by Arnaud and Laura J (Nov 30, 2003)

Today, piercing is fashionable. From ears, nose and mouth… to less classical: on the neck, between fingers, on the chest and even genitals… Everybody knows that a piercing has to be done in strict conditions: you must ask for a completely sterilized equipment, and it can leave irreversible scars if you do it on your own.
Up to now, we put people on their guard only about hygiene

and risks of infection like hepatitis B and C. But recent studies show that a pierced mouth can produce electricity! Contact between the jewel and a crown can form a battery, and saliva (acid and salty) conducts this current. Gold rusts the "worst metal". And experts consider that these few amperes could be enough "to disturb nervous exchanges"...

Moreover, gold and silver can produce mercury when they are associated with some forbidden alloys yet on mouths.
It can also lead to a loss of teeth. Five young Americans suffered from cavities on their gums up to 8 mm between each teeth!
So, if you wear a piercing, do not take it lightly and consult a specialist regularly…

If you wish to react to this article, write to the editor.

I enjoyed reading this article on body piercing because I have my ears pierced and am always considering possible other pierces. Because of this, I appreciated the health and hygiene aspects of the article because I found them informative. I think it is important to get the piercing done at a location that is clean and uses clean needles. A body piercing is not worth risking the chance of a deadly disease. However, I do believe the article over exagerated the risks of piercing, because in most cases I believe it is completly safe. I was surprised to learn however that pierces in the mouth have the capabilities of producing electricity. This discourages me from receiving any type of tongue pierce, which I do think looks cool.

Your article is very interesting, because we both want a piercing (particulary on tongue and eye brow). We think that it would be better if you wrote a little about the prices between the different kinds of being pierced, because teenagers don't understand why it is so expensive when you go to a jewellery shop to be pierced. You also didn't speak about the other piercings...

It could be good to present a classification of the pain created by the piercings, because people do not know how painful a piercing can be .
But the rest of your article is very correct.

We will come back soon!!!

I thought your article was o.k., but I think you should go more into the costs behind different piercings, and the different pain involved behind body piercing. For instance, ears and belly button do not hurt nearly as badly as the tongue or eye brow. Other than that I think you did a good job of informing people of some of the dangers, and I enjoyed reading it.

I’ve read your article on body piercing... You’re right, it has become fashionable, but unfortunately, the youngest girls want to wear one, in spite of the risk of infection and the fact that their bodies will develop , moving the piercing or making scars. But I think it’s too bad that the people who get pierced don’t know the real meaning of their piercing. For example, the piercing on the tongue was a punishment for the women who had committed adultery, etc etc.

I’d like to pierce my ears, at the top of the ear. And, as you said, we have to be aware of the risk of infection.

I wish your article had spoken about the meaning of each piercing, it would have been so great. Maybe next time…

Your article is interesting and I have other information about piercings. Piercing requires strict hygiene. All the utensils, which are used, must have been sterilized before. And the needle must only be used once.Then the piercing must be maintained, you must wait for one month before changing the jewel. And healing varies from one to nine months. It depends on the maintenance, the food, and the state of stress. You mustn't clean your piercing more than twice a day because it might slow down the healing process. Then the piercing can swell, itch, bleed, and you might have some scars, but that's normal. Minors haven't the right to have a piercing done without their parent's permission. Today a piercing can be done everywhere on the body, even between your fingers, but this is a piercing which gets infected systematically because it's impossible to keep your hands clean constantly. Historically, piercings come from African and Amazonian tribes and their rites.Then genital piercing comes from religion. For example, in christianity, it prevented monks from having sexual intercourse.

Don't forget that the tattooist doesn't pierce you for the fun of piercing, but for your own pleasure.

I found this article to be quite fascinating. I didn't know that piercings in your mouth could cause electricity! I have many piercings (9 to be exact) but only one of them is on my body... that's my belly button.

There are certain precautions you must use before, during, and after you get a body piercing done. You must get your Hep. B and C shots done before getting a piercing on somewhere other than your ears. Then, you should do some research on the place you're going to. Make sure they sterilize the clamps they use. Hollow needles are disposable, and are only used ONCE. After you get your piercing done, make sure you clean it as directed! If you don't you could end up with a serious staph infection.

:) Keep up the good work!

I think that your article is very interesting. You're right when you say that piercing is fashionable. Too many young people have a piercing and they do it only to do like their friends.

I would like to have one on my tongue and maybe one between my fingers but I know that it's quite risky. That's why I want to think for a long time before.

Go on like this, you're good!!!

Diane and Elodie (LAT, Blois)

We find your article very interesting. We both have a navel's piercing and we'll have another piercing on the tongue . But now we think it's too dangerous... In our opinion, if you do your piercing in good hygienic conditions, you don't risk anything. As far as we are concerned, we did our piercing in an office and we didn't have any problems with the healing.

Clélia and Amélie (LAT, Blois)

This is a very interesting article. I would like to have a piercing and I thank you for warning us about the risks of piercing. At first I wanted to have one on the lip but now I don't want it. I don't know now where it can be, maybe on the eye brow. But can you precise the differents kinds of infections because I am concerned about it.

I would be interested in reading another article about tattooists.

Cyrielle (LAT, Blois)

I am afraid when I read your article because I didn't know that a piercing can be dangerous! I have one on the mouth... I just have a problem with my teeth and my gum. Sometimes I must take it off because it's uncomfortable...When you want a piercing, you don't think of these problems, but you should! Besides it's expensive ... but it is so great!

Charlotte (LAT, Blois)

Your article is very interesting because it is very important to know all the risks of piercings. We think that a lot of people want to be pierced because it is fashionable. But sometimes it becomes too excessive and we find that it is very stupid. We believe that more and more teenagers have a piercing and don't know all of the risks. But how can we be sure that all the instruments are sterilized in a shop ?

Amandine & Solenne (Nantes, France)

This article is very interesting because it explains the risks of piercings, which teenagers don't know exactly. Indeed, we are astounded to learn that piercing in the mouth can produce electricity or that gold and silver can produce mercury when they are associated with forbidden alloys. And we also think that most teenagers are pierced because they want to be fashionable and forget to consult a specialist. On the other hand, we regret that there is nothing about the history of piercing and we think that your article is too subjective because you focus on the damaging effects of piercings.