From the evidence available, the Generation-X trend of body piercing does little to cause serious health problems, according to a new state panel of health care professionals.Dr. Cheryl Hawk, of Davenport’s Palmer College of Chiropractic, is a member of the Iowa Council of Scientific and Health Advisors. She says the study doesn’t mean piercing can’t cause serious problems, there’s just no evidence of problems. Hawk says there is an opportunity for someone to become infected whenever the skin is broken. She says people who want a part pierced should pay close attention to procedure.Dr. Hawk says there is little evidence to suggest body piercing brings serious health complications, but that doesn’t mean infection isn’t fairly frequent. She says there simply isn’t much data to go on as no one is really keeping track of body piercings. As far as sanitary conditions, she says some areas of the body — like the mouth — cannot be effectively decontaminated for a piercing. Hawk says about 80-percent of U-S women have their ears pierced.
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