Nikki Wise, Charger Staff
When I was sitting in one of my classes the other day, someone brought to my attention that she just had her tongue pierced by her best friend with a straight pin that came with our ribbons on yellow ribbon day. Her tongue had swollen to a large size, and she didn’t treat it to take the swelling down. It was extremely disgusting, and I didn’t even recognize the straight pin was still in her tongue when she showed it to me.
Self-body piercing is not only disgusting, but dangerous. The same day that the person in my class pierced her tongue another person pierced his, and he hit the vein underneath his tongue. He was later sent to the hospital.
If not treated correctly, one who gets a piercing is at high risk of infections, scarring reactions and even rejection from the body.
The unsterile instruments and techniques can lead to infections from bacteria and viruses including Hepatitis B and HIV.
If the piercing is not done correctly, many difficulties may occur. If it is placed too shallow, it can be easily ripped out of the body. If it is placed too deep a thick layer of scar tissue may form. People who scar more than others may develop keloids. This is when tissue response is out of proportion to the size of the wound.
If one is not careful allergic reactions can occur. Sterling silver, filled jewelry, gold-plated jewelry and any type of ear studs should never be used. Inferior materials will corrode as they break down in the body, causing infections and large holes in the tissue.
Using inappropriate jewelry cleansers or care can cause the piercing to be push
out the body by a buildup of scar tissue. This process is called rejection. The
eyebrow and naval are some areas that are more prone to rejection.
Body piercing is very unattractive. Just think, if you decided that you didn’t like the nose ring, you can’t take it out because you will be left with a big hole in your nose. Most people only want to get a piercing just to fit in with the crowd.
If it takes me having to mutilate my body to just fit in, I wouldn’t take that risk. In a small way body piercing is just like taking drugs. They both make you look terrible and they both have harmful risks. I urge you to just think about it.
Article prepared for web by Kristen Allen
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