According to the latest research, humans have been getting piercings for over 12,000 years. That means that piercing has been around even longer than agriculture, which developed around 10,000 years ago. And it’s still embraced by millions upon millions of people around the world. It’s so ingrained in human culture, someone even decided to give it its own special holiday. The holiday we speak of is National Piercing Day, and it’s observed every May 16th by people all across the U.S. and around the globe.

The History Of National Piercing Day

Even though no one really knows the origins of this holiday, it’s believed that it began in 2007 by a group of friends who considered themselves to be body piercing enthusiasts. One member of the group remarked that there should be a National Piercing Day, and the holiday sort of took off from that point on. Now it’s celebrated by people all over.

Interesting Facts About Body Piercings

We’re all ready to celebrate National Piercing Day, but there’s one more thing that we need to do, and that’s to tell you some interesting facts about body piercings. Below is everything that we know about body piercings that you might want to know so that you can share them with friends and family on this holiday.

The Majority Of Americans Have Their Earlobes Pierced

According to the people who keep track of important things, approximately 8 out of 10 Americans have or have had at least one earlobe piercing. About 14% of Americans have piercings beyond just the earlobes and have other parts of their body pierced.

People Can Be Allergic To Their Piercings

Another thing we want to say is that some people have allergic reactions to their piercings. This is especially true for jewelry that’s made out of white gold, cobalt, or nickel. Nickel is a very common allergen for many people. To avoid the risk of having an allergic reaction to your piercing, you should make sure that the jewelry is made from surgical-grade steel, titanium, or 18-karat gold.

You Can Overclean A Piercing

One thing that many people don’t realize is that you can overclean a piercing as it’s healing. That’s because the point of cleaning the wound is to assist the body in healing itself, and cleaning it too much can actually make it harder for the wound to heal. Light cleaning twice a day is usually sufficient to keep the wound from becoming infected.

Not All U.S. States Regulate The Piercing Industry

Since there’s no federal piercing regulation, it’s up to each individual state to regulate their piercing industry. Unfortunately, not every state does, so it’s up to the consumer to make sure they go to a place that they can trust.

Observing National Piercing Day

This holiday can be observed by getting a new piercing, but that’s not the only way it can be celebrated. It can also be celebrated by giving your favorite piercing shop a favorable review online, by posting a picture of a current or new piercing with the hashtag #NationalPiercingDay, and by watching one of the many documentaries about piercings and their cultural significance.