Healthy Communities
By Chrystal Johnson
(Wampsville, NY -Oct. 2014) If you or someone you know is thinking about getting a body piercing, it is important to know that a body piercing can carry risks of infection as well as allergic reactions, prolonged bleeding, swelling, scarring, and general discomfort.
Be sure to do your research, and select abody piercing specialist who operates using safe,sanitary practices and who has been trained in preventing bloodborne infectious disease. Unsanitary practices, such as not properly sterilizing the equipment can lead to infections of the blood, including Hepatitis and HIV.
If you get a body piercing, make sure that the body piercing specialist:
Washes their hands before piercing and uses clean gloves
Cleans the area to be pierced
Uses a single-use, disposable razor to shave the skin to be pierced, if needed
Uses sterile needles, clamps, receiving tubes and body jewelry
Provides aftercare instructions
Body piercing on a person under 18 years of age is illegal unless the person provides the body piercing establishment with written consent from a parent or legal guardian. The consent form must be signed in the presence of the body piercer per public health law. Written parental consent is not required for piercing of the ear.
For more information, visit cdc.gov/niosh/topics/body_art/default.html.
Chrystal Johnson is a public health educator II for the Madison County Department of Health.