An industrial piercing is two or more piercings through the skin that are joined together by one solid piece of jewelry. Growing in popularity since 1992, these special piercings are most commonly made in the ears, though they can also be made in the lip, the tongue, the belly button, and elsewhere.

Is this a fairly new type of piercing? Actually, it's quite old. In fact, body piercing in some form or another has been around since the ancient Egyptians, making it one of the oldest forms of self adornment. Of course, back then it was more a showing of wealth, power, or position, while today it is more about self expression, allowing one to become a living work of art.

Throughout this article I will show you several popular industrial piercings while I familiarize you with the terminology, the proper care of such piercings, and where you can find industrial piercing jewelry online. So, sit back and enjoy the show.

The most common industrial piercing is a barbell through the ear, as shown below:

The bridge of the nose is another common area for such piercings, providing an accentuation of the eyes:

Moving downward, we have a double piercing of the lip that looks more like something out of sci-fi. This version of industrial piercing is more common for men, though women have been known to get them as well. Considering the tenderness of the lips, I'm not so sure I recommend this one:

Another popular location is the tongue, but I couldn't find a good picture of that one. Suffice it to say, it looks a lot like the single piercing, and makes one wonder how these people eat. After all, who wants a piece of jewelry sloshing around in their mouth with their food? And what if you accidentally swallow the piece of jewelry? Proceed with your own caution on this one.

And that brings us down (literally) to one of the finer forms of self expression, the naval piercing, which is highly popular. Here's an excellent picture of one:

When a person places more than one industrial piercing across the ear canal, it's called an 'ear cage'. I have provided a picture below to illustrate what one looks like:

An industrial piercing is performed much like a normal one, with the skin being pierced by a needle. Except, in this case, the skin is pierced twice, creating two separate holes that will later be joined together by a single piece of jewelry. Most people that perform this procedure do both holes at once, but there are a few artists out there who do each hole separately. Myself, I recommend having both holes done at once so they line up properly.

The video below shows an industrial piercing being performed on someone's ear:

It might! After all, the skin is being pierced, and we all know that can cause some pain; However, the real pain will comes afterwards if you are one of those who doesn't learn how to care for your piercing properly. For you see, like any other hole made in your skin, it opens the chance to getting an infection until it is properly healed.

Typically, a barbell is inserted through the piercing when it is done and this is left in the ear for three months to a year while the piercing heals. Another alternative to the barbell is captive bead rings, shown below:

Either way you go, it's important that you keep something in the newly formed holes to keep them from growing shut, and you also need to clean them daily.

As for cleaning and caring for your new piercing, I recommend doing the following twice daily (once when you wake up and once before you go to bed):

1. Wash your hands thoroughly (to prevent contamination of your jewelry) then use a damp cotton ball to clean around your piercing. Wipe away any dirt or anything else that has accumulated around the piercing.
2. Rub liquid soap with your fingers around the site of the piercing and rub it on the piece of jewelry as well.
3. Rinse the jewelry and the piercing site with warm water to remove all of the soap.
4. Dry your piercing with a paper towel

Things to note:

1. Never use a hand towel to clean or dry your piercing or your jewelry, as these can harbor germs. By using something disposable, such as a paper towel, you help prevent infecting the site of your piercing as it heals.
2. Never rotate the jewelry when cleaning it or wearing it. All this does is introduce the risk of rotating bacteria under your skin where it will cause a very painful infection. The part that's inside your ear will stay germ free if it never sees the outside of your body. Also, it does little to help the healing process, so while some will recommend turning the jewelry I highly recommend against it.

Remember, it will take three months to a year for the piercing to heal Yes, it's a bit of a process, but once it becomes a part of your routine you won't mind it, and when your piercing is finally healed you will never need to do this again. Also, the healing will take place much quicker if you follow this routine as it will allow the ear to heal naturally, with no intruduction of bacteria to complicate the process.

Two things most people don't know:

1. Never use any product containing rubbing alcohol (AKA isopropyl alcohol) to cleanse the piercing, as it will dry the skin and irritate the piercing. It could also cause an infection.
2. Never use hydrogen peroxide to clean your piercing. though it seems like a good idea, as it kills bacteria, it also kills the white cells that participate in the healing process, making it take longer.
3. Also, avoid ointments and ear care solutions, as they tend to clog pores or irritate the site of the piercing.

Just go with the cleaning method I prescribed above and you should be all right.

As you can see, it looks like what one would expect it to look like, and this form of self expression is becoming more increasingly popular.

Typically, they run anywhere from $40-$70. This includes the cost of the piercing and a barbell to keep the piercing from closing. By watching for local specials you might be able to find yourself a deal for far less. Just remember, this is not the kind of piercing you want done by someone who isn't a professional.

Also, the price could vary, according to what area of the body you are having pierced, so ask before proceeding.

The most prevalent form of industrial piercing jewelry is the common barbell, as shown below:

Another popular piece of industrial piercing jewelry is the zig-zag, pictured here:

Another somewhat less popular design is the corkscrew:

So, by now you know all about Industrial Piercings and the jewelry associated with the art. I hope I did a good job of informing you on this topic, and as always, all questions are welcome. 

And, you may ask, do I have an industrial piercing? Well, far be it to say, I have an extreme fear of needles piercing through my skin, so no, I don't have one. However, one day, when I'm a little more brave, I just might go through with this. Until then, good luck!