Body Art

Yes! Piercings should only be done by individuals formally trained in piercing. HIV and the Hepatitis virus can be transmitted from one person to another when piercing equipment is not properly sterilized.

Ear piercing has been a common practice for many years. Additional locations include the nose, eyebrow, lip, tongue, nipples, navel and genitals.

Most reputable piercers will require that you have parental permission or be over age 18.

Yes. There is usually a brief, sharp pain. Sometimes ice packs will be used to anesthetize or numb the site. Piercing some areas of the body are more painful than others. Afterwards, the area around the piercing may be tender for several days to several months depending upon the location.

Usually there is very little bleeding unless you have been taking aspirin or drinking alcohol. The amount of bleeding will depend upon the location of the piercing.

Most piercings will completely heal in 6 to 8 weeks. Tongue piercing will usually heal in about 2 weeks. Some piercings of the nipples, navel, and genitalia may take up to several months to completely heal. Keeping the piercing clean and free of irritation will speed the healing process.

Several medical conditions make it dangerous for you to get a piercing. These include Diabetes, Hemophilia, and any type of Blood disorder that could prevent you from healing in a normal fashion.

If you play contact sports, you will need to consider if the piercing will become irritated or injured during play.

If you must wear tight fitting clothes over your piercing, you will need to consider if the piercing will become irritated or inflamed.

If you frequently swim in public pools you will have a greater chance of the piercing becoming infected.

If you work at a job that requires a lot of bending and lifting, some piercings may become irritated from the frequent movements.

Most piercers work in a studio and often offer tattooing services as well. A visit to several studios can help you decide which studio and piercer is best for you. Things to look for:

• Is the studio clean?
• Does the piercer use disposable needles?
• Are instruments and jewelry sterilized with an autoclave (a medically approved device to sterilize surgical instruments)?
• Does the piercer wear new latex gloves for every customer?
• Is the studio and established business - has it been around for a significant period of time?
• Is the piercer a member of an organization of piercing professionals?

If your questions are not answered, go elsewhere.

Follow the "After Piercing" instructions exactly as given by the piercer.

Keep the piercing clean to reduce the chance of infection.

Yes! Although if you go to a reputable tattoo artist, the chance is greatly reduced. Tattoos should only be done by individuals who have been formally trained. HIV and the Hepatitis virus can be transmitted from one person to another when tattoo equipment is not properly sterilized.

Most reputable tattoo artists will require that you have parental permission or be over age 18.

Yes. The tattoo is created by special solid core needles that apply ink just below the surface of the skin. The amount of pain depends upon the location of the tattoo and your sensitivity to pain. Afterwards, the tattoo may be tender for several days or weeks depending upon the location.

It takes about four weeks for the tattoo to completely heal. You will need to follow the after-care instructions completely to make sure that the tattoo heals properly.

Some people are allergic to the inks used in the tattoo process. If you have sensitive skin and other allergies, it will be important to discuss this with the tattoo artist prior to getting the tattoo.

Most tattoo artists work in a studio. A visit to several studios can help you decide which studio and artist is best for you. Things to look for:

• Is the studio clean?
• Does the artist use disposable needles and supplies?
• Are instruments sterilized with an autoclave (a medically approved device to sterilize surgical instruments)?
• Does the artist wear new latex gloves for every customer?
• Is the studio and established business - has it been around for a significant period of time?
• Is the artist a member of an organization of tattooing professionals?

If your questions are not answered, go elsewhere.

Remember that a tattoo is a permanent alteration of your body. It can be removed surgically, but your skin will never be the same. Think about these questions:

• Is this really what you want? Or are you doing it on a whim or because of your friends?
• Think about how the tattoo may affect you in later life - particularly if it is routinely visible to others. How will your employer, your family, and society in general treat you afterwards?
• You can always try out a temporary tattoo to see if this is really what you want to do.

Follow the "After Care" instructions exactly as given by the artist.

Yes! HIV and the Hepatitis virus can be transmitted from one person to another when cutting and branding equipment is not properly sterilized.

Branding is done my applying heated metal shapes to the skin to result in a third degree burn. Depending upon the design, it may take several applications or "strikes" of the hot metal shapes to get the desired effect.

Cutting uses a sharp knife or scalpel to cut the skin in the desired pattern. Then an irritant is rubbed into the cuts to further irritate the skin. The result is a raised scar that has an overgrowth of scar tissue called a keloid. As the cuts begin to heal, they are repeatedly re-cut, reopened, or chemically irritated to increase the scarring effect.

This form of body art is not exact. The same design on two different people may result in a two different kinds of scars. There is no way to know for sure what the healed scar will look like.

Yes. The risk of infection is very high. Depending upon where this is done on the body, motion may also be limited due to the scar tissue.

Yes. Branding only hurts for a brief time until the nerves in the skin are burned. Cutting of the skin can be very painful. In either case, the area may be tender for months.

This will depend upon the extent of the branding and cutting. Full healing may take several months. The healing process will also depend upon your general health and daily habits. Smoking and a poor diet will increase the time it takes for your body to heal.

Several medical conditions make it dangerous for you to get this type of body art. These include Diabetes, Hemophilia, and any type of blood disorder that could prevent you from healing in a normal fashion.

Some tattoo studios offer this type of body art. Choose your studio carefully and look for the following:

• Is the studio clean?
• Does the artist use disposable supplies?
• Are instruments sterilized with an autoclave (a medically approved device to sterilize surgical instruments)?
• Does the artist wear new latex gloves for every customer?
• Is the studio and established business - has it been around for a significant period of time?
• Is the artist a member of an organization of professionals?

If your questions are not answered, go elsewhere.

DO NOT let your friends or "a friend of a friend" attempt this kind of body art. It can be dangerous if not done in a clean environment with sterile instruments!

Remember that this type of body art is a permanent alteration of your body. Sometimes it can be removed surgically, but your skin will never be the same. Think about these questions:

• Is this really what you want? Or are you doing it on a whim or because of your friends?
• Think about how the art may affect you in later life - particularly if it is routinely visible to others. How will your employer, your family, and society in general treat you afterwards?

Follow the "After Care" instructions exactly as given by the artist.