To pierce or not to pierce?

The most important thing to consider if you want to have skin penetration procedures on your body is that it actually breaches one of your body's main protective barriers - the skin. The procedure involves piercing the skin with a sharp instrument. It can be dangerous if it is performed badly because it can lead to infection and physical injury.

Skin penetration procedures refer to ear piercing, body piercing, tattooing and procedures in beauty treatments involving piercing of the skin.

Before having a skin penetration procedure, consider the following:

• your current health, whether it will delay healing or increase the risk of getting infection.
• almost all procedures cause PERMANENT alteration in some parts of the body.
• the cost of removal or repair of the alteration if you do not like it in future.
• non-sterile equipment and needles can spread blood-borne diseases or infections, e.g. viral hepatitis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or other bacterial and fungal infections.
• possible discomfort and risks associated with skin penetration such as:
  • pain
  • fainting
  • bleeding
  • severe swelling and trauma at and around the piercing site
  • infections, e.g. sepsis
  • allergic reactions to jewellery metals, antiseptics, soaps, etc.
  • scarring
  • jewellery embedding

Having doubt? Discuss with a friend who have experience with skin penetration procedures.

• Ask about their experience, the cost, the pain, the healing time, etc.
• What would they do if they had a chance to do it over again?

Remember, your health and body is under your own control! Your can always change your mind or wait if you are in doubt!

If you have decided to go on with the skin penetration procedure ...

• DO NOT do it yourself. Let competent operators do it for you.
• Note whether the work area is clean and well lit.
• Check the sterilization method for equipment and jewellery. The needle and jewellery are recommended to be prepacked, pre-sterilized and for single use only. They must be disposed after use.
• If jewellery is to be used, it should be non-allergenic.
• The operators should wash and dry their hands before and after the procedure. Sterile disposable gloves are recommended for the procedure.
• Ask the operator about the after care and healing time.

If the operator is hesitant or not competent in answering your enquiries, go for another operator.

After the procedure ...

• Healing time varies from person to person and depends on the site of piercing.
• Always treat the piercing site with care. Wash hands before handling the piercing site.
• Look for indications of infection:
  • redness and swelling
  • a sensation of heat at the piercing site
  • pain, especially throbbing or spreading pain
  • unusual discharge, it may be yellowish, greenish or greyish
• Seek medical advice if you:
  • experience a high temperature or feel unwell.
  • develop swollen or tender lymph nodes, especially in the neck, groin, or armpit.
  • experience heat or redness spreading beyond the immediate area of the piercing.