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© William Rafti

Body piercing has a long history, dating back to the ancient Egyptians who considered ear and navel piercings as a mark of royalty.

Roman centurions were also known to wear nipple rings as a badge of macho courage.

In India, women have been wearing delicate nose rings as fashionable jewelry since the 16th century.

Now body piercings in the Western world have never been more popular or trendy - ever since the mid-1960's when hippies first adopted them - followed by the gay community and, later, by members of the punk subculture, who famously inserted safety pins through their cheeks as a visible sign of rebellion.

Today, light body piercing has become more mainstream, even among men, as a sign of one's own individuality.

And extreme body piercing is still popular among teens.

No matter what kind of personal decoration you may be considering, however - from simple ear studs to multiple nipple rings - there are health & safety issues to be considered before going ahead with what is basically an invasive medical procedure.

Much like advice given following a tattoo, infection is the most common alert given by experts, who advise that any type of body piercing be done only in a clean, professionally-run studio.

After care is also important to avoid complications as the piercing heals, which can be anywhere from weeks to months depending on where the piercing is inserted.

Elsewhere on the Web, see, hear and find out more about the subject at top sites featuring pictures & photo galleries, video clips, visitor comments and experiences on what it's like, along with more tips and advice on health & safety issues surrounding the current craze for body piercing ....

Body Piercing Photos - Well-established Aussie studio with satisfied customers appearing in separate galleries of ear, facial, navel, nipple & genital piercings with related advice on health issues and after-care.

Body Piercing Pictures and Experiences - Huge community at Body Modification E-Zine sharing photos and stories of their latest piercings with over a dozen photo galleries including ear, nose, eyebrow, lip, navel piercings and more.

Body piercing gallery - Another extensive collection of visitor-submitted photos with ear, lip, tongue, neck, genital, corset, and other piercings including "unsual" and individual user galleries.

YouTube - body piercing - A collection of visitor-submitted videos on the topic showing footage of nipple, navel, ear, tongue and other piercings.

Body Piercing - Top-notch general guide to the topic with information on ear, tongue & genital piercings including associated health risks and a chart listing typical healing times for various procedures, from CoolNurse.com.

The Association of Professional Piercers - Promoting safe piercing with facts & information on how to choose a piercer, imporant health considerations, piercing after care, troubleshooting tips and an extensive FAQ.

Go Ask Alice! Pondering the pros and cons of tongue piercing - The teen advisor with a good overview of the procedure, after care and health issues, including links to related questions on tattoos, nose & nipple piercings.

Tattoos and piercings: What to know beforehand - Online guide from Mayo Clinic for health & safety issues related to permanent makeup tattoos & body piercings, overviews of infection risks and precautions.