Body-piercing is popular with older teens. But there are dangers and warnings for Christians.

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Body piercing has dangers

Body piercing, like tattooing, has become appealing to some teens. Pierced eyebrows, belly buttons, lips, tongues, noses — and multiple earrings — have become common.

Some people think a lot of piercings make you look ugly — even repulsive. Others say body piercing can give you serious diseases, some of which may not show up for years. Others say there are no dangers.

Youth, 17, dies after having lip pierced

A teenage boy in England died of blood poisoning after getting his lip pierced, an inquest was told in November 2005.

The coroner, Christopher Dorries, said that any wound carried a risk of infection. “Those vulnerable to infection need to understand that this is not just fusty old adults trying to stop their fun. There can be very real risks.”

The piercer denied breaking hygiene rules.

USA Today reported on October 17 2006 that a mother was convicted of endangering her daughter's life by not seeking medical attention for her daughter's belly button infection until the girl was gravely ill.

Prosecutors said the mother “watched for several weeks as her 13-year-old daughter dropped from 115 pounds to 75 pounds, became incontinent, and grew so weak that she could not get off the couch.”

On September 5 2007, the government in Queensland, Australia, offered free blood tests to anyone who had body piercing at a Wide Bay salon after it found that customers could have been exposed to blood-borne viruses.

Risk of infection

Dr Rebecca Euwer, of Coppell, said that infection is the main problem. “Any time you puncture the skin, you're at risk for a staph or strep infection,” she said.

Other doctors warn that unsterilized needles may lead to liver cancer, HIV, hepatitis B, and the more serious hepatitis C.

Virus hides in your body

Hepatitis C is a virus that causes long-term liver disease, even cancer. It can remain hidden in your body for 10 years or more. Many people who picked up the virus from body piercing may not realize they are sitting on an infectious time bomb until the disease strikes.

The owner of a chain of body-piercing shops said that thin, low-quality metals can rip through your skin. “Thin wire, like on earrings, can pull through the skin like a cheese slicer,” he said.

Body-piercing jewelry made from nickel has caused bad reactions, but even gold and niobium can cause a reaction.

Belly button problems

University bookstore employee Jill Bartelt had a hematite ring put in her belly button. She was allergic to it and became badly infected. Others who have had their belly button pierced have had infections for more than a year.

Belly button piercing can cause great pain. You may have trouble sleeping, and clothes sometimes don't allow enough air to circulate. Moisture collects around the pierced area and makes sores slower to heal.

Nipple-piercing dangers

Nipple piercing can cause infection, and if you are female it can cause extra difficulties because the piercing may burrow through your milk-producing ducts. This can create problems if you have a baby and want to breast-feed.

Young teens are fortunate that many body-piercing shops won't pierce anyone under 18, and want photo identification to check age.

Oral piercing:
Why the American Dental Association is against it

The American Dental Association is totally against all piercings in your mouth. They say infection is common, your tongue can swell so large it blocks your airways, and studs, barbells, and hoops can chip your teeth or even choke you if they come loose.

Body-piercing in the Bible

As this article is mainly for Christian teens, it may surprise many that the Bible mentions body piercing, so it is not new. Exodus 21:6 tells us that certain servants who did not want freedom from their master after six years were to have an ear pierced. The servant would then have to serve the master forever.

We also find that gold earrings went into making the golden calf that made God angry (Exodus 32:2-4), and Genesis 35:2-4 depicts them as a sign of worldliness.

In Genesis 24:47 we find that Abraham's servant gave a nose ring to Rebekah.

Although the Bible doesn't forbid piercings, we believe there is no reason for Christian teens to have them. Like tattoos, it usually just draws attention to your body instead of to Christ. You need to ask yourself why you want one. Many teens get pierced simply because of peer pressure from their friends, which is why many also get involved with drugs, alcohol, and smoking. If you do this because you think it will make you seem cool, you are wrong. It will cost you money for something that may give you bad health problems.

And remember, some of those holes may never completely close over. Even if you have the hole sewn up, it could give you an ugly scar.

See also:

• Mother convicted of abuse after daughter nearly dies from bellybutton piercing
• Employers who ban tatts and skats may face lawsuits

Read the latest readers responses to this article.

Related topics:

• Teen tattoos: Why Christian teens are avoiding them.
• Graffiti vandalism: The scribble crime.
• Alcohol and Christian teens don't mix.
• Teens who go to church get into less trouble and have higher values.
• How to persuade and influence people.

External links

• Body piercing: A guide for teens (From Center for Young Women's Health, Boston).
• The down side of body piercing (An ESL worksheet)
• Body piercing problems (From Web MD).
• Body piercing precautions (from Cool Nurse).

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