A large number of people have sent me the following link: Medicine: An Earful at the Mall, the latest iteration of the ear piercing gun story. It started as a “ear piercing guns lead to problems, get pierced at a studio” story, with doctor back-up, and now somehow the powers have flipped it to being a “pro-gun, anti-needle” story. Anyway, here's the letter I wrote them:
My name is Shannon Larratt and I am the publisher of BMEzine.com, the world's largest resource and information source on body modification, and the only site that actively catalogs all modifications as well as their risks. I have published four books on the subject and have appeared in on TLC, The Discovery Channel, and many other shows as an expert in the field.
I recently read your article "Medicine: An Earful at the Mall" (online at https://www.msnbc.com/news/826550.asp), and while I am glad that the risks of mall piercing are being pointed out, I feel that it's important to mention a number of rather glaring errors. I am concerned that a number of these errors are literally opposite to medical knowledge on the subject and that some of the advice you are giving, while well meaning, may well be endangering your readers.
You say, "doctors advise against using disinfectant, since the studs are sterilized before shipping." In a perfect world that might be true, but, as you pointed out, and as the recent cases in Oregon illustrate, stores like Claire's use young employees who have neither the training nor the equipment to ensure that the items that come in contact with your blood are not contaminated. In an age of hepatitis, AIDS, and other deadly blood-borne diseases, I think it is very irresponsible to imply that one can safely patronize anything but a fully equipped piercing studio for such services.
You then go on to quote "Nicole Maye" of Claire's Accessories. First, I think it's deceptive to call her a "piercer". Body piercers that work in piercing studios receive extensive training, and in most parts of the US, are licensed by state health boards ensuring that they have only hard cleanable surfaces, a well maintained and regularly tested autoclave, and so on. As you point out in the article, mall kiosks and stores such as Claire's do not have the facilities to properly guarantee the safety of their clients, nor have their employees received adequate training in the field.
This inexperience and lack of knowledge is reflected in Maye's statement that piercings performed with a needle are more likely to lead to infection. To put it simply, this is a lie. As the doctors you quote pointed out, piercing guns violently rip and tear through the ear, rather than creating a clean and quick-healing cut like a needle does. In addition, a needled piercing, done in the context of a piercing studio, uses only items which are either disposable or fresh out of autoclaved packaging.
Given the choice of being pierced by an experienced piercer with clean surgical gear that's freshly out of an autoclave (the same device a hospital uses to sterilize its tools), or some kid ramming ear studs that haven't been sterilized since before they were shipped through me with a spring loaded gun, I think the choice is obvious.
If you or other writers have any follow-up questions I would be glad to assist.
Shannon Larratt
BMEzine.com
If you want to write a letter of you're own, you're welcome to rewrite any of the above for your own purposes. Seth also has an excellent letter on his page that he sent them about it.
PS. I always feel like a goof doing self-horn-tooting, but I figure it makes them more likely to take it seriously.
