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Body piercing is a form of body modification. It involves piercing a part of the human body and subsequently inserting and keeping a foreign object in the opening until the wound heals. This forms a tunnel of skin around the foreign object, thus creating a suitable place for wearing different types of jewelry. The term "piercing" typically refers to this hole. One example of this process is the common ear piercing. This procedure is so simple and mainstream that some people do not even think of it as body piercing.
Overview
Body piercing has been common among most cultures throughout history other than some puritan eras. In many cultures, piercing is part of religious tradition, while in others, it is non-religious tradition. In more recent times, body piercing in industrialized cultures has emerged from the underground and become visible (though it was always present). It is performed for various reasons: aesthetics, sensations, self-image, or occasionally for shock value.
Piercing the body carries with it a number of risks, most notably the risk of infection and the risk of delayed healing. The risk of infection varies; good sterile practice greatly reduces it, whereas the risk is considerable with "do-it-yourself" piercing. An infection in the cartilage of the upper ear or of the earlobe, can lead to a permanent lump called a keloid. All piercing sites should be kept clean until they are healed. Peroxide or bactine should not be used to clean any piercing. The piercing healing time (see below) varies depending on what sort of piercing has been performed.
The origins of piercing
Piercing has ancient origins. The oldest mummified body in the world discovered in an Austrian glacier was found to have an ear piercing 7–11 mm in diameter. Nose piercing is mentioned in the Bible. In Genesis 24:22 Abraham gave a earring to Rebekah, wife of his son Isaac. Nose piercing reached India in the 16th century and rapidly became accepted. Tongue piercing was popular with the elite of Aztec and Maya civilization; it was carried out as part of a religious ceremony blood ritual, not to insert jewelry. Ancient Mesoamericans did pierce ears, nose, and lower lips for jewelry. In Dreamtime by Hans Peter Duerr, it is claimed that nipple piercing became popular in 14th century Europe. On many websites it is claimed that the Romans invented nipple piercing and that soldiers attached their capes to the piercings. There is debate about this and the capes may have been hung from rings attached to their armor.
Piercing in industrialized civilizations
In the United States, ear piercing for females was long the only common piercing. Other body piercings were popularized by Jim Ward and his piercing shop, The Gauntlet, which opened in 1975 in Los Angeles. Piercings are also part of punk fashion.
Some regard body piercing as a kind of artistic expression, others as a form of sexual expression and/or stimulation. Genital piercings are some of the most common, and some piercers report that the Prince Albert piercing is the most popular of all. Many wearers of genital piercings keep their jewelry in during sexual intercourse and other sexual activities, but others find it uncomfortable. It depends to a large degree on the design of the jewelry and the type of sexual activity.
In the United Kingdom, decorative piercings are legal but those done in a sexual context are not. In R v Brown 1994 the court held that sado-masochistic piercing was "violent" and "cruel", and that there was no public interest in allowing people to consent to it.
Types of piercings
Facial piercings
Body piercings
Male genital piercings
Female genital piercings
Specialty jewelry
Healing times
Different types of piercings take different amounts of time to heal. Take what follows as a rough guide.
Please also see Body Piercing Aftercare.
Famous people who have/promote body piercings
See also
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