Body piercing is a form of body modification that involves puncturing particular parts of the human body and inserting jewellery or implants. The most widespread types of piercing are ear and nose piercing, which are well documented in historical records.
One of the oldest representations of human piercing was the mummified body of the Ötzi the Iceman, discovered in Italy and dated to 3350 BC [1]. Ear, nose, lip, tongue, nipple, or genital piercings are practiced by various cultures around the world, such as African tribes, inhabitants of the Middle East, Ancient Rome, Ancient Egypt, and Ancient India [2,3]. Ear piercing has been practiced all around the world since ancient times. It is worth noting that in Europe, earrings are not popular among women because styles of clothing and hair tend to obscure ears [4]. Moreover, ear piercings were even more common among men [1].
Explorers and sailors in the European Middle Ages tended to pierce their ears according to the superstitious belief that one pierced ear improved long-distance vision [1]. In the 1970s, piercing began to increase in popularity and was popularized by the punk movement. At the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, belly button piercing and eyebrow piercings were considered highly fashionable. Overall, in the 21st century, piercing entered the mainstream and was performed mainly because of its fashion and aesthetic aspects [1]. In the past, piercing was used to enhance sexual desirability and experience [5] or to provide exciting sensations [6]. Nowadays, young people mostly conduct piercing as a statement of fashion [7]; however, some meanings ascribed to piercing involve risky behaviours, such as non-suicidal self-injury [8].
Body piercing jewellery has various shapes and mostly consists of rings, hoops, studs, or barbell-shaped ornaments [9]. They are made of metals such as stainless steel, gold, titanium, or alloys. Allergic skin reactions are mostly caused by the products of nickel.
Surgical stainless steel is mostly nickel-free and, therefore, safe [10]. Piercings made of gold are often combined with nickel and are associated with a high prevalence of reactivity in nickel-sensitive patients [9]. Ear piercing is the most popular location for body piercing. The most common complications are minor infections, allergic reactions, keloid formation, and traumatic tearing [11].
Multiple ear piercings, which are often located in the cartilage of the ear, are associated with poor healing and more serious infections compared to ear lobe piercing due to the avascular nature of the auricular cartilage [9]. Auricular perichondritis presents as erythema, painful swelling, and warmth of the auricle that characteristically spares the lobule and often occurs in the first month after piercing [9]. A perichondrial abscess can be caused by minor infections that progress and can result in inflammation, abscess formation, and necrosis [9]. If an abscess is formed, surgical incision and drainage are often necessary [9]. Piercings can also be the reason for systemic infectious complications.
One of the most high-risk cardiac post-piercing complications is endocarditis, which is mainly associated with nipple and navel piercings [12]. Piercing, as with any invasive procedure, could be related to systemic infections, such as hepatitis B or C virus, tetanus, or human immunodeficiency virus [13]. Such incidents could be caused by poor hygiene standards and a lack of sterile tools.
The need for piercing may be caused by Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), which is also called dysmorphophobia, which is a mental disorder where an individual is aware of some defects in his/her body that are unnoticeable to others. BDD has been consistently described around the world for more than a century; however, this disorder has been researched in a systematic way for less than two decades [14]. The prevalence of BDD is relatively uncommon and varies from 0.7% to 2.4% in the general population [15,16,17]. BDD is often associated with dermatological conditions. Research papers suggest that the prevalence of BDD in dermatology is around 9% to 12% in cosmetic surgery, and even up to 53% and 26% in trichotillomania [18,19,20,21,22,23]. It is worth noting that BDD often occurs among psychiatric patients with OCD, social phobia, and atypical major depressive disorder [14,24].
BDD was reported in people of all ages (from 5 years old to more than 80 years old) [25]. In the literature, BDD has been proven to occur more often among women than among men [16,26], but it clearly affects men as well. This preoccupation often causes distress and impairs normal activities, social life, and quality of life [16,27]. BDD may lead to depressive and substance-use disorders, social phobia, or even suicide [28,29,30]. It is worth noting that people with BDD often seek and receive cosmetic treatment to improve their appearance [31].
Body image is a stable, multifaceted mental representation of the body and its emotional experience, which can change over a lifetime [33]. Body image consists of two factors, body dissatisfaction and appreciation [34], and can be influenced by sociocultural contexts, peers, and mass media [35]. A positive body image manifests itself with respect to, appreciation for, and acceptance of one’s body [34]. Negative body image demonstrates dissatisfaction with body or body parts, preoccupation with appearance, and engagement in behaviours such as frequent mirror checking, self-weighing, and avoidance of public situations [36].
Poor body image leads to body dissatisfaction, negatively impacts quality of life, and is often related to depression, low self-esteem, and emotional instability [37]. Body image disturbances are highly prevalent in people with other mental or physical health problems, e.g., depression or obesity, eating disorders, body dysmorphic disorder, and in the general population [38]. According to Schnabl et al. [39], multiple-pierced individuals display a significantly lower body image and less self-confidence than people with single piercings.
NOT MY OWN WORK. Taken from:
Putek, J.; Szepietowski, J.C. Clinical and Psychological Aspects of Piercing: A Cross-Sectional Study with Special Attention to Body Dysmorphic Disorder Symptoms, Appearance Anxiety, Body Image Perception and Self-Esteem. Cosmetics 2024, 11, 207. https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics11060207
The references in the article will take you to the original article.
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