When you exercise, do you take off your jewelry? Some people probably do, while others don’t, but you should know that certain piercings in athletes are at risk of getting caught or suffering impacts.
From our tattoo studio in Madrid, we want to give you some advice if you practice sports, so your piercings stay perfect and your skin is properly cared for.
What are the risks of piercings in athletes?
Exercising is essential to stay healthy, but we often only think about musculoskeletal injuries and forget our skin.
Just as we remove rings when practicing a discipline like climbing, in other sports we should consider whether our piercings could be damaged, especially during the healing phase.
Athletes are exposed to various factors that can interfere with this phase. This doesn’t mean something bad will happen, but it’s important to know the risks:
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Repetitive movements: can cause friction or impacts, leading to trauma in the pierced area.
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Strong impacts or catches: can cause accidental ejection of the jewelry, resulting in serious injuries.
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Constant sweating: sweat and exposure to dirt can increase infection risk if hygiene is inadequate.
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Moisture: water from pools, lakes, or the sea may contain agents that affect healing.
Minimize the risk by following these simple tips:
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Don’t touch your piercing with dirty hands before, during, or after physical activity.
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Protect the piercing with hypoallergenic tape if there is a risk of impact or tearing.
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Clean the piercing with saline solution after each workout to remove sweat and bacteria.
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During the healing phase, avoid pools and natural waters to prevent infections.
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If you need to hide it temporarily but the area hasn’t fully healed, don’t remove the jewelry: use silicone retainers.
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If signs of infection appear, consult us.
Most problematic areas according to sport
This doesn’t mean athletes in the following disciplines cannot wear these piercings. It simply means they need to take extra care:
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Ears (helix, lobe, tragus, rook): contact sports or sports requiring helmets or headphones.
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Mouth and tongue: contact sports or those with a risk of falling.
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Navel: gymnastics, martial arts, etc., due to constant friction that hinders healing.
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Nipple: contact sports or those requiring tight clothing.
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Eyebrows and bridge: impact sports.
Piercings in athletes only need extra care during healing to prevent infections and tears. Choosing the right jewelry and maintaining strict hygiene is essential to avoid complications.
If you have doubts about which piercing is best for your sport, consult us for advice.