She already had three earrings in one ear, so I told her not to. I mean, the farther up on the ear you go, the more painful it is. Who needs that?

Our conversation got me thinking, though. What would be good and bad about her getting her ear pierced again? What would be good or bad about any type of body piercing?

For some people, getting a body piercing is about feeling better about themselves. For others it is to get noticed. Maybe they even do it as a dare. Some people get pierced to get somebody to like them or to become popular.

Me, I got my ears pierced because I liked the way they looked on my friend and wanted to see how they looked on me. I did get an infection, but it wasn't serious, though I did have to let them close up again. The next time I got pierced, I was extra careful, so I have had my current piercings for about six years.

A body piercing might look cool, but they can be very dangerous if they are not done and cared for properly. They can cause bad infections, but that is not all. They can make you develop hepatitis B and C. Scarring, cysts and dermatitis can result from a piercing.

Keloidal scars, which are raised blisters of scar tissue, can appear in or around a piercing. These have to be removed surgically. And there are other infections you can get, including tetanus or staphylococcus.

If you are smart, you will try to avoid these. I am not telling you that you shouldn't get pierced -- it is your body, after all, and hey, I did it too -- but if you do decide to go ahead with it, then go to a professional who has sterilized equipment and really knows what they are doing. To be safe, ask about their sterilization techniques and watch them do a few procedures.

Because a piercing is really an open wound, it gives bacteria a way into your body and your bloodstream. Be especially careful if you want to get pierced on the tongue, because you might end up with an infection on the bottom of your mouth called Ludwig's angina, which can kill you. Ludwig's angina makes your tongue or throat swell up... which would be normal for a piercing, only this eventually makes it impossible to breathe.

Then there's endocarditis, an infection caused by bloodstream-swimming bacteria that make it to your heart. People with heart defects are very sensitive to this.

Thankfully there are ways of preventing these things from happening. You should go to your doctor or health-care provider to learn about it in more detail, though not all of these people know all of the dangers.

Consider everything before getting pierced. Talk to friends who have been pierced and ask them about their experiences. Ask for their suggestions and ask what they would change if they had to do it over. I know I have said this already, but go to a qualified body piercing shop. No matter what your friend or family member says, don't let them pierce you, unless they really are a paid professional.

Also, be careful about deciding which spot you want pierced. If it's on your face or in your mouth, the piercing is exposed to a lot of natural elements, which can make it easier to get infected. A professional piercer should use disposable equipment or those with steam heat to sterilize their instruments. It's their job to protect you and themselves from infection by cleaning and using new, disposable gloves every time.

If you decide to get a piercing, make sure it stays clean. Your jewelry should be made from surgical stainless steel, 14-karat gold, niobium or titanium -- this will give you a better chance of escaping infections and allergic reactions.

Keep your parents updated on your piercing. Let them know about the bad things as well as the good things; they'll learn to trust you, and they'll be able to help you if anything bad happens.

Consider all the facts. Know that just because your friend has a piercing doesn't mean you need one, too.

Editor's Note: Coolme91 clearly got her information from http://myhealth.atriumhealthplan.com/topic/piercing. The author there appears to be well-informed, but we at the Times do not guarantee all that info is accurate. It's best to do your own thorough research, and that means getting the facts from several sources, preferably real medical professionals (like doctors or perhaps your school nurse).

On a side note, authors, please include your sources every time you write. Please also be sure to do more than change a few words here and there. I'm not saying that's what Coolme91 did with this article, but I have seen more and more articles come in that take too many phrases out of other people's writing. That's called plagiarism.

If you can't explain your information in a conversation without looking at your article, then try learning a little more on the topic. We want to hear your words, not somebody else's!

For more on plagiarism, read this week's piece by monae929, who had her own brush with the issue recently! And remember, plagiarism can get you banned from the Whyville Times, so take this topic seriously.