Let your face tell a story...

Facial tattooing and facial piercing are quite the statement making trend. Recently, singer Justin Bieber got a face tattoo in honour of his beau Hailey Baldwin. Singers Halsey and Miley Cyrus too sport face tattoos. While many may want to try this, apprehensions about their health may just make them not take the risk. However, experts say that if proper care is taken before, during and after the procedure, this minimally invasive procedure can prove to be quite rewarding.

“There’s no limit to how much a person could experiment and get creative with their idea of tattoos or piercing. Some of the most popular facial piercings are the traditional nose piercing, septum piercing, eyebrow piercing, upper lip piercing, lower lip or chin piercing, cheek piercing, etc.,” says Sunny Bhanushali, tattoo artist and founder, Aliens Tattoo Studio.

Dr Rinky Kapoor, cosmetic dermatologist and dermato-surgeon, The Esthetic Clinics, suggests keeping in mind the following things before going in for any such procedure.

PREPIERCING PREP:

■You should not be suffering from any active skin disease like psoriasis, lichen planus, eczema or any skin infections, be it, fungal, bacterial or viral

■If there is a history of herpes, then an antiviral cover is mandatory before, during and after the piercing procedure as advised by your physician

■Avoid piercing, if you or your family have a strong history of keloids

■Be sure of the metal used for your piercing. And if you are allergic to nickel or other metals, inform the piercer accordingly

■If you have diabetes, heart problems, or if you are on any medication like blood thinners, etc., the piercer must be informed

■You have to be immunised against tetanus and hepatitis B before undergoing a piercing

■If you are thinking of getting a tongue or mouth piercing, your teeth and gums should be healthy.

DURING THE PROCEDURE:

There will be pain, though minimal, during the procedure for about few seconds to minutes. Thereafter, it will be sore, and some pain will persist for a few days, before it settles.

All needles, piercings, etc. should be autoclaved and sterile, dreaded infections like HIV and hepatitis B are known to spread through infected needles.

POSTPROCEDURE CARE:

If there is persistent pain, swelling, itching or oozing of pus, one must see the doctor immediately as it indicates infection. The piercing may also close up due to inflammation. Infections on the thick cartilage areas like the tragus of the ear may be more severe. People with tongue and lip piercing may suffer from gum damages and tooth chipping.

Therefore, follow instructions of ointments to be used, methods to clean, and take care of the piercing after the procedure, as advised by the piercer.

Follow instructions of ointments to be used, methods to clean, and take care of the piercing after the procedure DR RINKY KAPOOR,

DERMATOLOGIST

PHOTO: ISTOCK

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