Introduction

If you decide to get your ears or another part of your body pierced, make sure you go to a licensed body piercing shop or piercer.

Piercing is a fairly safe procedure, as long as it's carried out by a licensed practitioner and you take care to avoid infection.

This page covers:

Piercing

Symptoms of infection

When to get medical advice

Risks

Licensed piercers

Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 11 Jan 2017