathogens can enter the body through this site. The tissue beneath the pierced area can also be damaged—blood vessels, for example. You can tell this is happening if the area turns blue-purple. What looks like a “bruise” is simply a hematoma forming beneath the piercing. If nerves are hit, piercings can even lead to paralysis.
People with allergies face yet another problem: they can’t tolerate jewelry. The body’s allergic reaction causes the skin to turn red, itch, or burn, and blisters may form. Skin that’s been irritated in this way is also prone to infection. These reactions are often caused by jewelry containing nickel. Titanium jewelry is lighter and stronger, and completely nickel-free. The key is simply to make sure you choose nickel-free jewelry. If you experience an allergic reaction, you should, of course, see your piercer immediately.
Once the piercing has healed properly, the risks of long-term complications decrease. However, one risk remains: scarring. New skin tissue has formed in the body at the site where the skin was pierced. If you remove the jewelry, a raised area may remain visible. And in some cases, this can last a lifetime. So this is irreversible. Scars tend to be small and inconspicuous if the piercing has healed properly and was done correctly. But larger, clearly visible scars can also remain. This is a factor you should consider, especially when it comes to facial piercings!
Care prevents negative consequences
Wounds heal better when they’re cared for—that’s no secret. A piercing needs care, too. You should definitely follow your piercer’s instructions! Ideally, you’ll receive detailed guidance on what you can and can’t do in the days following the piercing. An information sheet with wound care instructions is also part of the package. And of course, you should learn how to clean and care for the jewelry yourself—that’s important, too. After all, pathogens can accumulate on the jewelry, and you definitely don’t want to introduce them into the fresh wound.
Since the scab acts as a protective layer and helps the skin heal, you should also avoid rubbing it. In addition, long baths are counterproductive, as the water softens the scab, allowing bacteria to enter the wound and cause an infection.
How quickly your piercing heals depends on your body. For some people, the healing process is very quick, while for others it takes longer. However, you can always avoid complications by following your piercer’s instructions.
Important for proper wound healing:
A few things go without saying, but they still need to be mentioned time and again when it comes to piercings:
- Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap before touching your piercing.
- Make sure to keep the piercing that hasn't healed yet free of sweat and saliva (exception: tongue piercings and saliva—contact is inevitable in that case).
- Keep the pierced area away from clothing that rubs or presses against it, as well as other physical irritants. You should also avoid exercising until the piercing has healed.
- Clean your piercing only with pH-neutral care products.
- Disinfect the pierced area twice a day.
- If you have piercings in your mouth, it’s best to quit smoking; you should consistently avoid it for at least a week. Kissing and other “unhygienic” contact are also a concern.
Pain is part of it
We’re constantly asked: Just how painful is it, really? A piercing is always painful—after all, a needle is being pushed through your skin! Even a skilled piercer rarely manages to completely avoid all the nerves. That’s because nerve pathways vary from person to person. So there’s no “map” showing where the nerve pathways are or anything like that. Exactly how painful it is varies from person to person. And there’s another reason for this: Some people barely feel pain that would make others faint! This is completely normal and depends on both physical factors (biology) and your overall condition. How stressed or relaxed you are, whether you’re sleep-deprived, your diet, and your overall lifestyle—all of these factors influence your pain perception. But generally speaking, you should know this: The pain is bearable. Otherwise, so many people wouldn’t get piercings. We also aren’t aware of any cases where someone has died from pain in a piercing studio. Maybe that will reassure you a little.
So, the perception of pain is subjective. And it depends on the location chosen. A genital piercing is generally perceived as more painful than a navel piercing. Depending on where you get pierced, your studio can help alleviate some of the pain. In some areas, an ice spray can help, while others can be numbed with a local anesthetic.
How to Spot a Good Piercing Studio – Here’s What to Look For!
Whether your piercing heals well, how high the risk of infection is, and whether scars form depends in no small part on the studio’s cleanliness. After all, the wound can become infected right during the piercing process. Don’t just look at your piercing studio’s website—try to visit the location in person before you decide to get a piercing. Get advice and ask the studio staff all the questions you can think of! If you do this at several studios, you’ll get a sense of which studio operates in a “clean” manner. Maybe you also have some friends who are already pierced. Ask if they have a recommendation for you. Here are the points to check:
- What does the studio look like—is it clean, or more on the shabby side?
- What is the piercer like—neat and tidy or scruffy?
- How much experience does your piercer have?
- Are the piercings packaged in sterile packaging at the studio?
- Does the piercer use disposable gloves?
- Does the studio take the time to help you and answer all your questions?
- Are you informed, without being asked, about the risks and possible consequences of your piercing?
- Does your piercer discuss aftercare with you and give you a leaflet with instructions?
If you're happy with all these points, you've found the right studio! Admittedly, there are some things you can't really judge just by taking a quick look around the studio.
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Cost: The full range
How much your piercing will cost depends on various factors. Every studio has different prices, the jewelry itself costs money (sometimes more, sometimes less), and costs vary depending on the body part. The piercer’s training and experience play just as much of a role as regional differences. What we can definitely provide, however, is a rough overview of the costs you can expect. This is another point you should consider when choosing your studio: if the cost of the piercing deviates significantly from the average, there’s a reason for it. Decide for yourself whether that’s trustworthy to you. Here’s what you can use as a guide:
- Ear piercings cost between 20 and 60 euros each.
- The nose and eyebrow will each cost you around 70 euros.
- Piercings in the lip, tongue, and nipple are more difficult to perform; you should expect to pay around 80 euros.
- Genital piercings require specialized training and should only be performed by qualified professionals. Expect to pay up to 150 euros.
Did you know that piercings are among the oldest forms of body adornment? Centuries ago, people used metal jewelry to show their affiliation with a tribe and celebrate their cultural rituals! And strictly speaking, every ear piercing is a piercing.
Different types of piercings – and what exactly is a tunnel?
A tunnel is usually the first piercing you get. Newcomers often choose this style. The ear hole, often called the lobe, is slightly widened for this. The ear holes must be stretched for a tunnel. Starting gently with 0.2 millimeters per month at first and later 0.4 millimeters per month, this isn’t too painful. If you go too fast, the skin can tear. Important to know: A widely stretched ear hole will not close up again. As an alternative to a tunnel, you can also insert a plug into a stretched ear hole. These are round piercings, cylinders, or discs that completely fill the opening. With a tunnel, on the other hand, you insert a ring so that you can see through the ear hole—just like a tunnel. And there’s also this:
- Barbell: If you use an elongated piece of jewelry in your septum instead of a ring or a horseshoe, it’s called a barbell. It looks like a dumbbell.
- Belly button piercing: The piercing isn't visible under clothing, except when wearing swimwear or underwear. This makes it a more private form of jewelry and, as a result, a perennial favorite. However, it can be a bit tricky to manage: You should avoid getting caught on your clothes.
- Fake piercings: These are completely painless. Without actually getting pierced, you simply clip a fake piercing onto the spot where you’d like to have one. Clip-on earrings are a type of fake piercing.
- Helix: This is an ear piercing on the outer edge of the ear lobe, in the cartilage. You can wear a stud or a hoop here.
- Genital piercing: A piercing in the genital area is a completely private matter. Only you and your partner(s) will see it, so it’s truly invisible. However, it’s also a rather painful procedure.
- Septum: This nose piercing is reminiscent of the rings that oxen used to wear through their noses. The septum is not pierced through the cartilage of the nasal septum, but through the connective tissue beneath it. The procedure is slightly more painful than a standard ear piercing.
Conclusion: Make an informed decision about getting a piercing so you won't regret it
To sum it up: Piercings are painful and come with some health risks. However, if you find a studio that maintains high standards of hygiene and follow the guidelines for proper wound healing, you can minimize the risk of infection. And piercings are a truly traditional practice. People have been wearing metal jewelry for over 1,000 years! Take your time to think about what kind of piercing you want. You now have all the information you need to make an informed decision. And if you’re unsure, it’s better to sleep on it for another night. A reputable piercing studio will also inform you about all these points.