Piercing shops are taking precautions to prevent an infection to upper ear

Piercing shops here are already taking precautions to deter an infection linked to upper ear piercings.

Piercing shops here are already taking precautions to deter an infection linked to upper ear piercings.Seven teenagers in Oregon, who suffered complications from upper ear piercings, were the subject of a report published in late February in the Journal of the American Medical Association.The report found a piercing gun, commonly used on earlobes, “sterilized” with a polluted disinfectant caused the teens to be infected with the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria.The nasty bug can lead to a fatal bloodstream infection known as sepsis.Fortunately, all seven escaped unscathed, save for minor surgery involving draining and removing the infected tissue.The report blamed the piercing gun and a dirty disinfectant for the bacteria transfer.Alden Boulerice, piercer at Skin Art Tattoo Studios Inc. on Western Boulevard in Jacksonville, said that a needle “not a piercing gun” is the proper instrument for penetrating hard cartilage at the top of the ear as opposed to soft tissue of the ear lobe.”The difference is like getting cut with a sharp knife or a dull one,” he said. “A needle allows the cartilage to heal a whole lot quicker than a spring-loaded gun.”Other area piercers echoed Boulerice, noting that a piercing gun can crack the cartilage and cause pain for up to nine months. Longer heal time means the risk of infection is greater.”If the piercing is near the hair, bacteria can enter the wound,” Boulerice said. “You’ve got to keep all body washes and shampoos away from the area until it’s healed.”Boulerice said an upper ear piercing can take between four weeks to three months to heal.Since a piercing gun cannot be sterilized “it’s a plastic contraption full of springs, fasteners and moving parts,” Piercing Pagoda manager Kelli Robinson said. She employs a special gun with a disposable fitting.”The ear never touches the gun itself, it’s completely sterile” she said.Robinson said she has never used needles to pierce the upper ear and is unaware of any complications resulting from the use of a piercing gun.”Upper ear piercings take up to six weeks longer to heal, and infections happen when the piercing is not properly cleaned,” she said.”Some metals can also cause allergic reactions in some people, so we always recommend getting a 14 karat gold earring.”Robinson said cracked cartilage can result from an incorrect piercing, often done at an angle.”The cartilage will split then, but it’s not necessarily infected,” she said.The debate between piercing gun and needle will remain an issue to be decided by the customer.There is no state law in North Carolina governing the piercing industry. In New Hanover County, ordinances have been adopted to regulate piercing establishments, but Onslow, Pender, Carteret and other counties do not have such regulations.Jon Harrison, supervisor of the Onslow County Environmental Health Division said that, although tattoo parlors must adhere to specific guidelines, piercing falls out of his jurisdiction.”Ear piercing and body piercing is not under any kind of regulation from the Onslow County Health Department,” he said.(Source: Sun Times, US, MArch 2004)