The tip of the earring is a 16 gauge tip which then turns into a 14 gauge pole at the other end of the earring once the tip has penetrated (Figure 1). Therefore, the majority of the infections, scarring and minor complications may go unreported and untreated. This was noted in the discussion section of the original paper, and means that a lot of the arguments both for and against piercing guns cannot use this paper as evidence. A note on gun piercing: I sanitise the piercing gun with 70% Isopropyl Alcohol wipes before and after the piercing. The effect on the body is more like a crush injury than a piercing and causes similar tissue damage.

This makes the piercing somewhat less painful, and lessens trauma to the skin and tissue, but may still cause more trauma compared to hollow needles used by professional body piercers. Jewelry that fits too closely also increases the risk of infection because it does not allow for thorough cleaning. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Everyone has seen those videos of needles vs piercing gun studs, but unless there is data to compare the two then the exercise is meaningless.This is one of many reasons we work using ‘Universal Precautions,’ where we assume every single client has a bloodborne pathogen. The piercer inserts the head of one of the pair of starter studs selected by the client into an adapter in the barrel in the body of the instrument, and the clasp is slid into the clasp retainer at the front of the instrument. The best description of what the gun does to the ear would be taking a baseball bat and driving it into a sheetrock wall.

Additionally, the ease of use and speed of the process make it convenient for both the piercer and the client. This can be reassuring for individuals who may be apprehensive about the sight of blood or who prefer a cleaner procedure.The guns are normally wiped down with an alcohol-based disinfectant which is ineffective at killing pathogens such as Pseudomonas spp. There is thus a possibility of transmitting bloodborne disease-causing microorganisms through such ear piercing, as many medical studies report. Some employees describe a week’s worth of training and lots of practice, and others say that the piercing gun was thrust into their hands on their first shift. In such cases, needle piercing is a more suitable option due to the availability of hypoallergenic metals.

Considering that a large proportion of gun piercers’ clientele are minors or young adults, it is not surprising that few gun piercing complications are reported to medical personnel. Ear and body piercing has long been a popular form of self-expression, allowing individuals to show off their unique style and personality – or even to fit in with the crowd!

amusedbush "Sure, go ahead and let the 17 year old Saturday girl at Claire's pierce your kid's ears with a gun that can't be sterilised properly, after a half day's training.