The problem with body piercing

Monday November 13, 2006 in: Body Art Tag(s):

Technorati tags: body art, body piercing

Just like tattoos, body piercing has become quite popular, especially among young people. Some get them as a means of self-expression, while others get piercings solely for aesthetic reasons.

But just like in the case of anything that has to do with breaking the skin, those who have parts of their anatomy pierced face one big, potentially fatal problem: infection. Unless those who get them follow the simple rules of making piercing safer, they're bound to end up like some of these people:

When it comes to body piercing, the formerly fringe procedure that has moved into the mainstream, medical experts have a message: Don't try this at home. Or maybe at all.

Those warnings by groups representing dermatologic surgeons, dentists and other medical authorities have acquired new urgency after two cases in which teen-age girls nearly died as a result of infections they developed from botched piercings.

Three weeks ago Indiana surgeons removed the breast of an 18-year-old diabetic whose torso was invaded by flesh-eating bacteria surrounding the nipple rings she acquired at a salon to celebrate her birthday. A few days later a Boston mother was sentenced to 18 months in prison for failing to seek medical attention for her 13-year-old daughter, who suffered major organ damage from an infection that resulted after the girl pierced her own belly button.

Other reports in medical journals include a sewing needle that disappeared during a do-it-yourself tongue piercing and had to be extracted by oral surgeons; a variety of serious, drug-resistant bacterial infections; hepatitis and tetanus; fractured teeth and nerve damage from tongue studs; as well as permanent scarring. [InsideBayArea]

Trackback URL for this post:

http://www.alphamaleblog.com/trackback/267

» 0 comments | read more | login to subscribe

Post new comment