Are You Thinking About Getting An Ear Or Body Piercing?

Are you thinking about getting an ear or body piercing? Here are some key questions to ask yourself before you get pierced:

Do you have your parents' permission? Most places require you to have parental consent if you are under age 18. So be sure to check with your parents before getting pierced.
What does your school say? Some schools don't allow students to have facial piercings.
Are you looking for a job? Some jobs don't allow employees to have facial piercings. Make sure the piercing is appropriate for your daily life.
Are you thinking of donating blood? Some organizations don't accept blood from people who have been pierced within the last year.
Are you up to date with your vaccines? It's a good idea to make sure you're vaccinated for diseases such as hepatitis B and tetanus before you get a piercing.

Is piercing safe?
When done in a clean and professional environment, piercing is usually safe. But if piercing equipment is unclean, there is a risk of getting blood-transmitted diseases. These include:

Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Tetanus
HIV
Even in a sterile (germ-free) environment, some common risks of piercing are:

Chronic infection
Skin allergies
Abscesses (pus-filled, painful areas of skin)
Inflammation or nerve damage
Prolonged bleeding

In general, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor before a piercing if you:

Have diabetes
Have a heart condition
Have a weakened immune system
Are pregnant
Take herbal supplements
Where should I go to get my piercing done?
A sterile environment is the most important thing to consider when deciding where to go to get pierced.

Here are some tips for finding a safe place to get your piercing done:

Check with your doctor. Some doctors' offices will do basic ear piercings.
Research piercing shops that use safe procedures or are licensed by the state.
If you are going to a stand in a mall, make sure employees use a sterile, single-use piercing gun.
NEVER do this:

Pierce yourself or have a friend pierce you.
Get pierced in a shop that looks unclean, makes you uncomfortable, or doesn't answer all your questions.