Septum Piercing Dangers

By Chandramita Bora


Septum piercing falls in the category of nose piercing. Nose piercing in general, involves piercing of the skin, as well as the cartilage of any part of the nose. Out of all types of nose piercing, the most common and the popular one is nostril piercing, followed by septum piercing. In fact, septum piercing is rapidly gaining popularity in recent times. However, any kind of piercing involves certain risks or dangers, and so is the case with septum piercing as well. So, people considering to pierce their septum must be aware of the various septum piercing dangers, before making a concrete decision. In this article, we are going to have a brief look at septum piercing, and the risks associated with this piercing along with a few tips on nose piercing aftercare.

Septum Piercing: An Overview

The septum or nasal septum is the cartilaginous wall that divides the two nostrils. The cartilage is however, usually not pierced. It is the thin strip of very soft and flexible skin, just between the cartilage and the bottom of the nose, where septum piercing is mostly done. Piercing the skin instead of the cartilage can greatly minimize the pain, as well as other discomforts associated with this type of body piercing. Septum piercing can be done with piercing needles or guns. As far as jewelry is concerned, you can use captive bead rings, circular barbells, plugs, tusks, curls and septum retainer.

Dangers of Septum Piercing

All types of body piercings, including septum piercing, are associated with the risk of contracting certain blood borne diseases like hepatitis, from the needles and piercing guns used in the procedure. This type of septum piercing risk can be avoided by getting the piercing done by a reputed piercer, and making sure that the piercer uses only sterile single-use needles. The next common risk associated with almost all types of piercing is the risk of infection and pain. This can be minimized greatly, if piercing is done on the soft and flexible skin that lies between the cartilage and bottom of the nose. As far as infection risks are concerned, it can be managed with proper piercing aftercare.

Apart from these usual septum piercing dangers, this piercing can sometimes lead to 'septal hematoma'. As mentioned already, septum piercing usually involves the soft fleshy portion of the septum and not the cartilage. An injury to the soft tissue within the septum can disrupt the blood vessels to cause the accumulation of blood and fluid under the lining. Nasal septum hematoma can eventually cause nasal congestion, and interfere with breathing along with causing pain and inflammation. If not treated immediately, the condition can ultimately cause formation of a hole in the septum, leading to nasal congestion. Sometimes, that part of the nose may collapse, resulting in a cosmetic deformity, known as 'saddle nose'.

Septum Piercing Aftercare

Septum piercing takes a few weeks to heal completely. Septum piercing healing time is usually about 6 to 10 weeks, and during this period, a lot of care needs to be taken to lower the various septum piercing risks. The most important part of septum piercing aftercare is regular cleaning of the piercing and the area around it. You can clean the piercing twice daily with the help of an antibacterial soap. Use a cotton ball soaked in water to wet the piercing. Then take a few drops of antibacterial soap on your hand and work on a lather. Apply this to the piercing and gently rotate the jewelry, so that the soap can get into the piercing hole. Also try to loosen up and remove any crusting with the help of the cotton ball. Let the piercing soak for about 2 to 3 minutes, after which rinse off the soap with plain and clean water.

After cleaning, do not forget to dry the piercing with a clean tissue. Towels should be avoided for drying a fresh piercing, as they can not only harbor infectious agents like, bacteria, but can also pull the jewelry or irritate the piercing. Do not use table or Epsom salt, hydrogen peroxide, betadine, methylated spirit and Neosporin on the piercing. Along with proper cleaning, be sure to avoid touching the jewelry or the piercing site with unwashed hand. Also do not remove the jewelry until the piercing has healed completely and avoid irritating the piercing during this period. You can read more about nose piercing care instructions.

To sum up, a lot of care needs to be taken to avoid septum piercing dangers or risks. Therefore, before opting for septum piercing, it is better to do some preliminary research about this piercing, weigh its various pros and cons and finally have a discussion with an expert professional, in order to get a better understanding about piercing aftercare. A properly done piercing can significantly reduce the possible risks associated with the procedure. After the piercing, if you observe any signs of serious infection such as, increased swelling, pain, redness or unusual discharge, make sure to visit your physician as soon as possible. 

Nose Piercing Bump

By Pradnya S


Nose piercing which is a kind of body piercing, is the latest fashion trend. Nose jewelry looks absolutely stunning and hence most of us opt for wearing it. But, after piercing, there are chances of the development of a bump on the nose. This bump can pain at times and can lead to a lot of discomfort. Most of the times, the bump develops within 2 to 3 days of piercing the nose. But, in rare cases, it might also develop after a month or two. In some cases, the surrounding area tends to become red. Discharge of pus and blood will also be observed. Nose piercing bump bleeding will be observed only if the the condition is severe.

Causes of Nose Piercing Bump
The causes of nose piercing bumps are listed below.

• Touching the pierced nose can often give rise to the bump. If your hands and fingers are infected, then there are more chances that the bump will develop, thus increasing nose piercing infections.
• Improper nose piercing is also one of the reason which can give rise to the bump on nose. Also, if the technique which is used for piercing is wrong, then it can cause a problem.
• Changing the nose jewelry within a few days after piercing the nose is also one of the reasons for nose piercing bumps. Hence, make sure that you change the jewelry only after 2 months or so have past after piercing the nose.
• If the jewelry is extremely small, then the hole can choke, which then develops the bump.
• Wearing a poor quality jewelry is also one of the reason which is responsible for the presence of bump on the nose.

Nose Piercing Bump Treatment
Washing your nose and nose bump with fresh water, every once in a while will help. But, make sure that you do not clean the area very often, as instead of helping, it will intensify the situation. Washing the area twice or thrice in a day is sufficient. You can also make use of lukewarm water for washing. With a cotton swab, apply tea tree oil regularly to the bump to palliate the situation. You may also like to know more on nose piercing aftercare.

If you follow a few measures, you can get rid of nose piercing bump in a few days. In order to avoid nose piercing bumps, make sure that you get your nose pierced from a professional. Also make sure that the tools which he is using for piercing your nose are clean. The jewelry which you are going to wear should be of a good quality. The quality of the jewelry also plays an important role.

If not taken proper care of, there are chances of the nose bump increasing in size and the situation becoming more intense. Hence, proper measures should be opted without any delay in order to curb the situation. In some cases, there are chances of the development of the nose piercing bump on the inside of the nose. This is a more intense situation and it can lead to discomfort. Since the bump is present inside the nose, not much can be done for treating at home. Hence, it is better if you visit a doctor and get it treated. Read more on nose piercing care instructions.

You may also like to know more on:

• Infected Nose Piercing
• Nose Piercing Information
• Nose Piercing FAQ

If the nose piercing bump does not disappear even after trying different treatments, then it is better that you remove the nose jewelery. Avoid removing the jewelery at home. It will be better if you get it removed from the person who has pierced your nose. After the nose infection has been healed completely and after the bump vanishes, you can wear the jewelery again.

Septum Piercing

 By Mamta Mule
 

You would have surely heard a lot about the hot trend of septum piercings. For those who are confused or unaware, septum piercing basically refers to piercing of the nasal septum, which is a wall of bone and cartilage at middle of the nasal cavities. This is a type of nose piercing, but less common than nostril piercing. There is a small gap between the cartilage and base of the nose where there is a small patch of skin that is soft and thin, this is where septum piercing is done. Septum piercings are becoming more popular these days, due to the bold and extremely stylish look they give to the person donning it. Well, if you have decided, or wondering of having a septum piercing then, here's some septum piercing information that will help you.

All About Septum Piercing
Septum piercing is usually performed using a regular piercing needle, a septum clamp might also be used. In case someone needs a larger hole, a scalpel might also be used that will help have a larger and thicker piece of jewelery pierced here. Usually, a ball closure ring or a septum keeper is recommend to be used as the first septum jewelery, which can be changed once the piercing heels completely. Read more on nose piercing information.

Septum Piercing Jewelry
Once you decide to have a septum piercing, you are sure to be surprised about the huge variety of jewelery available for septum piercings. You have a choice in terms of the metal used to make this jewelery such as stainless steel, gold, silver, etc. Stainless steel is the most popular choice. One of the most popular septum piercing jewelery is the captive bead ring. Other septum piercing jewelery options are steel septum tusk or straight barbell, circular barbell, septum spike (two piece or one piece) and septum retainer. Septum retainer is preferred by many as it is shaped like a staple, has two ends and can be flipped upside to move its ends into the nostrils, hence, making it invisible whenever desired. Designer ball closure rings, septum tusk and circular barbells look amazing and are adored by many.

Septum Piercing Care
Healing can take about 2 to 3 months. It is best to touch it the least. Clean it while having a bath and at least twice a day using regular soap, shampoo or shower gel or with any other item suggested by your piercer. Later dry thoroughly and gently using paper towels. Do not move the jewelry during the healing period. If you keep the septum area clean, it will promote the healing process. Avoid pressing your nostrils, or nose blowing to stay away from nose piercing bump. The body piercing artist might also recommend you to apply natural oils to promote the healing process. Remember that you should not apply any natural ingredients, creams or lotions without doctors or your piercing artist's recommendation. Remember that if you have opted for a large gauge piercing, then it will take longer duration to heal and definitely needs to be taken care of. Read more on nose piercing aftercare.

Septum Piercing Cost
Septum or any type of nose and ear piercings usually costs lesser than lip piercing and tongue piercing. The nose piercing prices can vary depending upon the piercing artist you choose and the area. Usually, septum piercing cost ranges between $40 to $70. Further it will also depend on the cost of the piece of jewelery you opt for.

Read more on Nose Piercing:

• Nose Piercing FAQ
• Infected Nose Piercing

Most of you might be definitely eager to get a septum piercing, right? Then what are you waiting for? Just find the best piercing artist in your city and get ready to flaunt one of the most fashionable body piercing!

Bridge Piercing

By Chandramita Bora


Nose piercing is perhaps one of the few ancient practices that have become a fashion trend to simply create a craze amongst youngsters. There are mainly three types of nose piercings, nostril piercing, septum piercing and bridge piercing. Out of these, nostril piercing is the most common and the popular type of nose piercing. However, bridge piercing too is witnessing a significant increase in its popularity. It is basically a surface piercing, and hence, differs from the other two types of nose piercings. Being a surface piercing, bridge piercing often takes more time to heal than the nostril and septum piercing.

Bridge Piercing: An Overview

Bridge piercing is a type of body piercing that involves the skin on the bridge of the nose, i.e. the flap of skin at the top of the nose just between the eyes. Bridge piercing is also known by the name of "Erl" piercing, after the name of the Erl van Aken, who was the first recipient of this piercing. Vertical bridge piercing is a variation of this piercing. Piercing is done usually with the help of straight barbells. This jewelry consists of a straight bar with a small bead on each end. However, barbells also come in a curved shape, though the straight ones are usually preferred for this purpose. Even surface bars can be used as an initial jewelry for bridge piercing.

Usually, a professional piercer uses a hook or needle to pierce the skin and to make a hole on it, through which the jewelry is inserted. While doing so, the flap of the skin on the bridge of the nose is held with the help of a forcep or skin clamp. Once the piercing is healed, a captive bead ring can be worn. Piercing migration is very common in this type of nose piercing. Migration refers to the process, where the piercing moves from its initial location. The pressure exerted by the jewelry like, the ring can increase the likelihood of piercing migration. Therefore, a D-ring styled ring may be required at times, to prevent piercing migration.

Bridge Piercing Risks

Bridge piercing is a minor piercing and hence, carries only a few risks. But, many misconceptions are in circulation regarding this surface piercing. As for example, many people believe that this type of piercing can affect the eyes and cause problems like, involuntary eye crossing, while others think that infections from piercing can spread to the brain via the sinuses. Nose or Erl piercing does not involve such major complications. The only thing that need to be taken into account is that, the risk of rejection is quite high for this piercing, and there is also an increased likelihood of getting piercing migration.

Moreover, many people can develop allergic reaction to the jewelry used. Some people can be allergic to jewelry that contain nickel, while others can be allergic to even gold jewelry. Therefore, the usual method is to use only stainless steel jewelry for the initial piercing, and then go for the other types of jewelry only when the piercing has healed completely. Other important risk associated with this type of piercing is infection and scarring, which can take place once the jewelry is removed. Bridge piercing pain is usually not very significant. However, pain tolerance levels can be different for different individuals and so, many can find this piercing quite painful.

Bridge Piercing Aftercare

Proper aftercare can minimize several risks associated with bridge or Erl piercing to a great extent. The most important part of bridge piercing aftercare is to keep the area clean. So, avoid touching the piercing and the jewelry with unwashed or dirty hands. Try using saline solution to keep the area clean, and reduce the risk for infection. At the same time, refrain from playing with the jewelry or rotating the jewelry while cleaning it. Take every possible precautions, so as to not irritate the pierced area. Also do no try to change the jewelry unless the piercing has healed completely, and avoid covering the piercing while applying make-up. If infection develops, then do not remove the jewelry, as doing so would seal the infection inside, which can sometimes cause development of abscess. If the infection seems to be of serious nature, then consider taking professional help. Find out more about:

• Nose Piercing Aftercare
• Nose Piercing Infection
• Different Types of Body Piercing

Bridge piercing is not very painful while it is preformed. But there can be some swelling and the area may remain tender for a few days. In general, bridge piercing healing time is 2 to 3 months, though for some, it can take almost an year to heal. While considering this type of piercing, a few things need to be taken into account. First thing to be considered is whether there is enough skin on the bridge area to get bridge piercing done. If there is not enough skin on this area, then the piercing can grow out, which can be quite painful. Secondly, people who have to wear glasses are not good candidates for this piercing. This is because, the glasses can often rub against or irritate the piercing, which may increase the risk of infection. Lastly, be sure to get a bridge piercing done only with the help of a trained professional.

Nostril Piercing

By Sheetal Mandora


Nostril piercing has always been associated with India and Nepal where this type of body piercing is more to say than just a fashion statement. Pierced nose is a mark of tradition. According to ancient Indian custom, women pierce the left side of their noses so that they would have an easier time during childbirth and get relief from menstrual pain. The introduction of nostril piercing took place during the 1960's and 1970's by the hippies in the west. As time went on, more youths found innovative ways to further popularize it.

Today, nostril piercings are adorned by not just women, but men as well. The disapproval from the society toward getting pierced has long gone. Although there are some who still look at it in a bad light. But they don't know that even Egyptian pharaohs used to pierce their navels as a rite of passage and the Roman soldiers used to pierce their nipples to indicate manhood. Well, no matter what your reasons are, body piercings of any kind are a way of life now. With all that in mind, let's take a look at the specifics of nostril piercing information. Read more on nose piercing - which side to pierce.

High Nostril Piercing

When you say nostril or nose piercing, the indication is that the soft skin or cartilage which surrounds the outside of our nasal passages is pierced. The decision to place the jewelry depends entirely on the wearer. You can choose to wear it in the dimple or anywhere on the nose. Just make sure to check the placement before the piercer can make it official. In spite of the jewelry being worn anywhere on the nose, the best spot is in the dimple of the nose. The wire of the jewelry doesn't hurt when it is inside the nose and the actual nostril piercing healing time will cut in short as no bone gets punctured. Read more on nose piercing information.

Nostril Piercing Procedure

• If you're under 18, do ask for your parent's or guardian's permission before you make the decision.
• Using an antiseptic solution, the piercer first cleans the nose.
• He/she will then fit a cork into your nostril so that the needle doesn't puncture it and won't injure your septum.
• With a marker, the spot which you picked will be marked to make sure you like it.
• Once you give the piercer a green signal, he/she will open a sealed sterilized needle packed in a plastic package.
• Be aware that your eyes may get watery and there may be some blood when the needle pierces through the nostril.
• Slowly the piercer will take the needle out and pierce your nose with your choice of jewelry.
• The cork will be removed from inside the nose and the long wire of the jewelry gets cut according to the space available.
• As the final step, your piercer will bend the wire inside your nose.

Nostril Piercing Aftercare

• For few days, your new nostril piercing will seem swollen. But there's no need to worry, it's very normal. As piercing is technically a wound, such a wound will take some time to heal.
• Never touch your freshly pierced nostril or jewelry if your hands are dirty. Wash your hands with an antibacterial soap before touching, cleaning, or moving the jewelry.
• If you want to stay away from any nostril piercing infection, remember to clean it at least 2 to 3 times daily. Read more on nose piercing infection.
• Use a saline solution found in any drugstores to cleanse the nostril. Or you can make one at home. Just mix 4 teaspoons of non-iodized sea salt and 1 gallon of boiled water.
• After washing your hands, dip clean cotton buds in the solution and cleanse inside and outside of your nostril piercing. Wipe any excess solution left on your nose with a clean cotton wool bud.
• When you wish to apply makeup, don't cover the nostril piercing. Used makeup brushes touching your piercing or jewelry can spread germs or infection.
• Last, but certainly not the least, don't insert a new nose jewelry till the piercing itself has had 2 to 4 weeks of time to heal.

For more nostril piercing information, go to:

• Nose Piercing Aftercare
• Nose Piercing Care Instructions

There you have it, a detailed nostril piercing information you will require before you make any decisions. Apart from the traditional piercing, there are some people with a more daring and adventurous attitude who go for a double nostril piercing. This is when both sides are pierced with studs or hoop rings. No matter what you decide, always think twice before you make a conformed decision and do follow the nostril piercing aftercare steps provided in the article.

Tongue Piercing

 By Saptakee Sengupta

 

With upcoming styles, body piercings have become a latest trend. Eyebrow piercing, chin piercing, navel piercing, lip piercing and what else? Did I forget any part of your body ? Yeah your tongue... so there comes tongue piercing, a practice followed since 14th century by the North Americans. Tongue piercing was first professionally started in the studio Gaunlet, United States and today it is considered as one of the sexiest fashions in vogue. You can get some more tongue piercing information.

How to Pierce Your Tongue
All you have to do is, go to a reputed professional piercing studio and get your tongue pierced. They will mark the point of piercing - on the edges, middle or on the tip of your tongue and clamp your tongue for grip. Then goes the needle to pierce your tongue along with the new jewelry.

Tongue Piercing Jewelry
There are varieties of jewelry available in the market and piercing shops, having different shapes and sizes, to give your tongue a seductive look. You can try out the following types that best suits your tongue.

• Barbells: Barbells can be worn by both men and women. They have a stainless steel shaft with two balls or studs at both the ends. It is available in different styles like multicolor striped shafts, and whole body shimmering steel or balls with logos.
• Tongue Rings: Tongue rings look good on women. They are made up of steel, rhodium, titanium, platinum and gold with balls and stone attached to them.
• Acrylic Tip: Youngsters usually, are very fond of colorful acrylic tip tongue ring. It has a stainless steel shaft and two flexible acrylic balls attached to it at the end. The balls are colorful and trendy that makes them so popular.
• Titanium Tongue Rings: These are made up of titanium and have a very flashy appearance. The ends of the shafts have different colorful designs like stars, skulls, animals etc.
• UV Tongue Rings or Barbells: These are the best quality tongue rings available in the market. They are very safe to wear being non reactive with your saliva and don't cause any irritation inside your mouth.

Tongue Piercing Risks
While piercing your tongue gives you a funky look, it also carries many risks with it, if handled carelessly. Know the risks before you go ahead. Read more on tongue piercing infection.

• Teeth Damage: Dental fracture and tooth cracks are caused by wearing the barbells. So, a periodic filling or replacement of the tooth is required.
• Gum Damage: When the barbells rub against the gum, they cause bleeding and gum disease. If the damage is severe, a gum surgery is also required.
• Infections: The inside of mouth is always moist and harbors a large number of bacteria and viruses. Infections are caused from the wounds while piercing and from the unsterilized needle used for piercing. Sometimes, serious viral diseases are caused by transmission of hepatitis virus and herpes simplex virus.
• Lung Damage: The balls of the barbells are sometimes loose and slip to the lungs. If it gets stuck, it has to be removed by a bronchoscope. Choking is also caused in case a ball is swallowed
• Endocarditis: Sometimes, bacterial invasion reaches the heart through the bloodstream and inflammation of the heart and its valves occurs.
• Nerve Damage/Blood Loss: The nerves of the tongue can be punctured while piercing, resulting in severe loss of blood and swollen tongue. It can also lead to impaired speech.
• Prolonged Pain: The pain lingers and lasts longer sometimes, leading to neuralgia.
• Allergy: A serious hypersensitive reaction inside the mouth can result if the saliva reacts with the chemicals of the ball.

Tongue Piercing Care
There are definitely some ways to protect yourself from infections. So, just follow the list of do's and don'ts and start taking care of your tongue from the day one itself.

• Use throat lozenges with Diafflam-CT (antibacterial/ anti-inflammatory) just before piercing your tongue. It relieves swelling and quickens healing.
• Rinse your mouth with mouthwash containing Listerine or cepacol after every meal for 15 days.
• Check that the jewelry is not loose and before touching it, wash your hands with disinfectant.
• Avoid eating spicy food and hot beverages atleast for 10 days, as they may increase the swelling. Have cold foods, ice-creams, cold yogurt, cold drinks instead.
• Since, the tongue swells up, do not try to change the jewelry before 14 days.
• Compress your tongue with ice chips for a few days, to reduce the swelling.
• Plaques may be formed on the jewelry, try to remove it with tooth brush gently and rinse your mouth with anti plaque mouthwash.
• When you start eating solid food, chew softly and never eat in a hurry during the healing period.
• The mouthwash must be diluted before use, as the concentrated form destroys the natural enzymes of mouth, delaying the healing process.
• Restrain yourself from oral sex until the wound has completely healed and the swelling has reduced.
• Try to talk as less as possible during the healing period, as the newly embedded barbell might cut your tongue.
• Do not put fingernails, toothpick inside your mouth. They may lead to infection.
• If you have the habit of playing or chewing over the jewelry, just stop it, as it delays the healing and forms scars on your tongue.

Read more on:

• Body Piercing
• Tongue Piercing Care
• Tongue Piercing Aftercare

I hope I have provided you with all the details of tongue piercing. Guys and gals, just learn to take care of your new jewelry and do not succumb to infections. It's a safe method, only when handled with care. So, are you ready to feel the true experience of tongue piercing? Then go ahead and get the best ornament for your tongue.

Navel Piercing

By Minal Srivastava





Reshma is a new-age, young professional. She has a hectic, maddening and frustrating five days a week, work life but believes in partying even harder on the weekend. Along with her attitude and mental attribute, her wardrobe and accessories goes for a complete overhaul during the weekends. Out goes her formal trousers and the stylishly colour coordinated shirts and stoles and in come the spaghettis, skirts and the varied body embellishments to accompany the wild parties.

Besides the few ear and nose piercing she recently got her navel pierced as well. ‘Yeah it was painful yet I got it done ‘cause I like it’ she says nonchalantly.

She is just a representative of an entire generation who believes in following their whims and fancies.

Choosing the jewellery is all the more fun as there are innumerable options. Besides the designs you can choose from various metal combinations. Different metals have varying effects on the body. According to acupuncture texts, silver needles are used for a sedative effect representing more lunar energy, while gold is used for energizing a point, resembling the brilliant sun. Similarly, other metals can be used for varied desired effects on the body.

This trend deserves special mention, as it is not exactly a pain free procedure. A hollow needle is passed through the body part followed by the insertion of the body jewellery in the hole. A small amount of bleeding may occur as a result of the bleeding. Naval happens to be one of the sensitive spots and needs careful attention even after the piercing.

Then again, since when has pain stood in the way of fashion? Think pencil thin high heels and sore ankles … or the stomach crunching corsets that ruled high fashion through the Middle Ages.

Body piercing is supposed to be a statement. It is supposed to be all about attitude. And while our mommies and daddies were happy growing their hair and burning bras, we seem to have chosen holey bodies as the embodiment of rebellion.

I haven't mentioned the fun aspect. This latest fad, despite the pain, is supposed to be fun! Some macho male friends of mine, who spend more time in the gym than in any other social setting, have been mouthing of one line for ages, "No pain, no gain!"

I wonder if there is a parallel here.

However, fans of body piercing maintain that the attitude is all about following your heart and telling the world that you are. So, the various rings, studs and other foreign metal objects represent an entire school of thought!

What it boils down to is one question, "Do you like it?" The form answer is to simply go ahead and do it if you do. Just don't expect me to punch holes through my body.

Belly Button Piercing Care

By Ningthoujam Sandhyarani


Belly button piercing or navel piercing is a latest fashion trend that has gain popularity worldwide, especially among the young generations. If you are one of the navel piercing enthusiasts and are planning to undergo belly button piercing, then hold on! Understand the various dangers and risks of belly button piercing first and decide whether you still want to wear that fantastic navel ring that you have seen in the stores.

Belly button piercing, like any other body piercing, takes time to heal completely. In fact, it requires longer healing time along with extra care tips, as navel area is rarely exposed. Some of the belly button piercing risks include painful, serious infections and blood poisoning. Also, clothing adds to the irritation of the belly button piercing site, thus increasing the risk of inflammation and infection. Considering all these points, proper belly button piercing care instructions should be followed, so as to avoid any possible complications.

Belly Button Piercing Care Tips

For those who have got your belly pierced and now are flaunting that sparkling jewelry in your navel, here are some belly button piercing care tips. Immediately after belly button piercing, the pierced site appears clean and your navel ring looks cool. Nevertheless, after the first few weeks, you have to give attention to the pierced site regularly. It is high time that you take a note of the following belly button piercing care tips, so as to avoid any unusual and painful symptoms.

Use Only Approved Metal
Using a good navel piercing metal is essential for minimizing the risks of infection. Hence, while piercing your belly button, make sure you use only approved belly piercing jewelry like stainless steel or titanium. If you are changing a jewelry, ensure that it is cleaned and sterilized.

Belly Piercing Jewelry
After getting your belly button pierced, it is quite understandable that you would want to touch or flaunt the jewelry. Tweaking or spinning the navel ring should be strictly avoided, as it can worsen the wound or injury. Every time you touch the navel ring or jewelry, you are aggravating the wound, which in turn can cause bleeding and other painful symptoms.

Wear Loose Clothes
As mentioned earlier, irritation by clothing aggravates the wound area and increases the infection. To avoid this, it is logical to wear loose, comfortable cotton clothes that do not rub the piercing area. In addition, do not wash your clothes with strong detergents, as they impair the healing process when they come in direct contact with the wounds.

Clean the Piercing Site
One of the most important belly button piercing aftercare tips is cleaning two times daily. You can use warm water and antibacterial soap for cleaning the pierced site. Gently remove the crust from the wound by using a cotton ball soaked in warm water. Also, do not forget to wash your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning the site.

Keep Piercing Area Dry
Another belly button piercing aftercare tip is to keep the area dry. After bathing or routine cleaning of the site, pat it with a clean absorbent tissue paper. Always remember that chances of infection are higher in wet wounds.

Salt Water Soaking
Saline solution is an effective method for quick healing of the belly button piercing. For preparing salt water solution, dissolve ½ tablespoon of sea salt in ¼ cup of sterilized water. Pour this saline solution in a medicinal cup and place it over your navel for about 15 minutes. Doing so helps in preventing infections.

Avoid Public Spas
Do not go to public spas or swimming pools, until the belly button piercing is healed completely. In case you go to any of such public areas, make sure that you put a waterproof bandage on the piercing area.

Check for Belly Button Piercing Infection
Do not ignore any infection signs in the navel pierced site (if present). You can get yourself examined by a qualified dermatologist as soon as possible before the infection progresses. Some of the noticeable signs that signify belly button piercing infection are severe pain, redness, swelling, burning sensation and abscess formation at the pierced site. Read more on belly button infections.

Well, this was a brief information on how to take care of a belly button piercing. As already mentioned, healing process of the belly button piercing is very slow and it takes time to heal completely. For some people, it gets healed within 2 - 3 months, while for others, healing may take as long as a year or more than that. However, with proper belly button piercing care tips, you can at least ensure positive healing with no complications.

Belly Button Piercings

By Marian K


Belly button piercings are believed to have become a fashion statement from the time supermodel Christy Turlington sported one at a fashion show. While it is commonly referred to as belly button piercing, it is not the actual navel (usually), but the upper rim of the navel that is pierced. A true navel piercing is only possible in situations where the person has an 'outie' navel, and this kind is very rare. Belly button piercing pain, as with other body piercings, differs from one person to another, though most say the pain during piercing is sharp and short. Tenderness in the area is usually experienced for a week after the procedure. If you are considering how to pierce your belly button yourself, know that this delicate procedure is best done by a professional.

Belly Button Piercing Jewelry
Most people have their belly buttons pierced with a barbell, which should be kept on until the piercing has healed completely. Once the healing is complete, jewelry options range from simple belly button rings, encrusted belly button rings, belly button barbells with dangling pendants, simple navel barbells, to navel barbells with attached belly chains, among many. According to the established bench mark, the standard banana bell is 1.6 mm thick and 9.5 mm/11.1 mm long, and is usually referred to as a 14 - gauge post. It has silver caps on either end, which usually measure 5 mm in diameter for the upper cap and 8 mm in diameter for the lower cap.

Belly Button Piercing Healing
While getting your belly button pierced may not be all that painful, be prepared for a comparatively long healing time. The reason for this is that the navel is located on your waist, which experiences plenty of movement. Not only that, it is constantly being brushed against by clothing. The healing time differs from one person to another, the fortunate will experience complete healing in 3 - 4 months, while there are those for whom it can take up to 12 months. However, most of the time, the only difference between a healed and unhealed navel is a bit of redness around the piercing. In most cases, 4 or 5 days after the procedure, your navel will appear as usual, but a very small amount of redness may develop at the spot where the ring pierces the body. Crusting around the ring will appear and a small amount of milky fluid discharge is also normal. After 6 to 8 weeks, the discharge and crusting will lessen, and only a small amount of redness will remain. However, at any point of time, if the discharge becomes thick and yellow, or excessive pain or redness is experienced, it is a sign of possible infection and so visit a doctor.

Belly Button Piercing Care
Belly button piercing care is very important as the navel has a tendency to collect dirt, which is why it is very important to keep it clean, so as to prevent infections as the wound heals. Know that your piercing is not fully healed until all the redness disappears, so you must continue cleaning it through this period. Clean the spot once or twice everyday and if there is crusting around the piercing, dissolve and clean it away by holding a clean cotton soaked in a saline solution against it. Pat it dry with a clean tissue. You can also dab the region with a small amount of lavender oil, which promotes healing and lubricates the wound.

Read more on:

• Navel Piercing Aftercare
• Dangers and Risks of Belly Button Piercing (Navel Piercing)

If you are wondering how much is a belly button piercing going to cost you, know that you have to take into consideration the cost of the procedure as well as the cost of the jewelry. However, don't let belly button piercing prices allow you to compromise on quality. Get belly button piercings done from a hygienic reputed studio, where they will use a needle to make the passage instead of a piercing gun.
Article Source:  http://www.buzzle.com/articles/belly-button-piercings.html

Double Navel Piercing

By Mamta Mule


Navel piercing is undoubtedly one of the most attractive and exotic types of piercing. This is amongst the most popularly followed fashion trend, especially by women, that instantly gives them a sexy look. Navel piercing, also popularly known as belly button piercing is done anywhere around the navel, especially on the navel lip. Though the navel piercing healing time is known to be much more, it is said to be the most happening one by the piercing enthusiasts. Well, you might be wondering what is double navel piercing. Here's more about this type of belly button piercing that is becoming a hot favorite of many.

What is Double Navel Piercing?

Double navel piercing basically means having two types of navel piercings. So, it is just getting your belly pierced twice. Out of the various types of belly button piercings, you can opt for a combo of two, that's double pierced navel! You can accordingly have trendy piercing jewelery each type and get an overall funky looking navel area. If you get more than one navel piercing, it is also sometimes called as multi-navel piercing. Sometimes girls get 4-5 such piercings that together form a designer pattern on this area.

Options in Double Navel Piercing

The basic navel piercing is done vertically, from the top and passes through the rim of the navel, at the skin fold. You can also have an inverse piercing that is similar to this, just that it comes from below the belly and passes through the bottom rim. Many get a regular and inverse navel piercing together to have a classic looking double navel piercing. A deep navel piercing is same as the basic piercing, but it passes through a much larger patch of skin. You can pair this with inverse piercing.

Next type is horizontal navel piercing. In this type of piercing, the jewelery passes through the skin above the navel ridge rather than going through it. One popular fashion is double horizontal piercing. In this two separate piercings are done on either side of the belly button. These are then joined with a long horizontal barbell, ends of which will come out from each hole and mid part is visible in the navel ridge. You can check out more belly button piercing info here.

Double Navel Piercing Jewelry

No need to mention the important role that a small piece of jewelery plays in the body piercing fashion. Making a piercing look ultimate is only possible if you pick the right body jewelery. For navel piercing, you need to pick those small pieces with cute designs which will help the piercing look beautiful. You have a lot of options available in terms of colors and shapes. Pink is a fave of many girls. Read more on fashion jewelery.

For the double piercing, two barbells, one for each, regular and inverse look very pretty. You can also get the jeweled ones that will look attractive and simply awesome. Curved barbells are also a popular choice. Plain titanium or stainless steel bars are simple and look lovely. If you want something long than go for the navel dangles. Available in various designs, shapes of these gems look very striking and bold. Well, its best to restrict bigger gems for special occasions, as these might look tacky, as you are having a double navel piercing. The flower and dolphin shaped tiny danglers are preferred by many. Navel rings and studs, together worn for the double piercing that look extremely funky. What's more? You can also get personalized navel jewelery such as rings having initials or a name of your choice inscribed over it. You can also opt for personalized danglers.



Article Source: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/double-navel-piercing.html

Lip Piercings: Labret, Lowbret, Madonna

You may have thought that humans only have one set of lips, comprised of two separate entities, but lip piercings actually fall into eight separate categories. Lip piercing is an ancient body modification, still common among certain African tribes who stretch their lower lips to fit large, discus-shaped lip plates. The two most common piercings are done on the lip and the labret.

The basic lip piercing describes any piercing that penetrates the area directly surrounding the lips, usually along the bottom lip but sometimes found along the top as well. A lip piercing is pierced with a lip ring either directly in the center of the lip or just off to the side. It will almost always be pierced initially with a captive-bead ring, though after the wound has fully healed (which can take up to 4-6 weeks) you may later change to a stud if you so choose.

if you do change it to a stud, however, then it becomes a labret piercing (pronounced "la-brett", not "la-bray"). Confusing, I know, but try to keep up. Because this is an oral piercing, aftercare is important on both ends: the inside of the mouth and the outside. Your piercer should educate you on proper aftercare methods, generally involving a frequent Listerine rinse for inside the mouth and washing gently with antibacterial soap on the outside, done no more than twice a day.

A vertical labret passes through the direct center of the bottom lip. It differs from a standard labret piercing in that a curved barbell is inserted and both ends of the jewelry can be seen--one below the bottom lip, the other in the mouth between the lips.)

A lowbret is a horizontal labret that is placed as low as impossible inside the lip, just before your chin cartilage begins.

A vertical lowbret is placed vertically inside the mouth, piercing through the cheek and emerging close to the jaw line. The barbell used for this type of piercing needs to be at least 1.5" in length.

A horizontal lip piercing, as the name implies, passing directly through either lip at a horizontal angle.

A horizontal labret piercing, on the other hand, passes horizontally just below the lip.

The Madonna piercing (yes, she gets a piercing named after her) is sometimes called a Monroe piercing, named for the original beauty mark queen, Marilyn Monroe. A Monroe is located in the upper lip, slightly off-center to mimic the look of a beauty mark or mole.

A Medusa piercing is the opposite of a labret piercing, located in the direct center of the upper lip. It is sometimes called an "upbret" or "cleft" piercing.

The Labret, or Lip Piercing

One of the more unusual piercings, both in ancient and modern practice, is the labret, or lip piercing. The term “labret” is Latin in origin, from labrum meaning “lip” and is pronounced "lah-bret." It is the modern, umbrella term for all piercings around the opening of the mouth. Primitive and contemporary piercings are found in both the upper and lower lips in a variety of thicknesses and placements.

In the past, the mention of a lip piercing brought to mind exotic Africa and large wooden disks. Many people probably now imagine any number of dark-clad young people with silver lip and nose rings who work at the corner store or are their own children. In essence, these two ends are achieved through nearly the same means, but in each case the person is operating under different cultural norms and treats the piercing differently during healing.

Placement of lip piercings can vary quite a bit, and often jewelry choice is related to the location and size of the piercing. Lower lip piercings can be centered or placed as desired almost anywhere along the lower lip line. Rings are frequently worn for lower lip piercings, but curved tusks, short spikes and studs can be worn if desired.

Upper lip piercings frequently are “beauty mark” style, sometimes called a Madonna piercing, after the singer’s beauty mark. A tiny barbell or stud is most often worn in upper lip piercings, to make the piercing most resemble the namesake beauty mark placement. More often the style of backing chosen for post-style jewelry becomes more important than the part that shows outside the mouth.

This is a piercing that should never be performed by someone who has not had training, and should never be done with a piercing gun. Good placement and sound piercing techniques can make this a long-lived and enjoyable piercing choice. Consult your piercer with any questions you have regarding care and healing, and ask them what info you can pass along to your dentist to help them be more piercing-positive

Tongue Piercings

Many facial piercings are more contemporary in nature, and the tongue piercing fall into this category as well. You don’t see this piercing in tribal cultures, you see it being worn by middle-class American college students, rock musicians and porn stars. For some people this is an easy piercing and for others it can be difficult. It takes a bit of forethought to have a comfortable tongue piercing.

Placement

Tongues are primarily pierced down the center, somewhere in mid-tongue, with a barbell being the primary style of jewelry worn in this piercing. What you wind up with is a small ball on the top and bottom of the tongue with the bar connecting them vertically through the middle of the tissue. Tongues are muscular and a lot of people say that biting your tongue accidentally with your teeth is more painful than piercing with a needle.

One very important factor to consider when getting your tongue pierced is the alignment of the jewelry and your teeth. The piercing should be set back far enough on the tongue to not be in constant contact with the backs of the teeth. Friction of the steel jewelry over time has been known to wear off enamel, and tongue piercees who like to “picket fence” their jewelry along the insides of their teeth will soon get reports of chipping and major damage from their dentists. Plastic balls on the ends of the barbells can greatly reduce chipping. Too far forward and your speech will be affected, the jewelry colliding with the teeth as the tongue makes certain vocal shapes in the front of the mouth.

Afterwards

One of the biggest factors for success is oral hygiene and healing routine. Your mouth has to be as healthy as it can and you have to be ready to take care of the piercing rather strictly for four to six weeks. The first week you have to be prepared to have your speech affected and to have eating border on hellish. Tongues swell up after piercing and you have to be ready to deal with this.

Healing is best if you plan for a starter piece of jewelry that is at least 1/4” longer than your tongue is thick. Talk with your body piercer about this. You will want to wear this barbell for the first two weeks or so until the swelling goes down in your tongue, then switch to a size that is more appropriate for not interfering with talking and eating over the long term. You will need to gargle several times a day in order to cleanse the piercing and your piercer will recommend which oral hygiene products to use. Sucking on ice is a basic way to help with swelling, but watch out as the barbell will get colder than the rest of the inside of your mouth.

Stretching Piercings

Stretching a piercing is a devotion, a meditation, a test of patience. It must be carried out slowly, as any deliberate modification of the body must be. Stretch too quickly and the piercing will become irritated and begin weeping lymph like a new piercing. A worse case scenario would result in a broken or torn piercing.

Wire thickness is sized much like women's clothing, except that the smaller the number, the larger the gauge. An average earring is 18 or 20 gauge. Any body piercing should be at least 14 gauge before beginning to stretch it, as anything thinner might rip into the surrounding tissue. Initial piercings can be up to 8 gauge, so if you know want really enlarged piercings, start as large as possible. Any metal jewelry should be surgical stainless steel, solid gold (at least 14 karat), or niobium, titanium, or platinum. Heavy monofilament nylon or inert plastic is also tolerable.

There are a few methods for producing a larger piercing. The first is weighting which merely entails hanging a heavier and heavier weight from the piercing. Care must be taken not to hang too much weight from too thin a ring. (Imagine a cheese slicer....) An example of the effect weighting produces can be seen in the Dyak women of Borneo. In their society, the longer the earlobe, the more it corresponds to their ideal of beauty. The lobes are pierced during childhood and progressively larger earrings are worn until a three-quarter inch wooden plug can fit. At this point, metal rings are hung from the lobes. These are slowly added to until the earlobes have stretched down to the collarbone.

If a larger piercing is desired without distending the ear (or other body part), the piercing can be enlarged by wearing progressively thicker jewelry. Many Jewish and Arab tribes women in ancient Afghanistan wore very thick, ornate earrings. The earrings were often attached to a headdress or shawl to support the weight of the jewelry, so the earlobe wouldn't be stretched into a loop.

Piercings can be slowly made larger by using a piece of special equipment called a "taper." This is a slim piece of metal, which is one gauge thickness on one end, and slowly tapers to one size larger by the other end. These can be slowly inserted into body piercings, using lubrication to help the skin friction, and the result is a one size increase. Jewelry of the next size up can then be inserted and piercings stabilized at the new size. Once they heal, the process can be repeated. If a piercing is "sized up" too quickly, the tissues can tear, and the piercing will have to be cared for as if it were brand-new all over again.

Removing A Piercing

Maybe it's for work. Maybe it's for school. It might be a visit to the parents or a wedding or who knows. Maybe this is a decision you've made, or maybe it's something you just have to deal with. Maybe it's for a little while or maybe you've changed your mind for good. But for whatever the reasons, the piecing is coming out.

Many people go into the idea of body piercing without a whole lot of forethought and without too much research into the matter, so this article is here to talk about what can happen when you take a body piercing out. Note that there is no set course of reactions or responses, more of a variety of potentials that can happen to an individual depending on their own body and the specific circumstances involved with their body piercing.

If the piercing isn't fully healed yet, the most likely outcome is that in a very short time, the piercing will collapse and start to heal shut. What this means is that the tissues will rejoin, closing the canal of the piercing and although they won't be fully healed shut, it can prevent the jewelry from being replaced. For some people and very new piercings, this can happen anywhere from instantly to just a few minutes. If you are thinking of getting pierced, and you can think of a definite situation in the next six months to a year where you'd absolutely have to take out the piercing, I'd advise that you just not get pierced, as you run a high risk of the hole closing from not being well-established.

For piercings that are past the estimated healing times, the reactions vary widely from person to person and piercing to piercing. The age of the piercing and type of body tissue pierced are big factors. The longer a piercing has been established, the greater the chances are that it will remain open, allowing the removed jewelry to be put back, but this isn't always the case. Some piercings can tighten up or shrink a bit when empty, a side effect that can't be predicted ahead of time. If you have to take out body jewelry due to a medical procedure, I suggest you try and replace the metal with something plastic/acrylic, as it's the removal of anything metallic on the body which is really what the doctors are trying to achieve.

If you no longer wish to have a body piercing, of course there's no worries about having to try and replace jewelry but some people get concerned about what sort of mark or hole might be left. Overall, thin piercings shrink down but don't entirely disappear. Think about when you watch movies and how many actors you can still see have or had pierced ears even when they aren't wearing earrings. Larger piercings will shrink but may remain much larger than average and stretched or gauged ear piercings might remain visibly open.

QuestionsNavel Piercings

My piercer told me I had granulation on the entrance hole of my navel. I was wearing a banana bell, which was too long, causing irritation. I changed to a shorter bar. It still has bad days, but nothing compared to what it used to, and the redness around the top hole is minimizing. I use sea salt soaks and vitamin c and echinachea. Do you have any tips on how to aid the healing process even more?

Often with navel piercings, too much is done to try and aid healing instead of letting the body take care of itself. When I first got my own navel pierced in the early 90s, there was an emphasis on medical grade cleansers, but now it’s shifted to gentle things like sea salt soaks. Make sure to clean any soap out of the piercing as that is frequently an irritant to the healing skin.

Also, having the jewelry fitted well to the piercing is key. If the jewelry is too long or too short, the friction or tension will often cause the piercing to form scar tissue, called a keloid. Making sure your clothing doesn’t rub the piercing is also important as that too can encourage keloids to form.

Is it possible to pierce an outie belly button? My friends say that I can pierce the bottom part but then it may look weird. What do you think?

I'm not an actual body piercer, but I do know piercing an outie belly button is very difficult and frequently, these piercing reject. Piercing can be done anywhere around the navel, the trick is if the piercing can be placed to not pushed on or crowded by the part of the tissue that forms the outie knob. If the jewelry gets rubbed too much, the piercing will reject (heal out) or it will form scar tissue (a keloid), neither of which most people want to experience.

I wouldn't recommend it, but if you really are curious, you should go talk to some piercers so that they can actually see your navel and give you their opinion.

How old you have to be to get pierced? I need to find somewhere that would let a 16 year old almost 17 year old get it done without a parent. My boyfriend who is 20 years old could go with me but I just don't want my mom to know.

Due to the large amount of teenagers trying to get pierced without their parents knowing, many states have now enacted very strict laws on teen piercing. Many of them now require not only ID from the adult, but the ID has to show proof of legal guardianship. Parents and grandparents who don’t have the same last names as their children have often found they cannot give permission. This has been the results of older boyfriends and girlfriends teens trying to pose as a permitting adult. Since these laws are set up state-by-state, you’ll have to do homework about the state you live in to find out what the local piercing rules are and who can give permission for you to be pierced.

Nose Piercing

One of the longest standing piercing modifications is the nose piercing. Studs and rings, worn both in the curve of the nostril or through the septum, between the two nostrils at the base of the nose, are found in cultures around the world. Brides in India can be seen with ornate gold rings connected to heavy matching earrings with ornate chains. Tribesmen in the deepest Amazon wear bones or bird feathers through enlarged septum piercings.

The most common place for piercing the nose is through the curve of one of the nostrils. Placement can be anywhere along the nostril, depending on the preference of the wearer. Usually a cork is inserted into the nostril to catch the needle end, and a straight needle is simply pushed thorough. It is important for people to find reputable piercers and not allow tools like ear piercing guns to be used. The reason that piercing guns should not be used for ANY form of piercing is that these tools are not sterlilized and this leaves them capable of transmission of body fluid-borne diseases and infections, including hepatitis and HIV.

Types of Nose Piercings

Nostril piercings are healed with either a stud-style piece of jewelry or a ring. Studs are kept in place either with small backings like stud earrings or a style of stud from India called a nostril screw. The short post ends in a half circle turn, so the jewelry screws in then pops down, staying in place. This old style has become very popular again due to its comfort and security.

The next most common placement for a nose piercing is through the septum, the piece of tissue that separates the two sides of the nose. It is important to avoid the main piece of cartilage in the end of the nose and to go thorough the softer tissue. Placement should also be considered when selecting ring-style jewelry so that the initial piercing is not placed too low. Most often a small ring is worn in this piercing. A U-shaped septum retainer can be worn by those who are healing new piercings, or who have to hide their septum piercing for work or familial-business. The ends are flipped up into the nose and the tiny wire becomes unseen, but keeps the piercing open. Barbells, tusks and spike-style jewelry are crafted for this piercing, but it is better to reserve these jewelry styles for established piercings or occasional wear.

Nostril and septum piercings can take between six and twelve weeks to heal. Maintaining general health and well-being during this time can both support and speed healing. Fresh piercings should have stainless surgical steel or 14k or 18k gold jewelry in them, with sterling silver being better for an established piercing. Changing pillow cases more often during the healing period and trying to avoid sleeping on the piercing are also advised

Nipple Piercing FAQ

Here are a few frequently asked questions about nipple piercings.

Q: I've had my nipple pierced for about several months now, and there is
some secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid ( not pus ) still coming out of it. Is this normal? If it's not, what can I do to make it stop ?

A: The whitish-yellow fluid is lymph fluid from the skin with some dead body cells in it and this is a normal by-product of the healing process. At five months, your nipples have probably healed a lot, but probably still are NOT all the way healed on the inside. Just keep gently cleaning this stuff off, esp if it dries on the rings. If any of the "crust" gets pulled inside, it's kinda ouchy.

Q: I have one pierced nipple and one not, and now the pierced one seems a little bit bigger than the one that is not pierced. Should I be worried if something bad is happening? ...cause it doesn't hurt and it's not red or anything. If I take the piercing out in the future, will my nipple heal and shrink back down to normal?


A: Piercing, for many people, stimulates tissue development in the nipples, especially if you are a woman who has not nursed a baby. Some men have gone from having almost no nipple to having nipples like gumdrops. I saw that happen one with a friend of mine. This too is totally normal. However, this is a permanent body change. How your nipple and/or aureola thickens or changes from being pierced is how it will stay for the rest of your life.

Q: Is there any real difference to wearing a ring or a barbell in a nipple piercing? Or do people just do whatever?

A: In my experiences, I've found two things that govern how people choose their nipple jewelry: lifestyle and personal preference. In the end, everyone settles down with whatever style of jewelry fits them comfortably, does not snag or interfere with whatever their daily activities are, and which the wearer finds aesthetically pleasing.

The variety of body jewelry has really expanded in the last twenty years. There are a lot of metals available, and then things like niobium and titanium come in lots of anodized colors. End caps on barbells or beads in captive rings can then be made from precious stones, be metal with insets or fancy pieces that disguise that the ring opens at all.

Nipple Piercing

One search term that has been consistently popular since the inception of the Internet is “nipple piercing.” There have been rumors of references to Roman centurions having pierced nipples to fasten their short dress capes, but in more recent interviews, many people have confessed that much modern piercing lore was invented or exaggerated by a piercing enthusiast named Doug Malloy. He is the one who introduced Jim Ward, founder of Gauntlet and Fakir Musafar, of Bodyplay magazine, and hosted "T&P (tattooing and piercing) socials" in the 70s. However the modern pierced nipple has grown in prominence and popularity much like the Internet where this topic leads picture and image search requests over the last decade.

Just a decade ago, the mention of a nipple piercing often produced confused and shocked looks. Nowadays, the most common reaction is a knowing “oh..” and/or indifference. Pierced nipples are certainly not commonplace, but they have moved from the fringe underground to a secure position as part of modern pop culture. And this was before that fatal moment with Janet Jackson and a malfunctioning wardrobe. The site of a pop diva's pierced and adorned breast could only further cement the nipple as an object of fetish worship. Mainstream musicians sport nipple rings openly and erotic culture publications regularly include models with fetish body modifications like nose, nipple and navel rings.

Placement of nipple piercings is most often horizontally through the areola, just behind the main bud of the nipple. Sometimes this piercing is done vertically, either as a solo piercing or paired with a horizontal piercing. Thickness of the jewelry worn in a nipple piercing should be at least 14 gauge to avoid tissue tearing. Length or diameter of the jewelry is determined by how much tissue the piercing encompasses, and starter jewelry can be either a barbell or a ring. Fixed or captured bead rings are the most popular as they are secure to wear and easy to clean.

Nipple piercings can take between three and six months to heal on average, with many women finding it can take between six months and a year for their nipple piercings to heal. Men’s nipples heal faster due to differences in tissue composition and hormones. Many women experience extra issues with healing nipple piercings during their menstrual cycles. For women who are considering having children, so far there does not appear to be any interference between well-healed piercings and breast feeding, although it is not recommended to get new piercings before, during or after pregnancy due to changes of body state.

Once healed, many people with pierced nipples find the tissue more developed, with increased sensation and responsiveness. Men especially report increases in tissue thickness and tactile sensitivity. A variety of jewelry styles is available for wear in a well established piercing including curved barbells, horseshoe attachments and many variations for attaching chains and dangles.

Navel Piercing

What is it with Navel Rings?

Piercing lore has it that the Egyptian royal family had pierced belly buttons and wore gold rings in their navels, and that this was easily facilitated by the fact that they all had deep navels due to inbreeding. If that is true, then navel piercing has been around for a very long time. Even if it isn't true, there haven't been many occurrences of navel piercing in history, and it's clearly more of a modern body piercing than ear, nose or lip rings. Although highly aesthetic on many navels, this is a very difficult piercing to heal due to placement on the body.

The major physical qualification to getting your navel pierced is to have some sort of edge of extra tissue around your navel that can be clamped and pierced through. Nearly any form of any "inny" belly button will work, but some people with "outies" have enough of an edge too. You should not pierce through tissue that is protruding from inside the navel formation, only skin tissue that is around the bowl of the navel. Placement is most commonly somewhere between 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock but really any part will work if there is that definite flap of skin to go through. Comfort is best facilitated by placing the jewelry to work with the maximum depth of your belly button and how it sits as part of your overall abdomen. Trust your piercer, it's their job.

Life after your Navel is Pierced

Healing is easily six to nine months with at least 50% of people finally healing after a full year or slightly longer. Your midsection is highly active in overall body movement, the tissue is very muscular and the blood supply to the surface skin is much less than other pierced areas on the body. Clothing can easily irritate this piercing, and many people dress more loosely or have to make sure the waistbands of their clothing don't rub the jewelry. Freshly pierced belly buttons are sensitive to many kinds of soaps and even antibiotic ointments and washes. With navels, less is more for cleansing and healing. Try to clean the piercing once in the morning and once at night, and don't play with it in between.

Once healed, there are a wide variety of captured bead rings, curved barbells, dangles and belly chains to wear. Navels are happy wearing surgical steel, gold, titanium and niobium. If you do sports or any kind of highly vigorous physical activity and your jewelry is in the way, you have a few options. One is to tape the ring down with a piece of first aid tape. Or you can take out the jewelry and temporarily replace it with a loop of nylon mono filament line of the appropriate thickness.