Body piercing is when a hole is made in your skin so you can add a piece of jewelry for decoration. The most common body piercing is the earlobe. Other common body places are the eyebrow, nose, tongue, lip, nipple, belly button and genitals. Some people also pierce their ear cartilage or the hard part of the ear. Piercing breach the skin, which means that skin infections and other complications are possible. Specific risks include:
Allergic reactions. Results in an itchy rash at the skin where piercing was done. This may occur even years after piercing.
Bloodborne diseases. A blood-borne disease is one that can be spread by contamination by blood. The most common examples are HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and viral hemorrhagic fevers.
MRI complications. MRI complications lead to serious skin problems for some. However, for those with kidney problems, contrast enhanced MRI complications could result in a serious problem, known as Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF).
Other skin problems. Sometimes bumps called granulomas form around tattoo ink when piercing — especially red ink. Tattooing can also lead to raised areas caused by an overgrowth of scar tissue (keloids).
Skin Infections. Piercing may lead to local bacterial infections, characterized by swelling, pain, redness and pus-like drainage.
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