Piercings and Tattoos

Piercings

Some Piercing History Piercing Cartilage Of The Ear: This is found in Africa, North America and South America, Indonesia, and India. It is meant to signify beauty and wealth. Cheek Piercing: Men from Aleutian Islands used cheek piercing when they went seal hunting. By piercing their cheeks with rods, they looked like they had whiskers. Their intent was to imitate the appearances of the seal and they felt this increased their chances for a successful hunt. Ear: This type of piercing was meant to mark life stage changes in group affiliation. Eyebrow, and Navel: The Egyptians used this as a sign of royalty. Lips: This is also a ritual to celebrate the passage from childhood to adulthood. It also mimics facial beauty marks. This type of piercing comes from Australia, New Guinea, Africa, India, North and South America, and Indonesia. Nose Piercing: The people of India view this a sign of beauty. Tongue: The Maya's performed this type of ritual when they wanted to talk to their ancestor's spirits.

Prevention Check the studio and see if it looks clean. To protect others from disease, tell the person doing the body pierce if you have had hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV. If you have hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV, make sure any jewelry you use is sterilized before it is used and not shared with anyone else. Check with your city or county health department to find out whether there have been any complaints about the studio you are thinking of using.

The problems with piercing The most serious risks are infections, allergic reactions, bleeding and damage to nerves or teeth. The infections can be caused by hepatitis, HIV, tetanus, bacteria, and yeast. If the piercer washes his/her hands, uses gloves and sterile equipment and you take good care of your piercing, the risk of infection is lowered (but still exists).

Pierced Body Part Time it Takes To Heal Ear lobe 6 to 8 weeks Ear cartilage 4 months to 1 year Eyebrow Nostril 2 to 4 months Nasal septum 6 to 8 months Nasal bridge 8 to 10 weeks Tongue 4 weeks Lip 2 to 3 months Nipple 3 to 6 months Navel

Piercing Removal The forcible removal of the jewelry by accidental trauma may cause a permanent deformity which can be repaired with surgery. Trauma to the teeth from oral jewelry may require restorative (crowns or bonding) dentistry.

Tattoos

Tattoo History Tattoos are a very old form of body art and have been practiced from a very long time in civilized human history. The history of tattoos is very ancient and seems to be of thousands of years old and even before the birth of Christ.  The recorded indication of tattoos comes from the ancient Egypt where wall paintings as old as 2000 BC have been suggesting the use of tattoos in the ancient Egyptian society. The word “tattoo” can have many origins as words in many different languages have the same meaning and similar pronunciation. Different civilizations have been recorded to use the word tattoo or at least practicing of coloring their body parts for different reasons have been recorded.

Prevention Talk with people in different age groups about their tattoos. Some people change their minds after getting a tattoo. Since a tattoo is hard to remove, it is important that your decision to get a tattoo is one you can live with. Think about the reasons you want to get a tattoo. Do not get a tattoo while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Since a tattoo is hard to remove, it is important that your decision is made with a clear mind.

The problems with tattoos Infection at the tattoo site. Allergic reactions to the tattooing method or dye. Scarring, which can include raised scar tissue. Spread of infectious disease, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, tuberculosis, tetanus, or HIV, if a dirty method or equipment is used.

Tattoo Removal With time, many patients decide they no longer want to have a tattoo. Although there are many improved methods for the removal of tattoos like laser surgery, excision, dermabrasion, salabrasion, and cosmetic over-tattoo, it is still time-consuming, expensive, and may leave scars or discolorations. The treatment of tattoos with laser may entirely remove the pigment or only bring fair results. The skin is rarely as perfect as it once was prior to getting the tattoo.

Webgraphy: http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/tc/tattoo-problems-prevention http://www.painfulpleasures.com/piercings_gone_bad.htm http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/body-piercing.html http://www.belly-rings.net/problems.html

Work done by: Cátia Soares nº 3 Daniela Pinheiro nº 4 Sabrina Costa nº23