What if your child wants to get a piercing?

Many teenagers ask to get a piercing. Can it pose any health risks? Are there any areas that are not recommended at this age? What precautions should be taken to avoid risks?

Teenagers and young people take great care of their appearance and it is relatively common for them to choose to dye their hair or get a  piercing . Psychologists recommend that this decision be discussed with parents and that both parties reach an agreement.

Children may be at risk of health problems if they do so behind their parents' backs and in places that do not comply with the necessary hygiene and health standards. Therefore, in this matter, once again during adolescence, communication with children is key.  

Are there any contraindications in adolescents?

There is no medical contraindication for teenagers to get a piercing. Except in two cases: when they are immunosuppressed due to some disease and “if they are undergoing treatment with immunosuppressants, since in these cases the skin infection is greater,” warns

However, there are some areas of the body that are less recommended for piercings at this age. These are the tongue and lip, “especially in patients with dental treatment, that is, those who wear braces, because it makes hygiene difficult and can interfere by getting caught or being uncomfortable,” the specialist points out.  

In addition, it should be noted that the back, neckline, shoulders and ears may present abnormal scarring.

What complications can arise?

In adolescents, the complications resulting from a piercing are very similar to those that appear in adults. Thus:

• Infection in the area. This infection “can be complicated by cellulitis, which is when the infection spreads,”
• Abscess: This is an accumulation of pus that must be drained because antibiotics usually do not work well.
• Abnormal scars. These occur mainly in areas such as the back, neckline, ears and shoulders.
• Decompensation. This is a complication more common in adolescence, “since these patients are at a developmental age, the tissue grows and the piercing may become unbalanced in relation to the original area where it was done,” the dermatologist explains.

Precautions before getting your piercing done

We already know that immunosuppressed teenagers or those on immunosuppressive treatment should not get a piercing. However, the rest should also “avoid anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs such as acetylsalicylic acid and ibuprofen the week before because they promote bleeding during the piercing,” recommends the Vithas specialist.

If the teenager has a history of abnormal scarring, this should also be taken into account and areas where there is active dermatitis, such as psoriasis or atopic dermatitis, should be avoided. In addition, as the dermatologist warns, “in diseases such as vitiligo, which have the Kepner phenomenon, by producing trauma we can promote the appearance of a vitiligo lesion in an area where there was none before.”  

 The staff at the establishment where the piercing is done must be vaccinated against hepatitis B and tetanus, in addition to having thoroughly disinfected the area and using sterile, single-use needles. “To avoid allergic contact eczema. The first piercing you get should be made of nickel, gold over 14 carats or surgical steel,” she recommends.

Piercing care

The establishment where the  piercing is performed must offer informed consent to both the patient and their parents explaining how to care for and heal the wound afterwards. However, these are the basic recommendations provided.

• Avoid swimming in swimming pools and the sea. These baths should be avoided for one month, which is the healing process.
• Be careful with your diet. Hot or spicy foods should not be eaten immediately after the piercing, and acidic foods should also be avoided until the area has healed properly.
• Beware of biting. If the  piercing was in the tongue or mouth and anesthesia was used, you must be careful not to bite.
• Proper hygiene. It is very important to maintain proper skin hygiene, cleaning, disinfecting and drying it so that the area does not remain damp. The wound should be covered to avoid contact with bacteria or dust that could superinfect it.
• Abnormal scarring.  In areas where scarring is not normal and keloid scarring is present. It is recommended to use silicone dressings and consult a dermatologist before it progresses.

In addition, the specialist advises that “if any complication occurs, such as pain, inflammation or alterations in healing. You should go to the dermatologist to assess the diagnosis and treatment.” In some cases, it will even be necessary to remove the piercing to achieve proper healing.