Body piercing, a form of body modification, is the practice
of puncturing or cutting a part of the human body, creating an opening in which
jewelery may be worn. The word piercing can refer to the act or practice of
body piercing, or to an opening in the body created by this act or practice.
Although the history of body piercing is obscured by popular misinformation and
by a lack of scholarly reference, ample evidence exists to document that it has
been practiced in various forms by both sexes since ancient times throughout
the world.
Ear piercing and nose piercing have been particularly
widespread and are well represented in historical records and among grave
goods. The oldest mummified remains ever discovered were sporting earrings,
attesting to the existence of the practice more than 5,000 years ago. Nose
piercing is documented as far back as 1500 BC. Piercings of these types have
been documented globally, while lip and tongue piercings were historically
found in African and American tribal cultures. Nipple and genital piercing have
also been practiced by various cultures, with nipple piercing dating back at
least to Ancient Rome while genital piercing is described in Ancient India c.
320 to 550 CE. The history of navel piercing is less clear. The practice of
body piercing has waxed and waned in Western culture, but it has experienced an
increase of popularity since World War II, with sites other than the ears
gaining subcultural popularity in the 1970s and spreading to mainstream in the
1990s.
The reasons for piercing or not piercing are varied. Some
people pierce for religious or spiritual reasons, while others pierce for
self-expression, for aesthetic value, for sexual pleasure, to conform to their
culture or to rebel against it. Some forms of piercing remain controversial,
particularly when applied to youth. The display or placement of piercings have
been restricted by schools, employers and religious groups. In spite of the
controversy, some people have practiced extreme forms of body piercing, with
Guinness bestowing World Records on individuals with hundreds and even
thousands of permanent and temporary piercings.
Contemporary body piercing practices emphasize the use of
safe body piercing materials, frequently utilizing specialized tools developed
for the purpose. Body piercing is an invasive procedure with some risks,
including allergic reaction, infection, excessive scarring and unanticipated
physical injuries, but such precautions as sanitary piercing procedures and
careful aftercare are emphasized to minimize the likelihood of encountering
serious problems. The healing time required for a body piercing may vary widely
according to placement, from as little as a month for some genital piercings to
as much as two full years for the navel.
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