Lip Piercing

For the last ten years body piercing has had an increasing interest. This art if, I can say so, became a part of our life. Nowadays most teenagers have at least one piercing.

From ancient time body piercing was practiced in many cultures for thousands of years. In the past piercing were assigned with courage, virility and strength. Egyptian pharaohs loved so much to vainness themselves that they restricted some types of body piercing. That’s way only the royal family was allowed to have the navel pierced, and anyone that didn’t obey was executed.

In antiquity only the people that were wealthy and rich could go for piercing.

Roman centurions practiced nipple piercing to show their strength and virility. One of the famous Romans that pierced his nipple to identify with itself was Julius Caesar.

Most of the Indian tribes used tongue piercing like a part of their religious rituals. In this way they become closer to their gods. The Aztec and Maya tribes, trying to look fiercer to their enemies, used septum piercing. Imagine seeing one of this Indian in the night, I am sure you will be at least amazed. This practice was frequently found in New Guinea and Solomon Islands tribes too. The Indians used body piercing to augment their features. It is very impressive that different civilizations with thousands of miles between them expended the same love for body piercing.

As years passed, the interest in piercing decreased because the medieval church didn’t agree to this practice and called it sinful. But, along with the Renaissance the interest for body piercing returned.

The body piercing practice was used by the sailors too; because they believed that if they pierce one ear they will bear up better their long distance journeys.

For the last hundred years the most common piercing found has been ear piercing. Another piercing is the nose ring, original from India, which has a growing interest in young people. In our society the nose rings are a way to revolt but in India they are a traditional thing showing female beauty.

Lip piercing has it origins in African tribes, but lately is very common among teenagers. Many of them are trying to look like a bad girl or bad boy and to show their rebellion and nonconformism. My opinion is that some teenagers are exaggerating with theirs piercing.

You must be aware that to get a lip piercing is not an easy thing. You must know that if you get bored of the idea and you want to remove it, you may have some scars left.

If you have decided to go for a lip piercing you should know that you have some options to choose from because this piercing can be put anywhere you want, around the mouth of course. Some few options are: lip ring (the most wanted; the ring pierces the bottom of the lip), labret (can be made on the lower lip), vertical labret, horizontal lip piercing, angel bites, snake bites, spider bites, Monroe/Madonna piercing and filtrum piercing.

There are some serious risks that we should aware of. These are: infections, nerve damage, tooth erosion/cracking, tooth decay, gum erosion, gum recession, tooth scrambling, sensitive teeth, tooth loss, HIV, Hepatitis. As you see the lip piercing is not a joke.

Every method of lip piercing can cause you real damages; to avoid this you should take some safety measures. First make sure that your piercing is done by a specialized person with a sterile object. Other measure is to avoid public pools, kissing and wearing dirty, tight and rubbing clothes. Every decision you take, make sure that is the right one.