Piercings
Thursday 31 July 2008
Are you thinking of getting your ears, belly button or even tongue pierced? n2k runs through everything you need to know about piercings.
The law
There are no official legal restrictions in the UK on the age at which you can have your ears or other body parts pierced.
However, many boroughs or piercing salons may impose their own informal guidelines so research this thoroughly, especially if you are under 16. You might also need to get parental consent or have your parent or guardian present.
To pierce or not to pierce
So you want a piercing? Before you start jewellery shopping, ask yourself these questions:
- Why do you want a piercing? Is it because everyone else has one or because you want to be unique? Remember you can take out the piercing if you get sick of it but you’ll have the scar forever, so be sure!
- Can you take the pain? Everyone has a different pain tolerance so be prepared.
- Can you look after your piercing? Most piercings will require you to clean it everyday so think about how much time this will take. Swimming and other sports might be off limits for a while so time it appropriately – don’t get pierced before a beach holiday!
Where to pierce
In a recent study carried out by the NHS it was found that the belly button was the most common place to get a piercing with 33 per cent. The second most popular piercing is the nose with 19 per cent while the ear is the third most popular, with a surprising 13 per cent. Tongue, eyebrow and lip wasn’t so popular, each getting just under 10 per cent of the vote.
The belly button might be the most popular place but there are also some other factors you should consider when thinking about where to get a piercing.
Risks
Healing times vary depending on which part of the body you pierce. An ear and eyebrow piercing usually take less than three months to heal whereas a belly button piercing can take up to a year.
Certain areas of the body are also more prone to infection which is one of the main risks associated with getting a piercing - more than a quarter of people who have body piercing suffer complications so it is very important to look after your piercing afterwards.
Next steps
If you’re set on getting a piercing, make sure you do your research!
Take time to find and visit a reputable professional piercing shop. Ask your mates for recommendations. Most establishments also offer a consultation before the big day so take this opportunity to look around and ask them as many questions as you can. Are you happy with your piercer? Is the place clean? If you feel uneasy at all, look for another place.
