IMPORTANT
we operate a strict no-gun piercing policy. I do not use one, own one, or recommend any shop does. They are unsafe, unsanitary and cause significant tissue damage. Reusable piercing guns can put clients in direct contact with the blood and body fluids of previous clients, thus the possibility of transmitting blood-borne pathogens (i.e HIV/ Hepatitis B, C) from person to person. Even though the guns can become contaminated with bloodborne disease-causing microorganisms, multiple times a day, they are made of plastic therefore cannot be sterilised or it would literally melt.
The Hepatitis virus can live for extended periods of time and could be harboured within a piercing gun for several weeks. Babies, young children and others with a compromised immune system may be at higher risk of contracting such infection.
Blunt force trauma forces the blunt, low-quality studs through the skin until the skin snaps to allow the stud through. This causes more trauma and swelling to the area than a needle piercing ever would. The effect on the body is more like a crush injury than a piercing. Occasionally the intense pressure and speed of the gun’s spring-loaded mechanism is not sufficient enough to force the blunt stud through the flesh. In these cases, the earring may become lodged part way through the skin but not fully. With blunt force trauma comes excessive swelling, and these inappropriately designed butterfly-backed studs do not allow enough room for a good swell or adequate blood flow, leading to embedding/infections. 6mm is the standard stud length whereas I don’t pierce lobes using anything less than 8mm bars.
The studs are usually made of nickel, plated with 9ct gold or sterling silver, both of which are unsuitable for fresh/healing piercings. We don’t use or recommend gold plated earrings as the plating can rub off due to general wear and tear, exposing the nickel beneath the coating which will likely cause irritation and/or infection. Sterling silver contains nickel and can again cause irritation/infection. It also oxidises when in contact with bodily fluids which leads to permanently staining your skin black at the piercing site. This is called Localised Argyria. Now onto the butterfly backs… the backs have a large surface area and lots of nooks and crannies for dirt and bacteria to hide in. Aside from this, butterfly backs are super uncomfortable to sleep on and the earring itself can stab you when lied on it. It’s also too easy for these studs to embed into the lobes as people generally tighten them too much causing sore irritated ears.
When pierced by a professional, reputable body piercer, we only use implant grade titanium jewellery, that comes in a variety of sizes which our years of experience will determine which size we use to allow for the swell. Thus less chance of irritation/infection and embedding.
The aftercare I’ve seen coming from these shops that offer gun piercings is highly inaccurate and I usually tell my clients who have come to me to fix their piercings, to forget everything they’ve been told and I will start from scratch with aftercare
This is a recent post from my tattooist aimed at Claire’s, a real eye opener as I wasn’t fully aware how bad the guns were.
how original. Don’t deflect onto me because you know full well you’re in the wrong. Your post wasn’t ‘misconstrued’ at all, you said what you said at least have the bottle to stand behind it. I’m also not Charlotte, would you like me to attach a picture of my normal finger nails to prove it? What a childish response, own your faults.
