Eyebrow piercing
Encyclopedia
An eyebrow piercing is a vertical surface piercing
, wherein a twelve to eighteen gauge cannula
needle is inserted through the bottom of the eyebrow and exits through the top of the eyebrow to permit insertion of jewelry. Those performing the piercing may use a pennington clamp
to better guide the needle through the skin. A curved barbell
is the most common jewelry inserted post-piercing.
A horizontal piercing of the eyebrow is known as an anti-eyebrow
piercing.
, curved barbells and captive bead rings are the common jewelry types worn in eyebrow piercings. Each of these jewelry types put varying degrees of pressure on the piercing, which can cause irritation or piercing migration
over time. The larger the gauge used in the piercing, the less likely the piercing is to be rejected or accidentally torn out. Eighteen gauge piercings and jewelry is common.
process takes a minimum of six weeks to eight weeks for the wound to close properly around the piercing, and it may be six months to a year before the jewelry can be removed for any length of time without the hole closing. It is common for an eyebrow piercing to produce a sticky white discharge or a crust around the jewelry during the healing process. Complications, when reported, are usually fixed with a short-term round of antibiotics. A light bruise
is common, due to the high amount of capillaries in the eyebrow and the proximity to the surface of the skin. Due to the fact that it is a surface piercing
, eyebrow piercings, like anti-eyebrow
piercings, are frequently rejected by the body.
has been performed in many cultures for many centuries, usually as part of a rite of passage
or to identify a person as courageous, strong, or worthy. Eyebrow piercing, however, has a short history. It was introduced by the punk subculture
in the 1970's as a fashion
statement.
Surface piercing
Surface piercings are any body piercings that take place on the surface sewn into the body through areas which are not particularly concave or convex, where the piercing canal transverses a surface flap of skin, rather than running completely through a piece of body tissue from one side to another...
, wherein a twelve to eighteen gauge cannula
Cannula
A cannula or canula is a tube that can be inserted into the body, often for the delivery or removal of fluid or for the gathering of data...
needle is inserted through the bottom of the eyebrow and exits through the top of the eyebrow to permit insertion of jewelry. Those performing the piercing may use a pennington clamp
Pennington clamp
A Pennington clamp, also known as a Duval clamp, is a surgical clamp with a triangular eyelet. It is commonly used in body piercing to hold the skin in place, and guide the needle through it....
to better guide the needle through the skin. A curved barbell
Barbell (piercing)
Barbell style piercing jewelry is composed of a straight bar and with a bead on each end, one or both beads unscrewable for removal and/or changing of the beads. Often one of the beads is fixed, either via epoxy or welding, so that only one bead is used to install or remove the jewelry...
is the most common jewelry inserted post-piercing.
A horizontal piercing of the eyebrow is known as an anti-eyebrow
Anti-eyebrow
An anti-eyebrow is a body piercing. Normally it is a small surface bar that is placed above the cheek bone or below the eyebrow. This piercing can be vertical or horizontal, depending on the person's preference...
piercing.
Jewelry
BarbellsBarbell (piercing)
Barbell style piercing jewelry is composed of a straight bar and with a bead on each end, one or both beads unscrewable for removal and/or changing of the beads. Often one of the beads is fixed, either via epoxy or welding, so that only one bead is used to install or remove the jewelry...
, curved barbells and captive bead rings are the common jewelry types worn in eyebrow piercings. Each of these jewelry types put varying degrees of pressure on the piercing, which can cause irritation or piercing migration
Piercing migration
Piercing migration is the process that occurs when a body piercing moves from its initial location. This process can be painful or go unnoticed, until it has progressed. Given enough time, a ring may migrate entirely outside of the skin, although it may only migrate a small amount and come to...
over time. The larger the gauge used in the piercing, the less likely the piercing is to be rejected or accidentally torn out. Eighteen gauge piercings and jewelry is common.
Placement
The placement of the eyebrow piercing varies according to the will of the one receiving the piercing. The area may be pierced anywhere along the eyebrow from directly above the eye, to the edge of the eyebrow by the temple. Care must be taken if the eyebrow is pierced further in than directly above the eye, because of the presence of supra-orbital nerves. Piercing one of these nerves can cause permanent damage.Healing
After the piercing is completed, the healingHealing
Physiological healing is the restoration of damaged living tissue, organs and biological system to normal function. It is the process by which the cells in the body regenerate and repair to reduce the size of a damaged or necrotic area....
process takes a minimum of six weeks to eight weeks for the wound to close properly around the piercing, and it may be six months to a year before the jewelry can be removed for any length of time without the hole closing. It is common for an eyebrow piercing to produce a sticky white discharge or a crust around the jewelry during the healing process. Complications, when reported, are usually fixed with a short-term round of antibiotics. A light bruise
Bruise
A bruise, also called a contusion, is a type of relatively minor hematoma of tissue in which capillaries and sometimes venules are damaged by trauma, allowing blood to seep into the surrounding interstitial tissues. Bruises can involve capillaries at the level of skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle,...
is common, due to the high amount of capillaries in the eyebrow and the proximity to the surface of the skin. Due to the fact that it is a surface piercing
Surface piercing
Surface piercings are any body piercings that take place on the surface sewn into the body through areas which are not particularly concave or convex, where the piercing canal transverses a surface flap of skin, rather than running completely through a piece of body tissue from one side to another...
, eyebrow piercings, like anti-eyebrow
Anti-eyebrow
An anti-eyebrow is a body piercing. Normally it is a small surface bar that is placed above the cheek bone or below the eyebrow. This piercing can be vertical or horizontal, depending on the person's preference...
piercings, are frequently rejected by the body.
History and culture
Body piercingBody piercing
Body piercing, a form of body modification, is the practice of puncturing or cutting a part of the human body, creating an opening in which jewelry may be worn. The word piercing can refer to the act or practice of body piercing, or to an opening in the body created by this act or practice...
has been performed in many cultures for many centuries, usually as part of a rite of passage
Rite of passage
A rite of passage is a ritual event that marks a person's progress from one status to another. It is a universal phenomenon which can show anthropologists what social hierarchies, values and beliefs are important in specific cultures....
or to identify a person as courageous, strong, or worthy. Eyebrow piercing, however, has a short history. It was introduced by the punk subculture
Punk subculture
The punk subculture includes a diverse array of ideologies, and forms of expression, including fashion, visual art, dance, literature, and film, which grew out of punk rock.-History:...
in the 1970's as a fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
statement.