These days, piercings still divide opinion: you either love them or hate them. Are you thinking about getting a piercing? Your piercing studio has compiled all the important information you need to make an informed decision.
Risks: A piercing always involves a puncture of the skin
A piercing is, first and foremost, a puncture in the skin: a wound is inflicted, 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. The piece of jewelry is then inserted into this new tube surrounded by skin. Thus, the body is injured to bring about a change. It’s no wonder that some people still view piercings with a critical eye.
Choose your position carefully
Before getting a piercing, you should be clear about the exact location. Aesthetically speaking, this means: Do you want the piercing to be always visible on your face (lip, eyebrow, nose, ear)? Or is it something more intimate, something between you and your body (belly button or nipple, for example)? The risks associated with healing also depend on the part of the body. Sometimes aftercare is easier, sometimes more difficult. 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
A piercing is a bodily injury, as the term itself suggests. The English verb “to pierce” means “to puncture” or “to pierce through.” No matter how hygienic and professional the piercer may be, 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, such as blood vessels, can also be damaged. This is recognizable because the area turns blue-purple. What looks like a “bruise” is simply a hematoma that forms beneath the piercing. If nerves are touched, piercings can even cause paralysis.
People with allergies face another problem: they cannot tolerate jewelry. The body’s allergic reaction causes the skin to become red, itchy, or burning, and blisters to form. Skin irritated in this way is also susceptible to infection. Reactions are usually caused by jewelry containing nickel. Titanium jewelry is lighter and more durable, and it also contains no nickel. Simply put, it’s important to look for nickel-free jewelry. If you have an allergic reaction, see your piercer immediately.
Once the piercing has healed properly, the risk of long-term effects is reduced. But one remains: scarring. New skin tissue has formed at the site where the skin was pierced. If you remove the jewelry, a visible bump may remain. And it may stay that way for the rest of your life. Therefore, it is irreversible. Scars are small and barely visible if the piercing has healed well and was done correctly. However, larger, clearly visible scars can also remain. This is a factor you should take into account, especially on the face.
Taking care of things prevents negative consequences
Wounds heal better when they’re cared for—that’s no secret. A piercing also needs care. You should always follow your piercer’s instructions. Ideally, they’ll give you detailed instructions on what you can and cannot do in the days following the piercing. An information sheet with instructions on wound care is also included. And, of course, it’s also important that you learn how to clean and care for the jewelry yourself. Pathogens can adhere to the jewelry, and it’s best not 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. Long baths are also counterproductive, as the water softens the scab and bacteria could enter the wound and cause inflammation.
How quickly a piercing heals depends on your body. For some people, the wound heals very quickly, while for others it takes longer. However, you can always avoid complications by following your piercer’s instructions.
Important for proper wound healing:
Actually, some things are obvious, but they 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 any piercing that hasn't healed yet free of sweat and saliva (exception: tongue piercings and saliva—of course there will be contact).
- Keep the pierced area free from friction or pressure from clothing and other mechanical irritants. You should also avoid exercising until the piercing has healed..
- Clean your piercing only with pH-neutral care products.
- Disinfect the area of broken skin twice a day.
- If you have piercings around your mouth, it’s best to stop smoking, and you should refrain from doing so for at least a week. Kissing and other “unhygienic” contact are also a major concern.
Pain is part of it
We get asked this question over and over again: Is it really painful? A piercing is always painful; after all, a needle is piercing the skin. Even a skilled piercer rarely manages to completely avoid all the nerves. This is because nerve pathways are unique to each individual. There’s no “map” marking nerve pathways or anything like that. That’s why the level of pain varies from person to person. And there’s another reason for this: some people barely feel the pain that causes others to faint! This is completely normal and depends on both physical factors (biology) and your state of mind. How stressed or relaxed you are, whether you’re sleep-deprived, your nutritional status, and your entire lifestyle—all of these factors influence how you experience pain. In general, however, you should be clear on one thing: Pain is bearable. Otherwise, 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 put your mind at ease a little.
Therefore, the sensation of pain is subjective. And it depends on the location. A genital piercing is perceived as more painful than a navel piercing. Depending on the area being pierced, the studio can help alleviate some of the pain. An ice spray can help in some areas, while others may be numbed with a local anesthetic.
How to Spot a Good Piercing Studio: Here’s What to Look For!
Proper healing of the piercing, the risk of infection, and scar formation depend largely on the cleanliness of the studio. The wound can become infected during the piercing process. Before deciding to get a piercing, don’t just look at your piercing studio’s website. Seek advice and ask questions of the studio staff. If you do this at several studios, you’ll get a sense of which one operates in the “cleanest” manner. You may also have friends who have already gotten a piercing. Ask them if they have any recommendations for you. Take a look at these points:
- What does the studio look like? Is everything clean, or is it a bit messy?
- What does the punch look like—neat or scruffy?
- How much experience does your driller have?
- Are the piercings sterilized at the studio?
- Does the drill work with disposable gloves?
- Does the practice take the time to address all your questions?
- Will they inform you of the risks and possible consequences of your piercing without asking you?
- Does your piercer explain aftercare to you and give you a brochure with instructions?
If you're satisfied with all these points, you've found the right studio! Let's face it: some of these points aren't so easy to assess on a first visit to the studio.
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Price: The entire range
The price of a piercing depends on several factors. Each studio has different prices, jewelry costs money (sometimes more, sometimes less), and costs vary depending on the body part. The piercer’s training and experience also play a role, as do regional differences. What we can do is give you a rough idea of the costs. Here’s another point to keep in mind when choosing your studio: If the cost of the piercing differs significantly from the average, there’s likely a reason for it. Decide for yourself whether you trust them. You can use this as a guide:
- Ear piercings cost between 20 and 60 euros per piercing.
- For the nose and eyebrows, you'll pay about 70 euros for each one.
- Lip, tongue, and nipple piercings are more difficult to perform and cost around 80 euros.
- Intimate piercings require special training and should only be performed by specialists. They can cost up to 150 euros.
Did you know that piercings are one of the oldest forms of body jewelry? Many centuries ago, people used metal jewelry to show their tribal affiliation and celebrate their cultural rituals. And strictly speaking, every hole in the ear is a piercing.
Different types of piercings: What is a tunnel?
The tunnel is usually the first piercing you get. Newcomers often choose this style. To do this, the ear opening—often called the lobe—is slightly widened. For a tunnel, the ear holes need to be stretched. Starting gently with 0.2 millimeters per month at first and then 0.4 millimeters per month isn’t too painful. If you proceed too quickly, the skin can tear. It’s important to know: A heavily stretched ear hole will not grow back. As an alternative to a tunnel, you can also insert a plug into an ear hole that has been stretched in this way. These are round piercings, cylinders, or discs that completely fill the hole. With a tunnel, on the other hand, a ring is inserted so that you can see through the ear hole, just like with a tunnel. And that’s not all:
- Barbell: If an elongated piece of jewelry is used in the septum instead of a ring or a horseshoe, it is called a barbell. Visually, it resembles a weightlifting bar.
- Belly button piercing: The piercing isn't visible under clothing, except when wearing a swimsuit or underwear. It's therefore a more discreet option and, as a result, a perennial favorite. However, it can be tricky to manage: you have to be careful not to let it catch on your clothes.
- Fake piercing: it’s completely painless. Without piercing your skin, you can get a fake piercing right where you’d like it. Clip-on earrings are a type of fake piercing.
- Helix: This is a piercing on the outer edge of the ear, in the cartilage. A stud or hoop is inserted here.
- Intimate piercing: A piercing in the intimate area is a completely private matter. Only you and your partner can see it, so it’s truly invisible. However, it’s also a fairly painful procedure.
- Septum: A septum piercing resembles the ring that oxen used to wear in 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 so you won’t regret getting a piercing
To summarize: Piercings are painful and carry some health risks. However, if you find a studio that maintains high standards of hygiene and follows the guidelines for proper wound healing, the risk of infection is minimized. 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 to get. Now you have all the information you need to make a well-informed decision. And if you’re not sure, sleep on it a little longer. A reputable piercing studio will also inform you about all these points.