Talking About Piercing Your friend just got his/her tongue pierced. You think it looks cool and now you want one too. Before you run out and pierce any part of your body, it’s in your best interest to learn proper sterile procedures to ensure your safety. Many serious blood-borne diseases, such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, tetanus, and HIV, can be transmitted during the piercing process if certain procedures are not followed. Improper piercing(s) also creates a risk of infection, which can lead to sepsis, granluloma formation, epidermal cysts, and other disfigurements. Therefore, you must be very careful whom you choose to perform the piercing! Choose a professional studio, not an amateur friend. Below is a brief list of what you should be on the look-out for when you visit a piercing studio. Before getting any part of your body pierced, share this list with your parents and/or your physician and discuss the importance of sterile techniques. Sterilization Process Does the studio use an autoclave? An autoclave is a heat sterilization machine regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. The autoclave sterilizes reused instruments, such as forceps, that are not disposable. Needle Use Does the studio use a sterile, prepackaged needle? Never use a studio that reuses needles. When evaluating a studio, make sure needles are disposed of in a sharps container. A sharps container is the plastic box (usually red) you see in your doctor’s office in the examining rooms. Sharps container boxes are used to properly dispose of needles, or other sharp objects that may carry blood-borne diseases. Latex Gloves Does the piercer wash his or her hands and use a fresh pair of latex gloves for each procedure? Latex gloves protect you from infection. If the piercer leaves the room or answers the phone make sure he or she puts on a new pair of gloves. Cleanliness How clean is the studio? Take a look around, if the studio looks dirty and the bathroom looks as if it hasn’t been cleaned in a while, is this the type of place to trust for a procedure that MUST be sterile? Piercing Guns Does the piercer use a piercing gun? Piercing guns, typically used for piercing ear lobes, should not be used for piercing other parts of the body. The risk of infection is too high. Piercing guns cannot be sterilized in an autoclave. Jewelry What type of jewelry is the piercer suggesting? There are numerous types of jewelry. You will want to use only non-allergenic metal, such as stainless steel (300 series), solid 14K gold (not gold plate), niobium, titanium or platinum. Be careful never to use metal alloys containing nickel, cobalt, or chrome for new piercings, since they can cause allergic reactions and toxic infections. Make sure the jewelry is new and hasn’t been used before. Instructions Will you be given verbal or written instructions for wound care, and what to do in case of an allergic reaction, infection, or other complication? Knowledge When you ask questions of the staff and piercer, do they seem knowledgeable? Are they willing to take the time to address your questions? Find out how long the piercer has been piercing. Take your time when interviewing the studio, since a poorly performed piercing can injure you. Instincts What does your gut tell you? Always trust the judgment of your instincts. If you don’t think something is right, leave. Posted 12-22-00