Body piercing

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File:CBR2.png
Captive bead ring

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 (called a fistula) around the foreign object, thus creating a suitable place for wearing different types of body piercing jewelry. The term "piercing" typically refers to this hole. One example of this process is the common ear piercing. Some cultures practice piercing as part of religious traditions. In industrialized countries, most piercing is performed for ornamental or sexual reasons.


Contents

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 an 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 ceremony blood ritual, not to insert jewelry. Ancient Mesoamericans did pierce ears, nose, and lower lips for jewelry, practices still popular amongst indigenous peoples in these regions. 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 some debate about this as it is much more plausable that capes may have been hung from rings attached to their armor.

Piercing in industrialized civilizations

File:Sharps Container.jpg
Immediate disposal of used needles into a sharps container is standard procedure.

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. Since piercing has become more common and widespread, many new piercings have been developed that do not have a history or precedent.

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, for females the most popular genital piercing is the vertical hood in which navel jewelry is often worn, ideally the piercing is placed so the lower part of the navel curve rests next to the clitoris. 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.

Types of piercings

Facial piercings

Body piercings

Male genital piercings

Female genital piercings

Healing times

Different types of piercings take different amounts of time to heal. Take what follows as a rough guide.

Piercing type Approximate time to heal
nostril piercing 6–12 months
septum piercing 6–8 weeks
bridge piercing 8–10 weeks
ear piercing — lobe 6–8 weeks
 — cartilage 2–3 months
cheek piercing 10–12 weeks
lip piercing 8–10 weeks
tongue piercing 4–6 weeks
nipple piercing —    6–12 months
navel piercing 3–6 months
clitoral hood piercing 4–6 weeks

Please also see Body Piercing Aftercare.

See also

Jim Ward Doug Malloy

External links


References

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