Ear Lobe Piercing History

The ear-lobe was probably man’s first attempt at body piercing due to the ease with which it can be pierced. The oldest mummified body in the world was found frozen in an Austrian Glacier in 1991, tests showed the body to be over 5,000 years old. The body had pierced ears and the holes had been enlarged to 7-11mm diameter.

Ears were probably first pierced for magical purposes, very many primitive tribes believe that demons can enter the body through the ear, because demons and spirits are supposed to be repelled by metal, ear-piercing prevents them entering the body. Sailorsear piercing is done as a puberty ritual, in Borneo the Mother and Father each pierce one ear as a symbol of the child’s dependence on their parents. used to have an ear pierced to improve eyesight, and if the bodies washed up somewhere it would pay for a Christian burial. In many societies

Ear piercing is an almost universal practice for men and women; it’s only in western society that it’s deemed effeminate. At various times in history men wore elaborate earrings; during the Elizabethan era many famous men such as Shakespeare, Sir Walter RalieghFrancis Drake wore gold rings in their ears. and

“As the Roman Republic grew more effeminate with wealth and luxury, earrings were more popular among men than women; no less a he-man than Julius Caesar brought back to repute and fashion the use of rings in the ears of men.”

“Jewels & Women; the Romance, Magic and Art of Feminine Adornment” Marianne Ostier, Horizon Press, New York, 1958

Tongue Piercing History

Tongue piercing was practiced in a ritual form by the ancient Aztecs, Mayas of Central America and the Haida, Kwakiutul, and Tlinglit tribes of the American Northwest. The tongue was pierced to draw blood to propitiate the gods, and to create an altered state of consciousness so that the priest or shaman could communicate with the gods.

Tongue piercing is one of the most popular piercings, it’s shocking, provocative and fantastic for oral sex (for both sexes), but at the same time no one need know you have it. Janet Jackson, Keith Flint from Prodigy, Mel B from the Spice Girls and Malcolm Jamahl Warner from the Cosby show all sport pierced tongues. ¦

Piercing Cares

Did you know that… It has been noted that half of all piercings will require medical attention due to the various dangers of body piercing.  This means that when you get pierced, you should be aware of the fact that there is a fifty percent chance that you will need to visit a doctor for some reason, whether it is to treat an infection, an allergic reaction, or a disease contracted from the new body piercing.  Many of these dangers can be avoided by following simple rules of safety precaution.

There are many dangers of body piercing that most people who get pierced do not even realize.  Some of these body piercing dangers include infection, scarring, allergic reactions, injury, and disease.

It is most important to do your research before you get a new piercing before deciding on a piercing parlor, make sure you ask questions and be certain that they follow necessary safety precautions and sterilization procedures.  If the instruments being used are not sterilized, there is definite risk of contracting diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, liver cancer, HIV, and tetanus.  Some of these diseases that are contracted from body piercing may not even be detected until up to ten years later.

Where to Pierce?

Did you know that… There are a few basic things about where to get pierced and how piercings affect those areas:

Ears:  The most basic site. The lobes are easier to pierce, soft and less painful. The tops of the ears, where there is more cartilage, are more difficult and thus more painful… expect a crunch when the needle goes through and don’t be grossed out! Healing times vary, of course; ear lobes usually take about 6-8 weeks to heal, but cartilage piercings can take anywhere from 4 months to 1 year to heal. My cartilage piercings took about a year.

Nose:  The bacteria in your nose can cause infections, but I rarely hear of an infected nose piercing because these are usually left alone for the most part. Nose piercings can take 2-4 months to heal. These are really annoying to change out.

Eyebrow:  These get tricky because they can be disturbed easily when you sleep. Makeup can also irritate the piercing. There is the risk of migration, in which the piercing shifts and moves over time. This can take 6-8 weeks to heal. Barbells, curved barbells and captive bead rings are worn in the eyebrow.

Belly button:  Navel piercings are more likely to become infected because of irritation from tight clothing. A pierced area needs air to heal. These usually take 4-12 months to heal. My friend says it’s annoying to clean and sterilize these piercings when they’re healing; she would have to take a cup of cleaning fluid and hold it to the piercing to cleanse it. Most kinds of ring or bar jewelry can be worn in a navel piercing, although they are most often pierced with a barbell, which is worn until the piercing has fully healed. A wide variety of decorative jewelry is available for navel – simple navel barbells, navel barbells with dangling pendants and navel barbells with attached belly chains.

Lip/cheek:  Infections are more possible, but my lip didn’t get infected and I played with the piercing a lot. It’s supposed to take 2-3 months to heal, but I remember mine healing fairly soon. I had to use mouthwash throughout the healing process. Gum damage is possible. Basically, the ADA (American Dental Association) is against any oral piercing. Rings and studs are generally worn in the lip while cheeks usually have studs.

Tongue:  Tongue piercings swell a lot at first but heal fairly quickly (around 4 weeks) if the right type of jewelry is used. Infections can occur because of the bacteria from your mouth. Mouthwashes are recommended during the healing process. Your teeth can get damaged from the piercing rubbing and hitting them so much, wearing down the enamel. Gum damage is also possible. Again, the ADA advises against getting an oral piercing. Tongue piercings are most often pierced with straight barbell style jewelry.

Nipple:  Nipple piercings can damage some of the milk-producing glands in a young woman’s breasts. This can cause infections or problems later if the woman decides to breast-feed her baby. These take 3-6 months to heal and take longer when tighter clothing slows the healing process.

Genitalia:  Ouch! Nerve damage is an issue with these piercings. People are advised to abstain from sexual intercourse during the healing process. Blood loss is actually a risk with these piercings. Female genitalia take about 4-10 weeks to heal while a male genitalia takes about 4 weeks to 6 months.