nose piercing

A nose piercing is the piercing of the skin or cartilage which forms any part of the nose, normally for the purpose of wearing jewellery. Among the different varieties of nose piercings, the nostril piercing is the most widespread, and for many years, was second only to ear piercing as the most frequently used form of body piercing in North America. However, because navel piercing has risen in popularity since the 1990s, the nostril piercing no longer holds this ranking. Nostril piercing is a body piercing practice often associated with India. In India the outside of the left nostril is the preferred position of the piercing as this is supposed to make giving birth easier. This is because Ayurvedic medicine associates this location with the female reproductive organs. Nostril piercing has become popular amongst the western nations, as have other forms of body piercing. Celebrities such as Madonna and Sinéad O'Connor have had their nostrils pierced.

It was first performed in the Middle East about 4,000 years ago. From there it spread out to India. India pierced beautiful girls with this jewellery to mark beauty, and also social standing in the 16th century. Later on, the piercing was introduced by the hippie culture in the 1960s and '70s. Afterwards punks and subsequent youth cultures in the '80s and '90s adopted this sort of piercing. Today, nostril piercing is popular in the U.S., UK, Canada, and Italy with piercings being performed on either the left or right nostril. Both men and women have nostril piercings, although they are much more common among women. Occasionally, people will have multiple nostril piercings, in either or both nostrils.

The risks associated with a nose piercing

A nose piercing is an invasive procedure and is not without risks. When properly performed, these risks can be minimized, and most individuals who receive their nose piercing from a professional will enjoy a safe and healthy experience.