Everyone has seen those videos of needles vs piercing gun studs, but unless there is data to compare the two then the exercise is meaningless.

Although gun piercing establishments usually train their operators, this training is not standardized and may amount to merely viewing a video, reading an instruction booklet, and/or practicing on cosmetic sponges or other employees. If you are reading this around July time I will most likely have an end of term promotion for children.The body jewellery used at Rogue and other high-end studios is verified implant-grade and is designed to be easily cleaned, with a mirror-finish. The guns are normally wiped down with an alcohol-based disinfectant which is ineffective at killing pathogens such as Pseudomonas spp. Single use sterilised adaptors that come with the studs are fitted to the gun before the studs are placed in them so that only sterilised parts are actually in contact with the skin. The studs then should be rotated back and forth to ensure that the piercing remains in a perfectly circular shape and that there is free movement of the stud in the hole. There are a number of types of piercing guns, but in most cases, the front of the gun holds a stud earring and the back holds the clasp, usually a butterfly clip.

With a piercing gun, the piercing, earring insertion, and back attachment can be accomplished in one swift motion. Not only this, but the transmission of bloodborne infections such as Hepatitis have been noted as a risk when reusing piercing guns, (Tweeten et al, 1998. The other benefits of a piercing gun are only felt by the owner of the establishment, who can increase their profit margins by using untrained staff and cheap guns to make money.

It is our hope that, with accurate and adequate information, consumers and the legislatures will understand and reject the risks of gun piercing in the interests of the public health.

I confirm that I am a qualified beauty therapist/hair professional or a student undergoing training on a beauty/hair course. If I was going myself for another lobe, I'd just run into Claire's because it's cheaper, I heal well and I know what I'm doing. Children are not always the cleanest and excessive changing of the earrings can lead to damage if they are not careful and clean. These items are designed to be manufactured as cheaply as possible, with little regard for the safety of the person who has to wear them.

Furthermore, because of the ease of acquiring a gun piercing and the lack of awareness of risk, many consumers fail to associate their negative experiences with the stud gun itself.