Hazards of piercing and facial body art: A report of three patients and literature review

Piercing has become a widespread fashion trend in Western industrialized na tions within recent years. The invasive application of ornaments through cu taneous and mucosal surfaces enables the penetration of various pathogens i nto subcutaneous tissue. The authors describe the hazards of piercing and f acial body art as they apply to 3 patients. Perichondrial auricular abscess , granulomatous perichondritis of the nasal ala, and embedding of a stud in the lower lip were the respective diagnoses. Literature was reviewed for t he cultural origins and current practices of piercing, the legal background of piercing as a business, typical medical complications. and treatment re commendations. Numerous communications have been published on medical compl ications of piercing. The patients presented and the review of the literatu re illustrate that piercing is not a harmless fashion and that regulations of piercing as a business seem desirable to prevent further complications.