Piercings in medical students and their effects on the skin.
BACKGROUND
Piercings are body embellishments commonly seen in young people, however their inherent risk of infection and scarring disorders are less divulged.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence of body piercings among medical students and their possible dermatologic consequences.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study with 58 medical students, by means of a structured questionnaire covering socio-demographic characteristics, technical issues related to the piercing and characteristics of the dermatologic complications.


RESULTS
The sample was predominantly female (86.2%), with mean age 24 ± 3 years. The placement of the first piercing occurred during adolescence (median age 15), without medical supervision (91.4%) or knowledge of parents/guardians (74%). Most piercings were made of metal alloy/stainless steel, in a dumbbell model (51.7%), inserted in the umbilical area (53.5%) or ear (41.4%), with frequent cutaneous reactions in the first six months post-piercing. Hypertrophic scarring, pain, swelling and infection (p<0.05) had significantly higher frequencies among those with navel piercings.


CONCLUSIONS
Piercing insertion occurred during adolescence. Local inflammatory and infectious reactions were common. Scarring disorders and dermatitis appeared in the long term. There is need for preventive and educational activities, starting with those in the academic environment.
Universidade Positivo, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
Kátia Sheylla Malta
KS
Purim
Universidade Positivo, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
Bernardo Augusto
BA
Rosario
Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
Cristine Secco
CS
Rosario
Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
Ana Tereza Bittencourt
AT
Guimarães
D000328:Adult; D046288:Body Piercing / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D012307:Risk Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000209:etiology; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult