While the risks of body piercing are real, a professional can help you to minimize them. That said, you should be informed and aware of these potential dangers to your health so you can ensure that proper measures are taken against them during the piercing process and in the weeks or months of recovery. An infection of any sort will make your piercing uncomfortable, inconvenient, and potentially impractical. A piercing can cost sixty to one hundred dollars or more, and having to remove one three or four weeks after paying for it can be a frustrating experience. The best ways to avoid complication are to have your piercing performed professionally, to give it meticulous care during the healing period, and to learn and understand all the risks associated with it.

Again, bacterial infection is the most common complication in body piercing, but prevention is relatively simple. A professional body artist should use all the sterilization methods available to him or her, and should also be able to recommend to you ways to keep your piercing clean at home. Only sterile, prepackaged needles and starter jewelry should be used in your piercing, and you should use an antibacterial wash regularly in the weeks to come to prevent bacterial growth. Piercing guns spread and collect bacteria easily, as they can not usually be fully sterilized. For this reason they should not be used to pierce any part of your body but your ear lobes, which are somewhat less inclined toward infection. One should also avoid swimming in naturally occurring water bodies (lakes, oceans, rivers) during the healing period, as this can lead to any number of protozoan infections.

Viral infections are usually considered more serious than bacterial infections, especially as those usually associated with piercing come from unsterilized needles, and thus the blood of other individuals. Hepatitis B and C can be spread in this manner, as, theoretically, can HIV, though no incidence of HIV transfer from piercing or tattooing has yet been recorded (CDC). These are all potentially life-threatening diseases, however, and you should consider the safety and sterility of your piercing studio your top concern.

Another risk of body piercing is the possibility of an allergic reaction. You may find yourself allergic to a cleaning agent (such as a particular type of soap, rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide) or to something that simply comes in contact with your piercing, like makeup or hairspray. Your allergy may not be evident in daily life, but may show itself when the allergen comes into contact with exposed subdermal tissues from your piercing. You may also be allergic to the material of your jewelry, especially nickel. Nickel is rarely used as a base material, but is often used in alloys of gold. For this reason, high-grade gold (18-24 karats) should be used whenever possible, especially in starter jewelry.

Finally, avoid all unnecessary trauma to your piercing, especially from entanglement. Some jewelry, especially high-gauge (smaller) varieties, have a high risk of becoming caught or tangled in clothes or other objects. This can, of course, result in damage to your piercing. Proper selection of jewelry according to the freshness and location of your piercing should help you to avoid this complication.