Body Piercing Safety: What to Look for in a Piercing Studio

Getting a body piercing involves putting a needle through your skin. Safety should be your number one priority when choosing a piercing studio. At Multnomah Body Piercing in Gresham, Oregon, we have upheld the highest safety standards for over 50 years.

Essential Safety Standards

1. State Licensing

In Oregon, body piercers must hold an individual license through the Oregon Health Licensing Office. This means completed training in bloodborne pathogens, sterilization, anatomy, and health regulations. The studio should display licenses prominently.

2. Autoclave Sterilization

An autoclave uses pressurized steam to sterilize instruments. Every reputable studio must have one and perform regular spore testing to verify it functions correctly.

3. Single-Use Sterile Needles

Sterile, single-use needles come sealed in sterilization pouches, opened in front of you, and discarded in a sharps container after use.

4. Gloves and Hygiene

Your piercer should wash hands and put on fresh sterile gloves before touching you. They should change gloves if they touch anything non-sterile.

5. Implant-Grade Jewelry

Jewelry should meet ASTM International standards: ASTM F136 titanium, ASTM F138 surgical steel, niobium, or 14k+ solid gold.

Red Flags: When to Walk Away

• Piercing guns — cannot be sterilized
• No visible autoclave
• Dirty environment
• No license displayed
• Mystery-metal jewelry
• Unwillingness to answer questions
• No aftercare instructions

Why Piercing Guns Are Dangerous

1. Cannot be sterilized (plastic components melt in an autoclave)
2. Cause blunt force trauma instead of a clean cut
3. Use one-size-fits-all jewelry
4. Operators have minimal training
5. Butterfly back closures trap bacteria

Multnomah Body Piercing Safety Standards

• All piercers are Oregon state licensed
• Full autoclave sterilization with regular spore testing
• 100% single-use sterile needles
• Implant-grade jewelry included with every piercing
• 3-month guarantee on all piercings
• 50+ years of safety-focused operation