Body Piercing Problems

Topic Overview

Body piercing is very popular with both men and women. Many areas of the body are used for piercing. Most people who have piercings do not develop any problems.

The ears are the most common piercing site. Most of the time, an earlobe piercing heals without any problems. Piercing other areas of the ear usually involves piercing the cartilage that gives the ear shape. Piercing ear cartilage creates a wound that is harder to clean, takes longer to heal, and is more likely to become infected than earlobe piercing.

Other popular sites include the mouth and tongue, nose, eyebrow, navel, and genital area. Each body piercing site has its own normal healing time and its own set of potential problems. Home treatment can help speed healing of the wound and prevent problems. At first, a body piercing site may be slightly swollen. A small amount of blood or fluid may drain from the site.

Common problems that develop from body piercing include:

• Infection of the site. The risk for infection increases if you have other health risks.
  • Infection of the mouth or lips may cause speech, chewing, or swallowing problems or swelling that can block the throat.
  • Infection of a nipple can scar the breast tissue and limit the ability to breast-feed later.
  • The infection may be potentially serious or life-threatening and involve the entire body (systemic).
• Splitting or tearing of the skin, which may cause the formation of scar tissue.
• Problems with the type of jewelry used, including allergies to a metal. Make sure you use the type of jewelry designed for your piercing site. Only use nonallergenic jewelry. Surgical stainless steel, gold, platinum, niobium, and titanium are the only types of jewelry you should use in a new piercing.
• Jewelry may cause other problems.
  • Jewelry in the mouth or lips can cause chipping or cracking of the teeth, gum problems, and difficulty chewing or swallowing. Jewelry can also become loose and be swallowed. See an illustration of a swallowed tongue piercing.
  • Jewelry in the navel can get caught on clothing and linens. This constant irritation can delay healing. Navel piercings can take up to one year to heal completely.
  • Jewelry in the genital area may cause injury to you or your sex partner. It also can cause condom breakage, increasing the risk of pregnancy and exposure to sexually transmitted diseases. Piercings in the penis can decrease a man's ability to get or maintain an erection.
• Damage to underlying blood vessels or nerves.
• Scarring of the piercing site.

If a sterile technique is not used, there is a chance of spreading many potentially life-threatening diseases through piercing. The most common diseases transmitted are hepatitis B or hepatitis C. Other diseases that can be spread from piercing include tuberculosis, syphilis, or HIV. Blood infections (sepsis) can occur if a sterile technique is not used.

You can reverse a body piercing fairly easily by removing the jewelry, which allows the hole to close. If you have not yet made a decision about piercing, see the Prevention section for information about making the choice to have a piercing and how to prevent problems.

If you have a problem with a body piercing site, review the Emergencies and Check Your Symptoms sections to determine if and when to see your health professional.

Emergencies

• Rapid swelling of the tongue or throat, causing difficulty swallowing or breathing
• Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
• Moderate to severe difficulty breathing

Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

	Yes	Do you have any signs of an allergic reaction? When to See a Doctor See significance of an allergic reaction if you need information to help you answer the questions below. Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms. Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Do you have hives that came on suddenly after your piercing and cover all or most of your body? Yes Do you feel like your mouth or throat is swelling but you are not having any breathing problems? Yes Are you having mild wheezing or mild difficulty breathing? Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Do you have hives over all or most of your body that came on over several hours after your piercing? Yes Do you have normal breathing at rest, but any amount of effort causes mild shortness of breath or mild wheezing? You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Have you had hives for 24 hours or longer? Yes Have you had swelling and itching at the piercing site (local allergic reaction) for 24 hours or longer? Yes Have you had a long-term (chronic) mild breathing problem that has slowly gotten worse during the past 24 hours? If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
	Yes	Do you have swelling at the site of a body piercing? When to See a Doctor See significance of swelling if you need information to help you answer the questions below. Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms. Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Is swelling so severe that it cuts off blood flow below the site of the body piercing, making the area cool, clammy, or painful? Yes Do you have severe, rapid joint swelling near the site of the body piercing? Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to the following question. Yes Has gradual swelling developed over a joint area after having a body piercing? You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Has swelling that is not in a joint area gotten worse after 24 hours of home treatment? Yes Do you continue to have mild to moderate swelling after 48 hours of home treatment? If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
	Yes	Do you think you have an infection after having a body piercing? When to See a Doctor See significance of an infection at the site of a body piercing if you need information to help you answer the questions below. Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms. Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Do you have diabetes? Yes Do you have peripheral arterial disease? Yes Do you have a disease or take medicine that causes problems with your immune system? Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Do you have increased pain, swelling, redness, heat, or tenderness around the piercing site? Yes Do you have red streaks extending from the piercing site? Yes Do you have pus coming from the piercing site? Yes Do you have swollen or tender glands (lymph nodes) above or below the piercing? Yes Do you have a fever or think you have a fever? You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to the following question. Yes Have you had mild pain and swelling with redness less than 1 in. (2.5 cm) around a piercing site for 48 hours or longer? If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
	Yes	Do you know or think you need a tetanus shot? When to See a Doctor See significance of getting a tetanus shot if you need information to help you answer the questions below. Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms. Note: If you need a tetanus shot, call your doctor to arrange for the shot as soon as possible. Your need for a tetanus shot depends on the seriousness of your wound and your tetanus shot history. Your doctor may be able to tell you over the telephone if you need a tetanus shot. Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Are you worried that the piercing has gotten dirty or has germs on it and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago? Note: Something is dirty if it has dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it. Yes Are you not sure when you had your last tetanus shot? Yes Did you not get the first series of tetanus shots (primary vaccination series)? If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
	Yes	Have you had symptoms of another illness in the several months since having a body piercing? When to See a Doctor See significance of symptoms of another illness after a body piercing if you need information to help you answer the questions below. Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms. Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Have you had a general feeling of tiredness, or lack of energy (fatigue)? Yes Have you had a general feeling of illness (malaise)? Yes Have you had a fever or think you have a fever? Yes Have you had loss of appetite? Yes Have you had nausea or vomiting? Yes Have you had constant discomfort in the upper right side of your belly? Yes Have you had dark urine (the color of root beer)? Yes Have you had steady muscle aches or joint pain? Yes Has the skin or white part of your eye turned yellow (jaundice)? Yes Do you have a new skin rash? If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
	Yes	Do you have a body piercing that is not healing? When to See a Doctor See significance of a body piercing that is not healing if you need information to help you answer the question below. Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms. You need an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to the following question. Yes Do you have a body piercing that is not healing, but you do not have other symptoms? If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Other Symptoms to Watch For

Do you have the following symptom?

• A cracked or chipped tooth: Go to the topic Mouth and Dental Injuries.

If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.

Home Treatment

Most body piercing wounds can be cared for at home. If you received written instructions from the person who did the body piercing, follow those instructions carefully. This will help prevent problems and promote healing.

If you did not receive instructions for care of the piercing site, try the following:

• Stop any bleeding by applying direct pressure to the piercing site.
• Apply a cold pack to help reduce swelling or bruising. Never apply ice directly to the skin. This can cause tissue damage. Put a layer of fabric or cloth towel between the cold pack and the skin.
• Wash the wound for 5 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day with large amounts of warm water and any antibacterial soap, such as pHisoHex or Dial.
• Elevate the piercing area, if possible, to help reduce swelling.
• After the first 48 hours, if swelling and bruising are not present, soak the wound in warm water for 20 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day. The warmth of the water will increase the blood flow to the area, which helps reduce the risk of infection. If it is too hard to soak the wound, apply a warm, moist compression pack to the site.
• If you have a mouth or tongue piercing, use an antibacterial mouthwash, such as Listerine or Scope, 3 to 4 times a day to help the healing process. Avoid smoking, and don't drink alcohol or eat spicy foods until the piercing site is fully healed.
• Clean your jewelry with alcohol or hot, soapy water.
• Use of an antibiotic ointment has not been shown to affect healing. If you choose to use an antibiotic ointment, such as polymyxin B sulfate (for example, Polysporin) or bacitracin, apply the ointment lightly to the wound. If a skin rash or itching develops, stop using the ointment. The rash may be caused by an allergic reaction.
• Avoid tight clothing over the piercing area. Tight clothing may irritate the piercing site. If irritation develops, it is best to bandage the site. Piercing sites usually will heal well with or without a bandage.
• If the piercing site is red or you are worried about getting an infection, remove the jewelry. Soak the site in warm water for 20 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day. If it is too hard to soak the piercing site (for example, if you had your belly button pierced), apply a warm, moist cloth instead. If the site looks or feels worse during home treatment, use the Check Your Symptoms section to find out if you need to see your doctor. If the site does not get better after 48 hours of home treatment, call your doctor.

How fast the wound heals depends on the piercing site. The wound may take 4 to 6 weeks or longer to heal. Some sites may take up to a year to heal fully.

Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment

Use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate your symptoms if any of the following occur during home treatment.

• You develop signs of a wound infection.
• You develop an allergic reaction.
• Your symptoms are not improving after a week.
• Your symptoms become more severe or frequent.

Prevention

Do what you can to help prevent problems. Think about the following guidelines and information before making your decision to pierce a part of your body.

• Get a tetanus shot before your body piercing if you have not had one in the past 10 years.
• Choose an experienced person to do the body piercing. Ask the person doing the piercing how he or she cleans the equipment and what safety standards he or she follows. Sterile gloves, sterilized equipment, and appropriate jewelry should be used. A fresh pair of gloves should be used for each procedure. Make sure that the operator washes his or her hands before putting on the gloves. Ask the operator to change his or her gloves if he or she answers the telephone or does anything else during your procedure.
• Check the studio and see if it looks clean.
• To prevent problems with metal allergies, use appropriate jewelry. Only buy jewelry that is surgical steel (300-grade), 14- or 18-karat gold, niobium, titanium, or approved acrylic products. Avoid jewelry made of other metals, particularly nickel. Many people develop an allergy to nickel.
• Do not allow a person doing a body pierce to use an earlobe "gun" on any part of your body. These guns can cause serious injury to other body tissues. The gun handle cannot be fully sterilized and may come in contact with your skin if used on other parts of your body.
• Consider the social or emotional risk of having a body piercing. Many people make negative value judgments about people with body piercings.
• To protect others from disease, tell the person doing the body pierce if you have had hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV. If you have hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV, make sure any jewelry you use is sterilized before it is used and not shared with anyone else.
• Check with your city or county health department to find out whether there have been any complaints about the studio you are thinking of using.

Preparing For Your Appointment

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment

You can help your health professional diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:

• Who did the body piercing?
• When was the piercing done?
• Where on the body was the body piercing done?
• Were sterile instruments and jewelry used?
• What type of jewelry was inserted? What was the jewelry made of?
• Do you have other body piercings? If so, did these piercings cause problems?
• What home treatment measures have you used to clean or treat the piercing site? Be sure to include any nonprescription ointments or creams you have applied to the wound.
• What prescription and nonprescription medicines do you take?
• When was your last tetanus shot?
• Do you have any health risks?

Related Information

• Allergic Reaction
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection
• Mouth and Dental Injuries
• Puncture Wounds
• Syphilis
• Tuberculosis (TB)

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