Getting pierced can be an exciting experience, but ironically, usually, people are unaware of the important thing to do after they've been pierced. In this article, we will be going over the top things you should know before taking the leap and ‘getting stabbed’.
The Gun vs Needle ‘Debate’
A lot of people who I’ve spoken to are unaware when it comes to the ‘guns vs needles’ debate, which is surprising, as many of these people have piercings themselves. This, in my opinion, comes from misinformation, and lack of research.


Piercing guns have been used for years in shopping malls and stores for body piercings, however, in today’s climate of body modification, they are often condemned, with many individuals wanting to see the device banned. The reasons for this are as follows:


Sanitation and Sterilization
There are often concerns regarding how sanitary piercing guns can be; any procedure that involves contact with the body or fluids (such as blood) requires a strict process of sanitation. The way these devices are built (that is, out of plastic) means that they cannot be cleaned in an autoclave (a strong heated container that is often used to sterilize jewellery). Disposable devices have been made, and this eliminates the problem of sterilisation, however, there are still many more.


The Jewellery Used
Because of how piercing guns are built, it means that they can only allow for a standard ‘butterfly back’ earring. These earrings can be fine for lobes when made from a decent metal. The problem arises when you begin to pierce other, more ‘unconventional’ places. Nose, lip, cartilage, and septum piercings all require different jewellery, and therefore should NOT be pierced with a gun, as doing so can lead to numerous problems in healing, and may even affect your overall health and wellbeing.


Damage to your body
Another blatant issue with these devices is tissue trauma. How these devices work is that the jewellery is forced through the skin, often ripping the area around it to make room for the jewellery; this means that there is no ‘room’ for the jewellery to heal. In addition, there have been many cases of cartilage ‘shattering’ from the usage of piercing guns; ‘shattered cartilage’ is the name given to cartilage (which is what your nose and most of your ears are made of) that has been broken into several pieces due to a piercing. Getting pierced with a needle can completely avoid this damage to your body.


But what does a needle do? I’m glad you asked. The commonly used piercing needles are sharp and hollow, allowing for a clean hole to be created. Because the needle is hollow, it removes a small amount of skin, creating a hole that the jewellery can then be placed into. In addition, the needle is sized so that it would create space for the jewellery to rest, allowing for fewer problems in the healing process. Although it may not seem likely, needles are far more gentle on piercings and should be used when getting any piercing.
Treat Your Piercing Like a Wound (Because it is!)
There are many things that can be done to minimise the risk of infection and rejection, and to calm swelling; although there are multitudes of remedies that exist online, today we will only be covering the basics.


Aftercare boils down to one simple concept: treat your piercing like a wound. This is because they are, and in order to heal properly must be cared for. Do not touch the piercing (despite what others might have said) and make sure to clean it every day; these two aspects are the most important to any piercing, as they will allow for the least irritation, and minimise the risk of germs causing an infection.


WASH YOUR PIERCING - WHAT TO USE
There are different ways of cleaning a piercing, but the most suitable is through cleaning the area with a saline solution (non-iodised salt water) solution twice per day. This can be achieved through either buying the solution from a reputable piercer or making it yourself at home! Then, submerge a cotton bud or cloth into the solution, and gently dab (or soak) the piercing until it is clean.


Never use chemicals such as alcohol, Hydrogen Peroxide, or Tea Tree Oil, as they are incredibly harsh, and could damage your piercing and the surrounding skin.


Rejection, Infection, and all Things Bad
‘Migration’ is the name given to a specific process that can occur after you have been pierced, where the piercing and jewellery move from their initial location. It can either be painful and obvious, or gone unnoticed, only moving in small increments. This process isn’t as common as other complications, such as infections, and often only happens in a flat area of the body.


Migration is what happens when your body ‘rejects’ the piercing. Essentially, you are putting a foreign object into your body; our bodies are built for self-defence, in which they spend every minute protecting you from outside infections and hazards through your immune system. In the case of surface piercings (which are the most likely to reject), your body might be tempted to ‘push out’ the metal as the wound contracts and tightens, which is common for a healing process.


How to Treat Rejection
Rejection can be frustrating, however, there are things that can be done to minimise the impact that it has on your body. The best thing that can be done is to prevent the jewellery from pushing itself through your skin, allowing for you to avoid excessive scar tissue which can cause problems in the future.


Here are some things that can be done to minimise the effect of rejection:
Take out any jewellery you suspect is migrating towards the surface
Try a new gauge, shape, or material
Remember, you can always talk to a qualified piercer for advice. They’re here to help you.


How Are Infections Formed?
Infections are formed when outside bacteria infiltrates the wound. Small to mild infections can be treated at home; if the piercing is slightly irritated, red, or warm, then you can help minimise it through cleaning the area twice a day with diluted salt soaks (essentially treating it like a brand new piercing). Make sure that, if your piercing is infected, you do not remove the jewellery unless instructed otherwise; if your piercing is genuinely infected, rather than irritated, the bacteria could potentially become sealed if the piercing hole closes up, causing many more problems.


A full infection, however, is much more serious and can lead to many problems. If the piercing is oozing pus, or if the area is seriously swollen, you should not attempt to clear the infection on your own. It is important that you visit a doctor, as antibiotics will be needed to kill such an adcanced infection.


Try these few things to minimise infection and irritation:
Consistent cleaning schedule
Not touching a fresh piercing, as it can invite bacteria and cause irritation
Being careful not to touch, bump, or apply pressure to your new piercing
Get pierced with quality metal, by a certified piercing


The Types of Metals (And How Your Body Might React)
Before you get pierced, you must make sure that the jewellery used is high quality; metals such as ‘implant grade titanium’ or ‘surgical steel’ are good options, as they are biocompatible, and will not break down within a fresh piercing.


Due to the nature of a piercing, in which it is a wound, metals with a high nickel content will decompose, irritating the piercing and slowing down the healing process. This ‘junk jewellery’ can sometimes be misleading, as it is marketed as stainless steel, and it's not wrong. A piece of jewellery can still be stainless steel, but have a high nickel content, and therefore have the same reaction.


These particular types of jewellery can be worn after the initial piercing is properly healed. However, some individuals find they are allergic to nickel, or copper, or their piercing becomes irritated when such jewellery is worn. This is why, as a general rule, it is better to wear higher qualities of metal for your body jewellery.