Things To Consider Before Getting A Piercing
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Thinking of getting a piercing? Here are some of the main things to consider before you go ahead.
Where should I get a piercing?
The most traditional and popular place to get a piercing is the earlobe. Other types of piercing have become more mainstream in recent years. On the ear, there are other areas such as the tragus, helix and daith. Alternatively, you could go for somewhere else on the face such as a nose piercing, septum piercing, snakebite piercing or tongue piercing. There are also various intimate areas around the body to consider such as the nipples or belly button.
Some areas are more painful than others, may need to be more carefully looked after or may have practical disadvantages to consider. Take your job into consideration - some employers may not allow piercing jewelry to be worn in the workplace for health and safety reasons (i.e. restaurant kitchens) or they may deem them unprofessional (although this is becoming less common due to discrimination laws).
Who will do the piercing?
A piercing should always be carried out by a professional using sterilized equipment. This greatly reduces the risk of infection, keloid scarring or other complications. It’s best to visit a body art studio with good reviews. Ideally the piercer should use a needle and not a piercing gun.
Don’t try to pierce yourself. Similarly don’t rely on a friend unless they are a professional themselves.
What type of piercing jewelry should I opt for?
It’s worth considering the type of piercing jewelry you plan to wear. Obviously you can switch between different types of piercing jewelry, however you may want to start with a certain style. The important thing is to make sure that you buy them from a trusted store. If you’ve had metal allergies before, you may want to consider a hypoallergenic metal.
There are lots of online stores where you can shop for piercing jewelry. Studs, barbells and rings are easy to find. For industrial earrings, shop the collection here. More specialist jewelry may require a more specialist jeweler.
Is now a good time to get a piercing?
There are times when it could be better to delay a piercing. This could be due to your age or simply due to the recovery process. In most cases, you should delay getting a piercing if:
You are not at the legal age of consent to get a piercing. A professional piercer will require you to be over the legal age. Different states have different age limits regarding different types of piercing. For many types of piercings in many states, the legal age is 18.
You’re pregnant/recently been pregnant. Pregnancy affects the immune system and often increases the risk of infection following a piercing. Most professional piercing parlors will not pierce you if you are pregnant.
You have plans to go swimming soon. Swimming in a pool should be avoided directly after getting a piercing as it can expose it to bacteria and chemicals which may increase the risk of infection. If you’ve got a swimming event lined up or you’re just about to go on vacation, consider delaying your piercing.