About Belly Button Piercings
Some people want to move beyond simple ear-piercing, or even a small diamond stud in the nose, to piercing tongues, genitalia and belly buttons. At one time an anti-authoritarian statement or a symbol of ritualistic behavior, belly button piercing is now more of a fashion statement. Celebrities such as Naomi Campell, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Gwen Stefani and Cher have shown off their belly bling and inspired fans to do the same. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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Body piercing has its roots in ancient cultures, when a piercing was a demonstration of social status, spiritual belief systems or heroism during a battle. The Aztecs, Incas and Egyptians had belly button piercings. Native Americans often had their navels pierced for coming-of-age rituals. In the modern era, it was not until the punk rock movement of the 1970s that piercings migrated from the ears to more adventurous parts of the body. Christy Turlington was one of the first mainstream figures to show off a navel piercing, flashing it at the paparazzi during a fashion show.
Function
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A proper belly button piercing begins with the piercer wiping the stomach with antiseptic solution. The piercer clamps the skin together directly above the belly button and pushes a hollow needle through the folds of skin. Then, the piercer places the jewelry in the hole, typically using a larger gauge ring in case the area swells. It can take over a year for the piercing site to heal fully. Once it does, the piercer can replace the ring with a smaller gauge bar.
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Types
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Once the healing is done, there is a diverse assortment of belly button rings from which to choose. The most popular belly button rings are gold, white gold, 14-karat gold, platinum and titanium. In addition to rings, navel adornments come with beads, barbells, teardrop shapes, spirals, studs and semi-precious stones. They are available in trendy shapes representing spiritual beliefs, lifestyle choices and musical preferences.
Considerations
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The first consideration you should make when choosing belly button jewelry is safety. Implant grade stainless steel is both affordable and safer to use for a new piercing. It is much less likely to produce a skin infection. A bit costlier, but also safe, are rings made of 18 karat gold (or higher), niobium and titanium, if highly polished. Silver is dangerous because it tarnishes, which can irritate a new wound. Gold-plated and gold-filled jewelry is too thinly-coated to be safe. For people allergic to metal, there are rings made of Teflon and nylon. Taking proper care of the piercing site is key, because belly button piercings have a high rejection rate. Keep the site clean, wear loose clothing and steer clear of the bear hugs for a while.
Warning
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One of the most dangerous aspects of belly button piercing is the condition of the equipment and the setting in which the piercing is done. Do not attempt to pierce your own navel or have an amateur friend do it. Skin infections and bleeding are common even with professional piercings, More serious problems can arise, such as nerve damage, severe allergic reactions, and dangerous infections such as hepatitis, HIV and tetanus. Make sure the piercer's hands are washed and gloved, and that the equipment is sterile.
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