Body Piercing

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients,  May, 2001  by Tori Hudson

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The popularity of body piercing continues to grow, and an increasing number of women are having other sites pierced beyond the ear, including nipples, genitalia and navel. Piercings in some of these locations may be done for religious purposes, adornment, peer group inclusion, a statement against the establishment, to increase self-esteem, and/or to enhance sexual pleasure.

Clinicians may encounter patients with complications due to body piercing including redness and swelling, drainage, infection with exudates, bleeding, cyst formation, allergic contact dermatitis, scars and trauma or tears. Various infections including tuberculosis, tetanus, hepatitis, and toxic shock syndrome have been caused by contamination during the piercing procedure. Clinicians should be prepared to evaluate infection/contamination issues in a respectful and objective manner. Patients should be given objection information about the benefits and potential risks of piercing; information should be given regarding the selection of a saf e and competent piercing professional or facility and instructions given in proper postpiercing care.

COPYRIGHT 2001 The Townsend Letter Group
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning