OUCH! Are you your own canvas? Does body art make you whole? For these individuals body piercings and tattoos are their form of self-expression. The reasons given for getting body art varied from a mere accident to a symbol of faith for students. For some their body art has a purpose. "It stands for my faith and religion," said senior Kenny Lard of his tattoo. "I wanted to break the stereotypical idea that people with pierced noses are bad," said Brianne Lowery. Other students have body piercings that have no particular meaning. "I like them and I think they’re cute," said Laura Knutson of her belly button ring. "There’s not much point to them." Pierced people rarely have just one piercing. Nearly everyone interviewed had multiple piercings and planned to get more. "Piercing is addicting," said senior Jana Tresler.

• History of Piercing

    The ear, nostril and septum piercings were popular in New Guinea, Africa, India, Indonesia, Australia, and North and South America.

    Mayan Royalty and Australian Aborigines pierce their tongues for sacrificial rituals.

    Spaniards thought the Aztecs’ tattoos were the works of Satan.

    Chinese have used tattooing as a punishment for many centuries.

    Tattoos adorn 20 million Americans - 13% of the population.

• Risks of Body Art

    Risk of contracting HIV, Hepatitis A, B, or C, tetanus, TB, or other blood-borne illnesses.

    There is an epidemic of Hepatitis C in the Flathead Valley.

    Staph or Pseudomonas can lead to illness, deformity, and scarring.

    Tongue piercings may lead to tooth damage from biting on the jewelry, partial paralysis if the jewelry pierces a nerve, and extreme inflammation that can make it difficult to breathe.

    Ingredients in red and yellow pigments of tattoos can initiate allergic reactions in some people.

• Selecting Tattoo Artist or Piercer

* Consent forms should be handled before tattooing

* Should have an autoclave (a heat sterilization device)

* Packaged, sterilized needles should be used only once and then disposed of

* Tattooist/Piercer should wash and dry hands and use latex gloves

* Piercing gun should not be used because it cannot be sterilized properly

* Only non-corrosive metal should be used in new piercings (surgical stainless steel, niobiun, or solid 14 Karat gold)

• Skin Care of New Tattoos

* Keep covered with the bandage for 2-12 hours or overnight

* Carefully remove bandage by first wetting gauze in shower

* Wash tattoo with antibacterial soap (Dial, Lever 2000) and pat dry

* Apply a light coat of Neosporin, Bacitracin, or Mycitracin ointment at least 3 times a day

* After 5 days, stop using antibiotic ointment and switch to moisturizing lotion

• Skin Care of Body Piercing

* Clean piercing area with an antibacterial soap

* Do not use alcohol to clean the area at any time

* Wash your hands with soap before touching or cleaning the piercing

* Always wear clean clothing

* Avoid contact with other people’s body fluids (saliva, sweat, etc.)

* Check any threaded jewelry twice a day (such as barbells) to make sure the ends are tight

* No tight clothes - good air circulation is important for healing

Information courtesy of http://www.nursing.uiowa.edu/96-218/barbpic

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