Body Piercing

Types of Body Piercing

After ear piercing became the norm a few decades ago, fans branched out by putting jewelry on other parts of their bodies. Almost any area of the skin can be pierced, but the most popular styles of body piercing include:

Belly button or Navel Piercing

A belly button piercing is usually done with a metal bar or a captive bead ring. In recent years, vertical barbell jewelry with gemstones has become a popular choice, especially among young women. Piercings in this area can be difficult to heal. It’s important to make sure your clothing or bed linens don’t rub against the body jewelry and snag it.

Nipple Piercing

Popular with both men and women, nipple piercings are often done with a metal bar or a loop through the center of the nipple. Personal preference decides if you’ll get both nipples done, and many people get more than one piercing in the same nipple. A nipple piercing can take up to six months to heal. Some woman report having difficulty breast-feeding after they’ve had their nipples pierced, so talk to your piercer about any potential complications if you plan to breastfeed.

Tongue Piercing

The good news is that since the tongue heals quickly, you can use your tongue like normal soon after a tongue piercing and get past the pain faster than with other body piercings. The bad news is that the amount of germs that live in the mouth can target your new piercing and cause an infection. Dentists also caution that the metal balls in tongue rings can damage your teeth, even cracking them. Make sure you follow the guidelines for proper aftercare from your piercer, especially rinsing with antiseptic mouthwash. This will help get rid of germs and can prevent an infection.

Face Piercings

The increasingly fashionable eyebrow piercing is typically placed at the end of the eyebrow closest to your cheek. This piercing usually uses a metal bar or captive bead ring. It’s not uncommon for people to have both eyebrows pierced or to have several piercings gathered together.

Recently, a variation know as the anti-eyebrow have been raising, well, eyebrows. Placed along the cheekbone, this area is prone to rejection and should be handled carefully.

Nose piercings are another popular choice for the face. Many people pierce the outside of their nose with a small ring, but you can also pierce the area between your nostrils above your mouth, known as the septum, and the bridge of your nose between your eyes.

Body Piercing Aftercare

Taking care of your piercing properly from the beginning can be the difference between a long-lasting, attractive piece of body art and a nasty infection that has to be taken out. Always follow the specific instructions that your piercer gives you and make sure the tattoo shop where you get your piercing is clean and uses new needles each time. Once you get home, keep the following in mind to prevent infections:

• Keep the piercing clean. Make sure your hands, and anyone else’s, are clean before you touch it. Always wash and dry your hands before going near it.

• Avoid clothing that rubs the area. Some clothing that fits tight against your body, like a bra for a nipple piercing, might help it feel better, but clothing that rubs against it can make the skin swell.

• Clean the area daily. Your piercer will be able to tell you what to use, but usually antibacterial soap and water will do the trick. Avoid alcohol-based products since these will just dry out the skin.

• See your piercer, or a doctor, if the area around the piercing becomes swollen, hot, or red. These could be signs of an infection.