Piercing dictionary

DISINFECTION can be defined as a procedure to remove vegetative forms of microorganisms, but not necessarily bacterial spores. Disinfection is a less precise procedure than sterilization.
We use disinfectants (chemicals) that have weak selective toxicity but germicide effect. Simply put - disinfected jewelry or piercing tools can give you an inflammation or an infection. Jewelry that was put in boiling water or soaked in alcohol for three hours isn't sterile!

Disinfected is clean, BUT clean isn't sterile.

STERILIZATION is a procedure that destroys all forms and types of microorganisms, including bacterial spores.

‘Sterile’ means free from any category of life.

In the studio we apply a wet sterilization with a flowing steam under pressure done in an autoclave (hospital sterilization). Everything that enters the wound we call piercing needs to be sterile, as well as any additional tools used during the procedure, to avoid infections, diseases, etc.

AUTOCLAVE is a high-pressure steam sterilizer used for surgical sterilization under 2 bar pressure and 134°C temperature for 20 minutes. Instruments sterilized in autoclave are packed in half-penetrable foils for sterilization that have a control indicator that changes color during the sterilization process. We also use a self-adhesive indicating tape. Indicator is pink before the process and if the autoclave works properly, it should change color to dark brown.
Along everyday sterilization control using indicators, the autoclave is periodically checked using spores issued at the Institute for public health. Spores are sterilized and sent to their lab for analysis. If the sterilization was successful, the Institute issues the certificate of quality (text written by Marin Urbanc for Gandalf tattoo).
Autoclaves are produced in different dimensions and shapes. Tattoo and piercing studios should use autoclaves instead of dry sterilizers!
You can find more about hygienic conditions in Octopus on the link.

ANODIZATION (anodic oxidation) is an electrolytic passivation process used to increase the thickness of the natural oxide layer on the surface of metal parts. In piercing industry we use anodization for coloring titanium jewelry. The color depends on the thickness of oxidic layer which is determined by voltage. No pigments are being added - the color is visible because the light that reflects from the surface of the oxidic layer mixes with the light that is coming through it and reflects from the surface of the metal underneath.
Most common colors are purple, green, blue and yellow, and all their tones.

ABSCESS is a localized collection of pus developing in subcutaneous tissue, but can also happen in deep tissues and organs. Subcutaneous abscess is manifested through localized signs of an inflammation: redness, swelling, heat, and pain.
If you notice a large hard swelling near the piercing but not on it, come to the piercing studio or visit a doctor. Abscess usually has no excrement because the infection is deep under the skin. It's treated with draining and antibiotics.

INFLAMMATION AND INFECTION are usually the result of dirty hands, putting makeup over a piercing, or putting the piercing in contact with pet hair, dust, filth, etc. During inflammation, the piercing area is swollen, red, and painful to touch. Inflammation can, but doesn't need to be followed by an infection. In that case, there's a thick white or yellow excrement coming out of the wound. If your piercing is infected, the jewelry is a draining tool, so don't remove it, otherwise the canal will close around the infection. If you notice these changes in your piercing, come to
the studio immediately. Don't let the area get so swollen so the tissue 'eats up' the jewelry.

HYPERTROPHIC SCARRING
Scars are areas of connective tissue (fibrosis) replacing normal skin after an injury. Scar tissue is made of the same protein (collagene) as the tissue being replaced, only differently formed.
Types of scars:
• Hypertrophic scar - within the limits of incision, with a thin layer of red skin growing from the base
• Keloid scar - darker in color and transcends the limits of the wound
• Atrophic scar – imprinted in the skin.
Piercings usually have hyperthophic scarring, and less often keloid scarring. For simpler communication with clients, we use the term 'keloid scarring' for both.
If you notice any growths near the piercing, come to get it checked immediately. This scar tissue sometimes looks like a small flesh-colored growth, sometimes it's red, and it can (but it doesn't have to) be followed by an infection (pus excrement). In tongue piercings, scar tissue is usually created on the lower side - it's tissue-colored, hard, and not painful. If the scar growth isn't stopped on time, it can keep growing until it covers the whole piercing. So come for a checkup as soon as you notice these changes.

EPITHELIZATION is a process of excessive cell dividing so they would cover the wound. With piercings, epithelization takes place inside the piercing canal. The process takes longer with long or wide piercing canals.

LYMPHATIC LIQUID is one of the bodily fluids that first forms as tissue liquid and then enters the lymphatic canals through filtration.
Simply put - lymphatic liquid is mucous (clear or yellowish white) that sometimes oozes from the piercing canal during the healing period or after an old piercing injury. Sometimes people mistake it for pus - it would be a lot thicker and accompanied with inflammation/swelling/pain, which are usually not present with lymphatic excrement.

MIGRATION is a process during which the piercing jewelry moves with time from the initial place it was put into and heals sideways. Often rejection happens soon after. Migration occurs due to sleeping on the piercing, playing with it, or wearing jewelry that is too big or too heavy.
Image on the right shows a mild migration of upper navel piercing. Under the upper ball you can see a small scar from jewelry migration. The upper piercing is over a year old, and the lower one is new.

JEWELRY REJECTION is a process during which the body starts to push the piercing jewelry on the skin surface. The skin holding the jewelry thins out and if the piercing isn't removed on time, the skin can break, leaving a significant scar.
This can happen due to sleeping on the piercing, playing with it, wearing inadequate jewelry, and sometimes with no obvious reason - the body simply doesn't accept the jewelry, especially in surface piercings on a flat part of the skin or on very thin skin.