The University Daily Kansan
Section: B
Entertainment
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 2000
WWW.KANSAN.COM
Another hole in the head
Story by Meghan Bainum Illustration by Kyle Ramsey
Chrissy Heikkila, Great Bend freshman, knew something was wrong when her tongue started oozing greenish-yellow pus.
In addition to the pus, her newly-pierced tongue puffed to nearly twice its normal size. She could hardly eat or speak.
"I almost cried," Heikkila said. "I thought my tongue was going to fall off—it was terrible."
Tongue, eyebrow, navel and other types of body piercings are part of a cosmetic trend at the University of Kansas and across the country. Professional piercers say the number of piercings done in Lawrence has increased significantly over the last four years.
the be best ways to prevent an infec-
What some students don't realize is that body piercing can cause health and dental problems. Even with proper care, there is still the chance of a post-piercing infection. Years later, a piercing could cause a medical textbook full of complications. Body piercing can be a dangerous cosmetic statement.
Dr. Randall Rock, chief of staff at
Tongue-piercing care
Use a new toothbrush and bottled water to brush teeth and tongue each day during healing.
■ When you have healed and sealed the piercing, change to a shorter post to ensure a good fit that will reduce wear on teeth and gums. (Usually less than 14 days later.)
Source: www.piercing.org
Drink plenty of cold liquids (water, fruit juice), washing out food particles and residues with bottled water after meals and snacks.
Do not use toothpaste, mouthwash, peroxides or other oral care products during healing, such products do not aid in healing and may irritate the piercing. Avoid oral contact with anything irritating: alcohol, smoke, spicy, sugary or highly acidic food and drinks.
Rock said that nipple and genital piercings are especially dangerous and could cause problems with nursing children or sexual performance.
Watkins Memorial Health Center, said students should think twice before they take the piercing plunge.
potentially impair normal bodily functions."
"They need to really be certain that the piercing is something they want to do, and realize that it probably has long-term consequences." Rock said.
Areas such as the tongue, nose and cartilage of the ear run the worst risk of infection. Rock said the safest thing students can do is to not get pierced at all.
"I am not aware of any medical reason to recommend piercing," Rock said. "It is purely a cosmetic procedure with risks, and those include infection and scarring. Depending on what area is pierced, it may also
He said the number of piercing problems treated at Watkins had risen with the increased popularity of body piercing.
A tongue piercing, which is one of the more popular piercings, can lead to cracked teeth or other complications.
Dr. Ed Manda, Lawrence dentist, cau
"If something is big enough and in the way, it can cause damage to the teeth," Manda said.
He said that tooth damage from tongue rings was not uncommon.
Lance Tuck, piercer at Skin Illustrations, 740 S. Massachusetts St., agreed that piercings could be dangerous. But he said problems didn't usually occur if people took care of their piercings.
"I don't believe their concern is misplaced," Tuck said. "But at the same time, if you take care of your piercing, you won't run into those problems."
Tuck said that people encounter problems because they think the piercing has healed and simply stop cleaning the area. He said piercings can look fine within two to four weeks, but it actually takes eight to 12 weeks for most piercings to heal.
"It won't just heal on its own. You have to get in there. You have to clean it." Tuck said.
He said a woman who had gotten her tongue pierced in Portugal by a street vendor had problems a week after she had it done. The vendor had pierced her tongue with jewelry that was too short. When her tongue began to swell, it engulfed the tongue stud.
Sometimes, however, infections and problems can occur if people go to inexperienced piercers, or use the wrong jewelry. Tuck said he'd seen several cases of people who had problems because of an unskilled piercer.
Tuck said that educating people about the care of their new piercing was one of
The piercing should be done at an established piercing business that has a clean, well-lighted studio. The piercer should be experienced, should take the time to explain the risks of the piercing and should offer extensive instructions for care after the piercing.
"I had to grab on, find where the already-healed hole was, grab the jewelry, give her a three count, and push it on through." Tuck said. "It hurt. It hurt real bad."
According to Rock, there are several things students can do to avoid bad piercing experiences.
tion.
"A person who is not educated is going to run into more problems," he said.
"They are just blissfully unaware about what can go wrong."
Most of the responsibility to have a positive piercing experience is on the shoulders of those who decide to get pierced.
Chuck Kappauf, Dallas sophomore, has his navel, nipples and tongue pierced. He has never had any major problems with his piercings
"Obviously you have to follow good rules of hygiene, wash your hands before you touch any of your piercings and cleanse all of your piercings thoroughly," Kappauf said.
But, Kappauf attributed his successful piercing experience to his motivation.
"If you want a piercing enough, you'll know what
"They need to really be certain that the piercing is something they want to do,and realize that it probably has long-term consequences," Rock said.
the benefits and consequences of getting that piercing will be," he said. "I didn't do any of my piercings on a whim."
Chrissy Heikkila willingly endured a week-long infection so she could keep her tongue ring. She has no regrets about keeping the piercing.
"After the swelling and infections went away, it has been really fun," Heikkila said. "I haven't had any problems with it since then. Basically, I just kept with it because I enjoyed it so much."
Heikkila said that she would be willing to go through the entire experience again—oozing tongue and all.
"It was gross and really scary, but nothing bad came of it," Heikkila said. "It was definitely an experience."
Edited by BriAnne Hess