| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | and / or hepatitis. If you're going to let your |
| Think this is a bad joke? Think again! In this day in | | | | teenager get pierced choose wisely. Take them |
| age it's not uncommon to see teenagers with | | | | to a reputable piercing shop that uses |
| piercing all over their body. Essentially most parts | | | | state-of-the-art medical equipment and do your |
| of the body can be pierced in one form or | | | | homework! Most piercing shops will be glad to |
| another and this dramatically increases the | | | | explain proper sterilization practices with the right |
| chances of hepatitis, HIV, tetanus, auricular | | | | medical equipment and ask about the use of |
| hematoma, cauliflower ear, infections, allergic | | | | medical equipment such sterilizers and autoclaves |
| reactions, bleeding, and damage to nerves or | | | | which are used to effectively sanitize the tools |
| teeth. | | | | needed for piercing. If you notice that the piercing |
| Most parents don't understand why their | | | | shop uses a piercing gun to do body piercing go |
| teenagers want to get pierced, but for most | | | | elsewhere. Piercing guns can't be sterilized and |
| teens it's about individuality, fashion and personal | | | | drastically increase the chance of infections. |
| freedom. Despite the health warnings, body and | | | | If you want to play it really safe you can |
| ear piercing among teenagers is on the rise! | | | | purchase a disposable ear piercing kit online. Many |
| Because of this it's important to let parents and | | | | online medical equipment stores like offer these |
| teens know of the potential dangers of un-safe | | | | kits at a very reasonable price. But keep in mind |
| piercing. | | | | these kits are only for ear piercing, not body |
| For many parents the idea of letting their | | | | piercing. You should also consider letting someone |
| teenagers get pierced is a scary thing. Parents | | | | with piercing experience pierce your teenager |
| should consider that piercing is not something that | | | | even with a disposable kit. These kits are very |
| was invented overnight. Many cultures dating back | | | | easy to use and are fully disposable thereby |
| thousands of years have used piercing and | | | | drastically reducing the risk of contracting hepatitis |
| tattoos as a symbol of importance, religious | | | | and other infections. Keep in mind however, that |
| beliefs and yes even as decoration. This being said | | | | after your ear piercing is safely done you are not |
| piercing knowledge has come a very long way as | | | | out of danger. Proper maintenance is required |
| well as the proper medical equipment. Parents | | | | after you get your piercing. It's recommended |
| should do as much research as possible into the | | | | that you wash the area with soap daily and use |
| available medical equipment before making a | | | | isopropyl alcohol on both sides of the ear at least |
| decision on teenage piercing. A great way is to do | | | | twice a day. Another good idea is to use an |
| online research or even better yet, talk to other | | | | antibiotic ointment every night for the first week. |
| parents who have teenagers with piercing. | | | | A triple antibiotic is preferred, but Bacitracin |
| Chances are they have gone through all the | | | | ointment will also work. Most drug stores or |
| anxiety you may experience and know the | | | | supermarkets will carry brand name and generic |
| answers to many of the questions that are | | | | versions of these ointments. |
| running wild in your mind. | | | | If you decide to let your teenagers get their ear |
| Along with the explosion of ear and body piercing | | | | pierced they should start by wearing only gold |
| has come research into the many new possibilities | | | | earrings first. Some teenagers will find they are |
| of damaging ones ears or jeopardizing ones health. | | | | allergic to other metals. Once you have your |
| Also new medical equipment has been developed | | | | earrings you should rotate them a minimum of |
| to fight those problems. Scientists at the Center | | | | twice a day to help prevent scabbing. It's |
| for Disease Control are researching a possible link | | | | recommended that you don't remove your |
| between piercing and the infectious liver disease | | | | earrings for at least three to four weeks to |
| of viral hepatitis. Parents and teens should keep in | | | | provide the skin adequate time to heal. Teenagers |
| mind that getting pierced with non-sterilized | | | | should wear their earrings a majority of the time |
| medical equipment can dramatically increase your | | | | during the first year. As far as body piercing goes |
| chances of contracting hepatitis which is much | | | | most piercing shops will provide a list of needed |
| more contagious than HIV (the virus that causes | | | | "care and maintenance procedures" to keep your |
| AIDS)! This alone should be enough to scare | | | | body piercing from becoming infected. |
| parents and teenagers and motivate them to | | | | Allowing a teenager to receive ear and body |
| become more informed on the subject of piercing | | | | piercing can be very scary for parents. With all |
| and more informed about the proper medical | | | | the potential health risks it's easy to see why |
| equipment. However there are safe ways to get | | | | some parents don't allow their teenagers to get |
| piercing. | | | | piercing. However it's good to keep in mind that if |
| Many doctors and online resources don't | | | | done appropriately your teenagers will remain in |
| recommend doing the piercing yourself. Lack of | | | | good health and will be allowed to express |
| medical sterilization equipment, proper piercing | | | | themselves in a unique way that they so desire. |
| tools and experience typically lead to infections | | | | |