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