AboutBrian Skellie Expertise I can answer questions in regards to and not limited to: jewelry safety, specifically material, shape, proportion, and related issues; aseptic technique and sterilization as it applies to piercing safety; ethical issues of technique and bedside manner; the aftercare and recovery process for piercings.
Experience
Past/Present clients
Tens of thousands of one on one client experiences. http://www.piercing.org/ Body jewelry design and safety expert: Member ASTM committee F04(www.astm.org)
Member AAMI (www.aami.org)
Research advisor and educator for the APP for over a decade(www.safepiercing.org) teaching advanced studio setup, sterilization and equipment management, freehand piercing, aseptic/sterile technique and much more.
Distributor for SciCan StatIM sterilization and cleaning products. http://www.piercing.org/statim/
Expert: Brian Skellie Date: 6/2/2008 Subject: tongue piercing irritated/infected after change to Hot Topic barbell at home
Question I have a follow-up to a question I just asked. I have had my tongue pierced for three weeks. I switched to a shorter barbell and now I am experiencing discharge (I wasn't before I switched). It is slightly yellowish, and I am wondering if I should switch back to my original barbell...even if it is too long? I got my current barbell at hot topic, and sterilized it myself in rubbing alcohol (best I could do). I also have a clear plastic spacer, would that irritate my tongue as well? What is my best choice? I don't have the cash to buy another barbell for a while, either.
Answer Jewelry purchased for a piercing should ALWAYS be sterilized only in a steam autoclave before it is inserted. Alcohol and home cleaning products and processes DO NOT work and will leave infectious germs on the jewelry. This is especially dangerous for new or healing piercings.
See a doctor, as the problem can get worse quickly if the symptoms do not go away immediately after you switch back to your original post.
The clear plastic is not likely to be safe either, and probably can not be autoclave sterilized. You should throw it and the new barbell away, and save up for a safe piece of internally threaded titanium barbell jewelry. http://www.piercing.org/faq/tongue.html explains more in detail about quality standards as well as http://www.piercing.org/faq/jewelry.html
