February 29/2008

Inappropriate piercings

According to Army Regulation 670-1 (Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia), Body piercing: “When on any Army installation or other places under Army control, soldiers may not attach, affix or display objects, articles, jewelry or ornamentation to or through the skin while they are in uniform, in civilian clothes on duty, or in civilian clothes off duty (this includes earrings for male soldiers).

However, Spc. Jed Martin, in the June 4 issue of Army Times, doesn’t appear to understand that policy [“He’s a vegan cutie,” Frontlines]. From his picture, one would deduce that he is in an Army barracks room, given the furniture behind him in the picture. If so, he is in violation of the above-mentioned policy because he has an earring device in each ear and a piercing in his lip.

When are we going to stop glorifying the lack of discipline of soldiers in today’s Army? To even put this picture in Army Times is a disgrace.

I’m all for soldiers winning stuff, but let’s portray the right image of our troops.

Font:  http://www.armytimes.com/community/opinion/army_opinion_letters_070702/
Created By Maj. Robert J. Purvis Fort Irwin, Calif. 

February 22/2008

Oral piercing: Is it worth it?

Piercing-much like tattooing-is just one of today's popular forms of “body art” and self-expression. Oral piercing is not a new phenomenon. In fact, history points to the Mayans, some of whom pierced their tongues to demonstrate courage and virility. The Aleuts and Eskimos sometimes pierced the lips of female infants as part of a purification ritual and the mandibular (lower) lips of boys to signify part of the passage into puberty. In some Third World countries, oral piercing are customs that continue to be practiced for religious, sexual, tribal, or marital significance.

Piercing may seem cool, daring, and totally safe because some celebrities use body piercing to display their particular style or attitude. Trendy fashion magazines and music videos will advertise it-that is until it's no longer deemed the “in thing” and something else comes along to replace it. Piercing is no doubt growing among Western culture.

However, piercing the tongue, lips, checks, or the uvula (the tiny tissue that hangs at the back of the throat), is not as safe as some would have you believe. That's because of your mouth's moist environment. It's home to huge amounts of breeding bacteria and is an ideal place for infection. If you're thinking of about getting a piercing or if you already have one or more, there are some health risks that you should know about.

A mouth piercing can interfere with speech, chewing, or swallowing. That may seem like a mere inconvenience until you consider that it may also cause:

-Excessive drooling

-Infection, pain, and swelling

-Chipped or cracked teeth

-Injuries to the gums

-Damage to fillings

-Increased salivary flow

-Hypersensitivity to metals

-Scar tissue

-Nerve damage

The harmful effects can happen during the piercing, soon after, or even long after the procedure.

An infection can quickly become life threatening if it's not treated promptly. For example, oral piercing carries a potential risk of Endocarditis, an inflammation of the heart valves or tissues. Bacteria can enter the bloodstream through the piercing site in the mouth and travel to the heart, where it can colonize on heart abnormalities. This is a risk for people with heart conditions and in the worst cases results in death.

After a piercing, the tongue may swell. There have been reports of swelling serious enough to block the airway. And it's very possible to puncture a nerve during a tongue piercing. If this happens, you may experience a “numb” tongue, which indicates nerve damage that is sometimes temporary and sometimes permanent. The injured nerve may affect your sense of taste, or how you move your mouth.

Just touching your mouth jewelry (tongue barbells and lip and cheek labrettes) can lead to infection. Believe it or not, people who have piercings constantly touch them-which is a perfect opportunity for bacteria from hands to enter piercing sites.

The hoop, ring, stud, and barbell shaped jewelry can also hinder your ability to talk and eat. And food particles that collect around piercing sites can lead to infection. Some people have even swallowed the jewelry, which can puncture the bowel or intestine.

Some people also develop a habit of “biting” the barbells or “playing” with the balls which can lead to cracked, scratched teeth: gum damage and recession; and sensitive teeth. Sometimes, uncomfortable, protruding scar tissue can form around the piercing site from the stress of the metal against the inside of your tooth.

However, if you already have an oral piercing here are a few tips. Contact your dentist or physician immediately with any signs of infection such as swelling, pain, fever, shaking, or red-streaked appearance around the site of the piercing. Keep the site clean and free of any matter that may collect on the jewelry by using a mouthrinse after every meal. Minimize “clicking” the jewelry against teeth and avoid undue stress on the piercing site. Check the tightness of your jewelry periodically with clean hands because beads loosen on their threads. Checking can help prevent you from swallowing or choking on your jewelry.

Unfortunately, many young people with oral piercings don’t realize that these frightening side effects could happen to them. So consider removing your the mouth jewelry and let your healthy smile make your fashion statement.

(Beverly Cabanatan, RDH, BS is a registered licensed oral hygienist at the Seventh Day Adventist Dental Clinic. The American Dental Hygiene Association and the Seventh-day Adventist Dental Clinic are celebrating the month of February as children's dental health month.).

Font:  http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=4&newsID=77302
Created By Beverly Cabanatan, RDH, BS
Special to the Saipan Tribune

February 04/2008

Dermal Anchoring

Dermal anchoring is a technique that is essentially a single-point pocketing. It gives the appearance of a small single bead on the skin, similar to a transdermal implant, but with a much simpler procedure.
The procedure was devised by Ben from House of Color. His technique is explained in a BME interview. It has found favor with many artists as the technique is simpler and less invasive than a transdermal implant procedure, and the removal of the piece is substantially easier than implant removal. The relative small size of the jewellery allows placement almost anywhere on the body, although healing can be difficult, as with surface piercings, on areas of high movement or places that get knocked.

This procedure is still very much in its infancy, and since the article, several practitioners have been experimenting with different jewellery designs and insertion techniques. The current most popular method of performing a dermal anchoring is very similar to the punch and taper technique for surface piercing. A single hole is made with a small dermal punch, and a taper is used to elevate some of the skin around it to allow for jewellery insertion.

To remove the jewellery, the area around it is massaged, and the piece manipulated gently out.is possible to think that after the influences and legacies that our predecessors left, there are magical and ritual bonds behind piercing. The spiritual ties depend on each person; but the most influential part is where is located the piece. For greater understanding it is necessary to say that stones and jewels transmit energy fluids, and it happens because an electrical energy is produced by power fields, and when they make contact with electrons produce high corporal stimuli.

Font:  http://bestuff.com
Created by StarvedIchigo. Last Edited by StarvedIchigo.

Allergy risk of body piercing 

Body piercing has been blamed for a steep rise in allergies to nickel across the Western world. Nickel is already the most common cause of contact allergy in several European countries.

Exposure to the metal can cause lifelong sensitivity. Sufferers find many belt buckles, wristwatches, glass frames and jewellery impossible to wear.

A nickel allergy can occur at any age, and typically appears a few days after first contact as eczema, which appears as an itchy, dry/crusty, and red/pigmented skin rash with watery blisters.

The affected area is usually restricted to the site of contact, although it could also be found on other parts of the body. Once a nickel allergy has developed, it is usually a chronic condition and often life-long.

Skin allergies triggered by nickel earrings and studs can lead to further health problems.

Once sensitised by exposure to nickel, sufferers are more likely to develop allergies to other substances. .

  Font: http://news.bbc.co.uk