What is a piercing?
Body piercing is far from being new. Earrings found on mummified remains tell us that we humans have been piercing our bodies for over 5000 years. The reasons for piercing – or not piercing – are wide and varied. Some people pierce for self-expression or just simply for adornment. For some, it’s part of their religious or cultural practice. For some, it’s a way to be on trend, while for others it’s the opposite; an act of rebellion.
Piercing involves puncturing a body part, usually with a needle, to create an opening through which jewelry can be threaded or into which an implant can be inserted. The most commonly pierced body part is the ear, followed closely by the nose, tongue and navel. However, just about any body part can be pierced, as Rolf Buchholz, from Dortmund, Germany, can attest. As of 2010, he holds the Guinness Record for the male with the most piercing; a whopping 453 piercings, many of them on his face, and the rest scattered in various parts including his nipples and genital area. Buchholz also has several sub-dermal implants on various parts of his body.
Potential infections after getting a piercing
You might not be going for this many piercings, but Buchholz’s story demonstrates that even though there are risks associated with body piercing, it can be done safely. In fact, most people have few problems with their piercings. However, if you don’t take the proper precaution, you can end up with an infection, which might involve swelling, tenderness and pus. There are also more serious infections you should guard against, like toxic shock syndrome or blood infections like tetanus and hepatitis. Be aware that some people suffer an allergic reaction to the kind of metal used to make the jewelry they’re wearing. If you have keloid skin, you will likely have excessive scarring, which other people wouldn’t experience.
To avoid getting infected, it’s a good idea to ensure that you have had your hepatitis B and tetanus shots. Go to a licensed practitioner who follows good hygiene practices, namely, uses gloves and single use needles and properly sterilizes or disposes of equipment. Follow the aftercare instructions carefully and seek medical care sooner, rather than later, if you notice signs of an infection.The healing time after a body piercing varies from person to person. It also varies according to where on the body you get the piercing. Piercing your lobe will take a month or two to heal, but cartilage takes longer. A navel piercing can take as long as two years to heal.
General treatment after getting a piercing
There are some dos and don’ts that you should follow in order to heal quickly after getting a body piercing. The general recommendation is that you clean the piercing with a warm, sterile saline solution at least once a day. You can make your own saline solution using a ratio of ¼ teaspoon of salt to 8 ounces of water. Use a q-tip soaked in saline solution to clear away the crust and debris that collects around your piercing. Avoid getting shampoo, lotion or makeup into your tattoo. It’s ok to wash the piercing with mild, antibacterial soap to remove hair and skin care products that can irritate your piercing.
The advantages of using SilverStream
SilverStream is a great addition to your first-aid kit that will come in handy for warding off an infection after a piercing. SilverStream, not only promotes fast healing, it doesn’t smell, and it relieves pain.
How to use SilverStream to Treat your skin after piercing?
SilverStream is safe to use, as clinical trials of more than quarter-million patients have borne out
- To treat a skin after piercing, add saline solution to SilverStream® and use this liquid to clean your piercing.
- Rinse, by spraying the SilverStream® solution on the wound.
DO NOT INJECT (The needle should not touch the wound). - You can also spray the area from a spray bottle, or clean the area with gauze soaked in SilverStream®.
- Avoid touching your wounded skin with the bottle.
- Keep open skin covered with a non-stick gauze bandage.
