Body piercing is a piercing or a puncture made in your body by a needle for wearing jewelry in the opening created. Body piercing is a modification of body. Many people practice body piercing for religious and other cultural motives, whereas many people, especially in the modern Western countries, choose body piercing to satisfy spiritual, ornamental, or sexual motives.

Body piercing has a rich history that dates back to ancient times. Whether, as a means of personal expression, to designate societal standing, or as part of religious ritual, or as a tool of beauty enhancement, body piercing has been around us around the world almost since mankind existed on the face of earth. Mummified bodies with piercings have been discovered. Deuteronomy 15:12-17 dictates ear piercing as a mark of slavery. Leviticus 19:28 says to not pierce your body. Nose piercing has been common in India since the 16th century and ear lobe piercing was common for men and women since the Vedic era.
The most common body parts to have pierced or piercing types are listed below for your ready reference:

Nose or Nostril, Tongue, Ear-lobe, Lips, Septum, Navel, Nipple, Clitoris hood, Penis, Fraenulum, Foreskin, Penis tip, Scrotum, Monroe , Bridge, Cheek, Anti-Eyebrow, Ear cartilage, Eyebrow, Tragus, Surface, Christina, Fourchette, Labia Minora, Labia Majora, Triangle, Ampallang, Dydoe, Frenum, Guiche, Reverse Prince Albert, Scrotum, Pubic, Lorum.

Some of the types of body piercing offers beneficial effects on our body like according to Ayurveda piercing in the left lobe of nose makes the childbirth easier and lessens the period pains in women. Breasts of those who wore rings were incomparably rounder and fuller developed than those who did not. Slight rubbing and slipping of the rings causes an extremely titillating feeling, and it makes the nipples larger, more sensitive, more sexually attractive, and provides a constant stimulation of the nipples. Penis piercing provides greater stimulation to both partners during sex.

Permanent body piercing is performed by creating an opening in the body with a sharp object through the area to be pierced. This is usually done by cutting an opening, using a needle or scalpel, by removing tissue, or by a dermal punch. Sometimes a piercing gun is also used but its use is restricted to the earlobe piercing only. In each case practice of proper hygiene and sterilization is the watchword. Surgical stainless steel and titanium are ideal materials for initial jewelry to be used in a fresh piercing.

There is a checklist for you before you go in for the body piercing:
1. The area that has been chosen for piercing should be well cleaned with a good quality germicidal soap.
2. After cleaning the area make sure that the needle going to be used is properly cleaned and sterilized.
3. After piercing the piece of jewelry (properly sterilized) should be attached.
4. Always ensure that after piercing the needle is disposed of in a special sharpes container so that there is no risk of the needle or blood touching someone else.
5. Maintain proper cleanliness in the pierced area.
6. The jewelry should be properly adjusted and checked by the person performing the piercing job.

If the person is under 18years of age then some establishments won't allow them to get a piercing without parent's consent. Now let us find the risks that are involved and how best to protect ourselves from infections and other complications. Certain places on our body can cause more problems than other places, infection is a common problem for mouth and nose piercing because of the millions of bacteria that live in those areas and tongue piercing may damage teeth over time. Tongue, cheek, and lip piercing often pose a threat like gum problems.

Most of the piercing shops try to provide a clean and healthy environment for their clients, but it is advisable to check for infections or other health hazards lurking there ourselves. The general points to keep in mind are:

The shop should be clean, person doing the piercing washes his or her hands with a germicidal soap, wears fresh disposable gloves, uses disposable or sterilized instruments, does not use a piercing gun, the needle being used for piercing is new and is being used for the first time and ensures correct procedures for the proper handling and disposal of waste.

After getting a body piercing you should feel fine but you should expect some minor pain and swelling at the pierced site. For a tongue piercing you will have increased saliva. However be aware that sometimes it can go wrong in some cases an immediate visit to your doctor would be the only available solution.

Depending on the body part, time of healing can vary anywhere from a few weeks to more than a year. After getting a piercing, good care should be taken afterwards, don't pick or tug at it, keep the area clean with soap, and don't touch it without washing the hands first. Never use hydrogen peroxide because it can break down newly formed tissue. In case of mouth piercing, use of antibacterial mouthwash after eating is advisable.

When the piercing has fully healed, the initial jewelry may be changed or removed for short periods. Removal of piercing is very simple. Remove the jewelry making sure not to pull or irritate the pierced area. Once removed the piercing should heal.

Leanne Kemp is the Managing Director for Wotaboutme. Look online to find a day spa, haircut, aromatherapy massage anywhere in Australia. Perfect for gifts for him or gifts for her. For updates, check out the Wotaboutme Blog