A woman once argued that piercing children’s ears before they are aware of it is a violation of sorts, and that such parents may even be accused of abuse. However, that’s a debate for another day.

Fast forward – I once met a Ghanaian girl with two nose piercings in addition to the piercings in her ear. I almost exclaimed, but then I realised it was ‘backward’—hypocritical even—I’m supposed to be for piercings, having had my ears pierced when I was three months old and being grateful to mother for doing it when I got older.

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According to the Ghanaian girl, it was beyond adornment and beauty. In her culture, the more piercings and jewellery of high value one had, the more attractive they were. But I had immediately deemed it an exaggeration, as if there’s an acceptable number of piercings one should have.

Body piercing, however, is not a recent phenomenon, even if it has become much more widespread compared to a few decades ago when only ears were pierced.

The origins of body piercing remain shrouded in mystery, even though ancient civilizations like the Mayans are known for having utilised nose jewellery as a symbol of wealth. There are other writings that date piercing back to Ancient Rome, showing how the tradition has ever since evolved and spread over time.

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These days, body piercing in all forms has grown in popularity among men and women across cultures. As the art form develops, depending on where you work, or live, having a piercing may be frowned upon. Nonetheless, in other settings, the personal expression of a piercing is cheered on.

Piercing through the stigma

In light of International Body Piercing Day, marked annually on June 28, a few people shared their views on body piercing. The day acknowledges the practice of piercing and modification and promotes awareness of the culture and safety standards that should be practiced.

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"I love decorating my body with multiple piercings. It’s part of my identity, a way to express myself. But of course, I’ve had to deal with judgment from people who don’t understand why I do it. They think it’s weird or try to make me feel ashamed of what I’ve done to my body. But the truth is, I’m proud of how I look, and I wouldn’t change a thing, if anything I will add more,” said 24-year-old Awah Prudence Moorel.

"I’m a firm believer of the fact that piercing isn’t just for girls,” shared 26-year-old Isidor Mucyo.

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Mucyo first pierced his ears as part of a modelling gig but ended up loving the way it looked and felt. "And then I decided to get more piercings, like my nose and eyebrows. But then, shortly after, some people started making assumptions about my sexuality and masculinity, which was hard to deal with,” he explained.

Safety is non-negotiable

Body piercing can also cause a number of physical risks such as scarring, rejection (where the body pushes a piercing out), embedding (where the skin grows over the piercing), tearing, nerve damage, and/or excessive bleeding.

Poor cleanliness and aftercare can spread blood-borne viruses like Hepatitis B, C, and HIV, to mention a few.

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Some body piercings, depending on type and location, pose substantial hazards beyond infection. Risks include swelling, difficulty speaking or chewing, mouth irritation or damage to teeth and gums if the wrong jewellery is used, and damage to tongue nerves, which can cause swelling, increased saliva, permanent numbness, loss of taste, or speech impediment. Nipple piercings can prevent breastfeeding, whereas eyebrow piercings can harm eyelid nerves.

Safety tips

As a professional body piercing artist, Ronard Eric Kwizera, shared, "I take my clients’ safety very seriously. Before starting any procedure, I always ensure that all my equipment is properly sanitised and sterilised to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. I use gloves and other protective equipment and make sure the working area is clean and free from any contaminants.”

Additionally, he continued, he educates his clients on the importance of choosing high-quality jewellery made from materials that are safe and suitable for their skin type.

"Skin allergies can be triggered by substandard materials, which can cause skin irritation, infections, and other health complications.” Therefore, Kwizera offers a range of jewellery options made of materials like titanium, surgical steel, and gold, which are safe and hypoallergenic.

"Once the piercing is done, I provide clear aftercare instructions that clients must follow to promote healing and minimise the risk of infection. The healing process typically takes several weeks or months, depending on the location and type of piercing, and clients should be careful not to expose the piercing to dirty water, chemicals, or other irritants,” he advised.