Brought into the US and the media’s attention by the hippies of the 1960’s and 1970’s, a nose piercing was a sign of rebellion to the thoughts of the majority, to show a person’s individuality. After all, the face is the most prominent part of the body and the first thing you notice about a person, so a nose piercing would be something you notice almost immediately.

The next major piercing area, as thought, is the ear, going back to over 5000 years ago. Research says a mummified body was found in an Austrian Glacier in the 1990’s and the body had pierced ears. Primitive races believed that piercing the ear was protection from evil spirits that would enter the ear, the protection was that they were repelled by metal, so it was a spiritual blessing and ritual of protection to have your ears pierced.

Other than these two listed above, there are many more piercing areas available on the human body, they range from the top of the head, to the bottom of your feet and they all have their specific purposes. Most Piercings have both a physical and sexual effect for both the pierced and the one looking at the piercing. Piercings make a person more sensitive to the touch, the feel, and normally get excited just from the rub of clothing against their bodies. As for the physical, most people get an extra kick out of life just for having someone else notice a new piercing.

A lot of debate is going on whether or not a piercing is right, but it all comes down to opinion, it is your body and your choice. Live your life the way you chose, and if you chose to have a piercing, be prepared for people to give you a lot of extra attention.

Whatever you may want for a piercing, there is a place and a special ring to fit it. From piercing you belly button, up to you ears, and down to your private areas, anything now can have a piece of metal stuck in it to show it off for everyone to see.

Body Jewelry is the fashion statement of the future and not only applies to a piercing but also tattoos which will make you both beautiful and able to make a personal statement. From the physical attributes of a piercing to the sexual attributes of making your body more sensitive.

There is a problem however, businesses now are taking a harsh look at body jewelry so be careful. If applying for a new position at a company that wants a “professional look” you may have to try and hide your piercing or tattoo. Many do not understand why this is, so let me explain: the professional look is to promote uniformity in a company, not individuality, so someone with a nose ring or someone showing off a belly button ring that dangles may hurt a company’s image and therefore disqualify you for a job. So be very cautious if this is something you are considering, check the short term and long term of what this will do, these are permanent additions to your body.

Though they look good on you, not everyone will think the same.

SOURCE: American Family Physician; Center for Young Women's Health, Children's Hospital, Boston | GRAPHIC: The Washington Post - November 7, 2006

Body piercing Methods

* Needle Method (Standard)
The most common method used in the United States to make a piercing is with a medical hollow needle. The needle makes an opening in the skin you want to have pierced but doesn’t go all the way through. The jewelry then is inserted and follows the needle back. It’s necessary to insert the jewelry immediately to hold the slit the needle made open. The needle method doesn’t involve removing any flesh (some methods do). The opening is always made with a needle larger than the initial jewelry to be worn. This is done to reduce the pressure on the healing piercing, giving it more room to heal and allow a fistula to form.

* Piercing Guns
Piercing guns are gun-shaped devices that mechanically makes the piercing by forcing a stud through the body part. You can compare it with a stapler.
This method is often used by non-professional piercers and mostly to pierce holes in the earlobes. You should avoid this method because the piercing gun is hard to sterilize. The risk is infection and transmission of bulletproof pathogens.

* Cannula Method
The cannula method is similar to the standard method. The difference is that at the end of the needle there’s a cannula (a hollow plastic tube) where the piercer puts in the jewelry. So at the piercing process, the cannula and the jewelry is entirely pulled through the opening. This method is often used in Europe.

* Scalpel method
When you want an opening for a large gauge body piercing, a medical scalpel can be used to make a slit. This method is often used for large gauge ear piercings. It’s also used to correct an asymmetry for example if the ear piercing on one side is larger than the other because of an incorrect placement.
When you don’t want your piercing anymore and you remove the jewelry, the fistula will not shrink or close from itself. The only solution there is surgically.

* Pierce and Taper
This method is for larger gauge piercings and only works on body parts where the skin is very elastic. It’s similar to the standard method, but after the hole is pierced with the needle, the piercer inserts a tapered steel bar (one of larger gauge then the needle) in order to make the opening bigger. The jewelry is directly inserted, following the tapered bar.

* Dermal Punching
Piercings in the upper ear require removal of skin and cartilage to lift the pressure of the piercing and guarantee a longer viability of the piercing. Therefore, a dermal punch is used to remove a circular area of tissue, where the jewelry will be worn. Like scalpelled piercings, the healed fistulas will not shrink or close on their own.

The best way to determine the amount of pain associated with a specific type of body piercing is to ask someone who has experienced the pain firsthand. This is also an excellent way to determine if you really want to have that specific part of your body pierced, since a pierced individual will be able to inform you of any complications, infection, or problems he or she has experienced with the body piercing.

Another way to determine the amount of pain associated with a body piercing is to speak with a piercer. These individuals who pierce a variety of body parts for a living are usually able to walk you through the entire process from cleaning the needle to the healing process.

Generally, tongue piercings are generally thought to be the most painful, but in actuality, many believe the belly button to be the most painful area to be pierced. The tongue has a tremendous healing capacity, allowing it to quickly bounce back from any sort of trauma. Generally, tongue piercing is most associated with swelling, but little bleeding or pain. Belly buttons tend to have the greatest problems associated with piercing since the belly button takes an extremely long time to heal. Often, the belly button can take up to one year to heal completely, and is often prolonged due to the position on the body. Jewelry is likely to become snagged on clothing, therefore irritating the wound further.

Most piercers use a type of cooling spray or numbing lotion that will temporarily freeze the area and prevent pain. Ask the piercing parlor where you intend to have your piercing done to see if this is an option. Also, many piercers use well practiced techniques to lessen the pain as much as possible.

If you are concerned about the pain, bring a friend or companion to accompany you on your piercing adventure. Be sure to avoid taking any medications or alcohol before you visit a piercer, since piercers will not allow you into their salon if they believe you to be under the influence of any potential medications.

The first sign of body piercing is the form of nose rings that were recorded approximately 4,000 years ago in the Middle East.  In fact, there is even mention of nose piercing in the Bible.  Nomadic tribes in Africa and the Middle East still practice nose piercing, and often the size and quality of the ring denote the wealth and social status of the wearer.  Nose piercing is also common in India, where the left nostril is pierced to prevent medical issues and ease childbirth.

Tongue rings date back to the ancient Aztec and Mayan cultures of Central America and Mexico.

These cultures heavily believed in the power of shaman, who pierced the tongues of individuals in order to communicate with their deities.  The pain from the piercing forced the individual into an altered mental state, whereas the blood from the hole was shed in their honor.  In addition to these native cultures, certain tribes in the Pacific Northwest also practiced tongue piercing for similar reasons.

Ear piercing is by far the most popular type of body piercing and is believed to have been practiced longer than any other form of body piercing.  In fact, when scientists found what they believe to be the world’s oldest fully mummified body, tests showed holes punctured through the mummy’s ears.  Ear piercing ranged from a status symbol to a magical ward to a coming of age ritual.

The lip labret piercing is used in many African cultures, with graduated discs inserted in the hole to slowly stretch the skin.  The size of the disc is directly associated with power, virility, and status.  Similarly, tribes in Mali, Ethiopia, South America, and the Pacific Northwest pierce the lip labret.  Famous explorer Dr. Livingstone came upon the Makololo tribe in the African country of Malawi and inquired to why the men in the tribe wore lip labret.  The answer was a simple one: beauty.

Another piecing popular with ancient cultures and civilizations is the septum piercing.  Commonly associated with the “bull ring,” a septum piercing penetrates the space directly between the nostrils.  Most ancient tribes pierced their septum in order to promote a fierce or war-like face on their warriors.  Individuals in India, Tibet, and Nepal wear a septum piercing, as do many North American Indian tribes, including the Nez Perce.  Australian aboriginals also wear a piercing through the septum and have so for thousands of years.

Body piercing has been around for thousands of years, ranging back to primitive people to current individuals and tribes all over the world.  Although some body piercing may be controversial, they are certainly not original or new.   Many individuals choose to showcase their cultural or native heritage by choosing a body piercing that reflects their heritage.

Furthermore, many individuals seek a body piercing in a traditional manner or choose to be pierced while visiting an exotic destination.  If this is the case, ensure the piercing parlor is reputable and practices outstanding hygiene.  Others choose to pierce different parts of their bodies to elicit a shock to those around them.  Still, others choose a piercing for personal reasons, whether it is a remembrance of a beloved friend or family member or in honor of a personal milestone.