Piercing has been around for years, and ear and nose piercings have been practiced for over 5,000 years. I personally shudder at the thought of some of the ‘other places’ that are pierced. Piercings have shown up in ancient mummies, like Ötzi the Iceman in Italy, who had stretched ear piercings - called ‘ear gauging’ these days - and nose piercings, has evidence dating as far back as 1500 BCE. Give a piercing some serious thought before going for it – there are some serious risks with body piercings, including bleeding and infections, allergic reactions, scarring, and nerve damage. No matter how socially acceptable it is, there could also be a negative impact with employers, who may view visible piercings as unprofessional or inappropriate, particularly in conservative – or perhaps customer-facing - industries.

Tribal Cultures

Body piercings often hold symbolic or social significance - perhaps representing status - and in ancient Rome, piercings were used to indicate membership of social classes or military ranks. Soldiers would wear nipple rings as a sign of bravery or dedication, and in India, nose piercings were, and still are, considered an important part of a woman’s beauty, cultural identity and spirituality.

The size of stretched earlobes is a rite of passage for lads in the Maasai tribe, where the size of the earlobe hole indicates their age and maturity within their community. The Kayapo people of Brazil believe that their huge lip plates protect them from evil and bring them closer to their ancestors; in others they are a status symbol, their size being relative to their social standing or wealth. The process involves gradually stretching the lips with wooden sticks or plugs before inserting a lip plate, typically made of clay or wood. Don’t try this at home!

Fashion Statement

Body piercings have evolved in Western society as both a fashion statement and a form of rebellion and self-expression. What parent hasn’t been on the receiving end of requests for ear piercings from their offspring, because ‘so-and-so (fill in the name of probable best friend) had theirs done’.


Piercing allows individuals to express themselves creatively through their bodies, and can be seen as a form of art and self-expression, and just like tattoos or hairstyles, piercings allow people to customize their bodies and create unique aesthetics. From simple ear studs to multiple facial piercings (or more unlikely places!), the possibilities for creative and innovative piercing styles are endless. Brazilian Elaine Davidson holds the Guinness Lifetime World Record of 15,000 piercings, and is planning more to hold onto her title, with the estimated jewellery weight currently being 3 kilos!

Surfacing Piercing v. Dermal Piercing

Traditional surface piercing has a separate entry and exit point, as in piercing for earlobes or eyebrows. Another form of piercing is dermal piercing – which, to my mind, is not for the faint-hearted! While many people tend to interchange the two, dermal and surface piercings are very different. A dermal piercing is usually placed underneath any flat surface of the body (i.e chest or cheek) and involves a dermal anchor of around six or seven millimetres being installed directly beneath the skin, with the jewellery being screwed into the surface point, giving the illusion of being ‘stuck on’.

Medical Risks

While body piercings might have psychological benefits, there are medical risks surrounding the practice. While giving individuals more control of their bodies and their lives, the act of getting pierced itself can require trust in the piercer and awareness of your own pain levels! But beware, high street stores may employ less trained staff who may use piercing guns and potentially unsafe jewellery. They also may not have the same level of sterilization protocols as professional studios, and according to the Association of Professional Piercers, needle piercing is much safer. It is important to choose a reputable piercer, and a lengthy apprenticeship with a qualified and experienced

Author

Marilyn writes regularly for The Portugal News, and has lived in the Algarve for some years. A dog-lover, she has lived in Ireland, UK, Bermuda and the Isle of Man. 

Marilyn Sheridan