Piercing

A piercing is a hole made in the tissue beneath the skin for inserting jewellery such as rings, studs and barbells. Ear lobe piercing can be done with a piercing device. Piercings on other parts of the body are made by a hollow needle. The piercer pushes the needle through the piercing site and then guides the jewellery through the hole. The needle should only be used once. Both the needle and jewellery should be sterile.

A piercing needle, jewellery (sometimes used with a piercing device) breaks the skin, so you can get a bacterial skin infection, have an allergic skin reaction, or the piercing can cause scarring or keloid formation (an overgrowth of scar tissue). If the piercing is not done properly, you could also get a blood-borne disease such as HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C. You can protect yourself from hepatitis B by being vaccinated. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C or HIV.

It is important to get a piercing from a premises inspected by public health. Toronto Public Health inspects all known personal service settings annually that do piercing to make sure they are taking the right steps to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. You can search inspection results on BodySafe.ca, email BodySafe@toronto.ca or contact Toronto Public Health at 416-338-7600 if you are uncertain that a salon is inspected or would like to know about the inspection history.

Piercing using a Needle

Go to a premises that is inspected by your local public health unit. Your piercer should undertake the following infection prevention steps as well:

  • Wash their hands with soap and water or use a 70% alcohol hand sanitizer and put on new gloves before starting the piercing.
  • Clean your skin with an antiseptic such as 70% alcohol before the piercing begins.
  • Only use sterile jewellery made for piercing. Jewellery should not be contaminated with any cream, lotion or liquid before use.
  • Remove needles and jewellery from sterilized sealed packages in front of you, just before your piercing.
  • Throw used needles immediately into an approved sharps container and not into the regular garbage. The sharps container cannot be discarded into regular garbage.
  • Only use sterile instruments that are intended to go through the skin.
  • Sterilize instruments using a sterilizer. Sterilizers are to meet Health Canada and Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standards.
  • Glass (hot) bead “sterilizers”, UV “sterilizers”, chemi-claves, ultrasonic cleaners, pressure cookers, microwaves or boiling water are not acceptable methods of sterilization.
  • Have the sterilizer tested using a “spore test challenge” that is sent to a laboratory at least once every two weeks to ensure it is working properly.
  • Items sterilized in the premises must be placed in a sterilization pouch with a chemical indicator.
  • Some piercers may purchase instruments as pre-packages sterilized from a manufacturer and may not require a sterilizer.
  • Explain to you how to care for your new piercing and give you written instructions. It is normal for your piercing to be slightly sore, swollen and red for a few days. The piercer should tell you to see a doctor if your piercing develops pus or becomes red, very swollen or very tender. These might be signs that your piercing has become infected.

Ear Piercing Using a Piercing Device

Go to a premises that is inspected by your local public health unit. A piercing device can be used on your earlobe. A piercing device should not be used on your ear cartilage (high ear), nose or belly button.

Your piercer should undertake the following infection prevention steps as well:

  • Wash their hands with soap and water or use a 70% alcohol hand sanitizer and put on new gloves before starting the piercing.
  • Clean your skin with an antiseptic such as 70% alcohol before the piercing begins.
  • Only use sterile jewellery made for piercing. Jewellery should not be contaminated with any cream, lotion or liquid before use.
  • Only use earrings that come in individually wrapped, sterile packages for piercing.
  • Open the jewellery and parts from sterilized sealed packages in front of you, just before your piercing.
  • Only use approved ear piercing device. These devices are equipped with sterile, single-use, disposable, plastic cartridges or parts that protect the protect from being contaminated by blood or body fluids during use.
  • Throw away used parts from the piercing device and clean and disinfect the device after the piercing is done.
  • Explain to you how to care for your new piercing and give you written instructions. It is normal for your piercing to be slightly sore, swollen and red for a few days. The piercer should tell you to see a doctor if your piercing develops pus or becomes red, very swollen or very tender. These might be signs that your piercing has become infected.
  • The piercer should be willing to answer all of your questions about the procedure and any infection prevention steps that will be taken.
  • The premises should be well-lit, clean and tidy.
  • Your piercer should ask you for your contact information for record-keeping purposes.

A complaint about infection control practices in a piercing studio, in the City of Toronto, can be made by using our online BodySafe Complaint Form  or  emailing BodySafe@toronto.ca or by calling by calling 416-338-BODY (2639) 416-392-0658. All complaints are confidential and can be anonymous.