Body Piercing:
The Pains and Perils

Super models have done it and popularized a fad. Many kids are willing to endure the pain of body piercing to "look cool." What many kids don’t realize is the pain can be permanent. Dermatologists warn that putting a hole into the nose and cartilage may be a decision a fifteen year old lives with for a lifetime. " There is no reason to believe that those holes are going to heal up on their own," says Dr. Johnathan Weiss. According to Weiss, getting a nose pierced may leave a permanent hole in the nose other than the nostril. The same is true for the eyebrows. Weiss warns parents and kids that there is no way to be absolutely sure whether a piercing will eventually close so they should know what they are getting into and make sure you can live with it."

There are other hazards to consider as well. Make sure the shop uses sterilized equipment and learn how to keep the area clean. According to Weiss, an infection on the face, in the mouth, or in the nose, can lead to sickness and even deformity. Infection can be prevented by making sure that the piercing is done by a reputable professional. Parents and kids need to talk to the professional about how to care for the area at home, says Weiss. Most important, don’t try to pierce yourself or have a friend pierce a body part.

To Parents who are appalled by their kids’ tattoos or piercings, Weiss says beauty is in the eye of the beholder. "I don’t think I would be very happy if I were a parent and my child came in with an area pierced or a tattoo that I did not approve of. But we also have to realize that they are our children and it’s their bodies." Weiss says it’s "very important that parents know the dangers and risk if their children want it done and make wise decisions about it."

The Ins and Outs of Body Piercing

If your child is considering body piercing, here’s what to do before, during and after….

• Get kids vaccinated. Make sure they have had hepatitis B shots.
• Ask kids if they know what they are getting into. By piercing, the hole that they are putting into their body may be permanent.
• Negotiate and compromise. One or two earrings may be acceptable; five may not be.
• Advise kids to not do it themselves. They could hit a nerve or strike a blood vessel.
• Help them find a clean and reputable body piercing shop, doctor or dermatologist. The piercer should wear gloves and all needles and instruments must be sterilized needles.
• Insist that they use the proper jewelry and not safety pins, needles or costume jewelry. They can cause allergic reactions and infections.
• Educate kids on the proper cleaning and hygiene for the piercing. It must be cleaned regularly because infection can cause illness and it can lead to scaring and even deformity.