Strange wood?

Friday November 7th, 2008 @ 10:15 AM

Filed under: Ear

Hey guys

I have a friend that is in a cabinetmaking course in college, and he is eager to make me some plugs to try out the machines, and to work with some of the different species of woods they have in his shop. The only thing is I am hesitant to actually wear the plugs, due to the fact that I have never heard of some of the wood before he wants to use. He is making a pair out of something called wenge. I know everyone is different, but are you folks aware of wenge posing a particular threat to someones health if worn?

thanks

At first, I was sure this was going to be a question about a genital modification gone wrong.

Michael Sims, one of the experts when it comes to woods being used for body jewelry, has Wenge listed as a wood that is unsafe to wear. It apparently can cause a contact dermatitis reaction as well as has the potential for “central nervous system effects”

No beuno.

Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | 4 Comments

Angry Conch?

Friday November 7th, 2008 @ 10:02 AM

Filed under: Ear

I got my inner conch pierced about 4 weeks ago. Prior to this I’ve only had my earlobes pierced (3 times). I know that I have issues with nickel.

The piercing process was fine and I had no issues (I was pierced with a regular needle and got a 14g barbell put in because I heard barbells are better for healing), but for the past week or so my piercing has begun to act up. There is a reddish bump on the back of the piercing and whenever I go to clean it, it bleeds slightly.

I’ve been cleaning it thoroughly using Bactine twice a day and Spectro Gel once a day in the shower. I have also done a few sea salt soaks which helped greatly with getting rid of the minor pain I experienced in the beginning.

Is there an issue I should be aware of? I don’t think it is infected because I clean it regularly, so I was worried it may be rejecting. I heard that bleeding piercings is a bad sign. Is there anything I should do?

Thanks in advance.

You made a good choice with the barbell. They definitely heal faster than rings. I prefer to do conch piercings at a minimum of 12ga, as I find they are a bit more durable and seem to heal a little better, but a 14ga conch piercing is definitely “healable”.

I would suggest changing your aftercare routine. Stop the Bactine for sure and it’s probably best to stop the Spectro Gel as well. Neither of those products are going to help your piercing heal…your body has to do the healing. In most cases, chemical cleansers will actually interfere with your body’s ability to heal. At this point it sounds like you are using too many things, too often, on the piercing. In addition, the action of moving the jewelry around in the piercing (which I’m assuming you’re doing to rinse the cleaners off/out) will serve to irritate your piercing.

The bump you have, and the bleeding you are getting, is an indication that your piercing is irritated.

I would suggest doing warm sea salt soaks on the piercing twice a day. Try to soak the piercing for about 5 minutes AFTER you shower. I think you’ll find that fewer products, less often…and a reduction in irritation from moving the jewelry…will make a big difference.

Good luck!

Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | 1 Comment

Tattoo Ink issues

Monday November 3rd, 2008 @ 6:05 PM

Filed under: Tattoos

Hello there guys , there are already few months since i first learned about your site and since then i haven’t stopped watch your topics and daily picture posts .

My tattoo time came , so i am having some issues with my mother telling me that the ink that is used is the same as the ink heavy industries use to paint the cars (as she read from an artical : source coming from european union and dated back to 28/7/03 ffs-.-). I am opposing her by saying that the ink is completly natural produced by herbals , and that the source is way old. What i mean is come on we leave in 2008 every day a new techonolical breakthrough comes out, there is no possible way tattoo shops using such ink even if they did back then. What i need to know is where the ink comes from and what are the possibilities for me to have an allergic shock via the ingredients used to the ink. If you could tell me the ingredients used it would be lovely !!

I am looking forward to your answer , since you guys are experts ^^

Yours Faithfully ..

Different companies use different ingredients in their pigments. Yes- some are organic pigments. Others are made from plastics and metal salts. Some use glycerin as a base and some don’t. It’s impossible to tell you who uses what.

Tattoo pigments are generally not regulated and most companies won’t provide an MSDS sheet, which is disconcerting.

That said- most pigment out there is totally fine and you’ll be alright using it. Avoid gimmick pigments like UV reactive. At most, you may react to the red pigment, but that’s not as common as it used to be.

Good luck!

Posted by Shawn Porter | Permalink | 4 Comments