Body piercing is one of the most popular forms of body modification available. It has become a popular and trendy way of expressing yourself in people of all ages. Piercings can be performed just about anywhere on the body and have been in practice for centuries. Piercings however were originally performed on the body for spiritual, religious, erotic and identity purposes. Body piercings can be very attractive to many individuals making a person more attractive or desirable. Over time however they have been accepted as a natural form of body art that is hip and cool. There are many advantages to getting a piercing just as there are disadvantages, some of these are discussed below.
Effects
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Body piercings involve creating an open wound in the skin which can become infected if not looked after properly. An infected piercing can cause an awful lot of discomfort whilst looking unsightly and smelling bad. In worst case scenarios an individual can suffer from blood poisoning.
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A piercing can be painful as it involves poking a needle through your skin or cartilage. The level of discomfort you feel when getting pierced really depends on the area and your pain threshold.
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Piercings have to be carefully researched by the piercer to make sure that they know exactly where to push the needle through. The body is filled with nerve endings that can be damaged if this is done wrong. Damaged nerve endings can be extremely painful and lead to permanently losing any feeling you once had there.
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As well as the body having lots of nerve endings it is also filled with blood vessels. If a blood vessel is hit when having a piercing the only place you’ll find yourself is A&E. Blood vessels are difficult to heal and can cause a lot of blood loss.
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For those who suffer from allergies to metals you should make sure that you steer clear of any form of piercing. Having a piercing could cause you to have an allergic reaction resulting in rashes, swellings and even a difficulty in breathing. These factors can in turn cause you to go into shock and end up in hospital.
Piercings performed in the mouth such as the tongue, lip or cheeks can cause you to have severe dental problems due to the piercings rubbing against the inside of your mouth. The piercings can cause you to suffer from chipped teeth, damaged gums, worn tooth enamel and tongue swelling. These are of course only a few of the problems that may occur.