Piercing: What are the rules?

Verified 09 December 2022 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Piercing consists of puncturing a specific point of the skin to place a piece of jewelry that is usually screwed or clipped. This practice is regulated to avoid health risks. A piercing can cause infections if the skin of the person being pierced is not disinfected, if material penetrating the skin barrier is not sterile, or if all hygiene rules are not followed. This may be contraindicated if you are taking an anticoagulant treatment. It is advisable to discuss this with the professional and his/her treating physician beforehand.

The use of a piercing is prohibited on a minor without the written consent of a person in charge of parental authority: parent or guardian.

FYI  

The professional who sets the piercing must be able, for 3 years, to present proof of this consent to the supervisory authorities.

The professional who sets the piercing must respect the following rules:

  • Have been trained in hygiene and sanitary conditions
  • Report to the Director General of the Regional Health Agency (RHA)
  • Inform you before the piercing the risks you face
  • Inform you after piercing, precautions to be observed.

This information shall be visibly displayed in the premises where these techniques are practiced and shall be provided in writing to the customers.

The content of the information to be provided orally by the trader shall include:

  • Whether the acts are painful
  • The risk of infections
  • Allergic risks in particular related to piercing jewelry
  • Research for contraindications to the movement related to the field or ongoing treatments
  • The healing time adapted to the technique that has been implemented and the cicatricial risks
  • The precautions to be observed after the techniques have been carried out, in particular to allow rapid healing.

These risks and precautionsTattoos: what risks, what precautions? are detailed by the Health Insurance.

The professional must perform the piercing in a room dedicated exclusively to this operation.

It cannot therefore be used for any other activity (e.g. sales space). This room must be cleaned every day and the surfaces used must be cleaned and disinfected between each customer.

The professional removes his jewelry before disinfecting the hands. He wears sterile gloves. They are exchanged between 2 customers.

The same is true for the same client, after any septic gesture during the act and in the case of successive piercings on different body zones.

They should prepare the area to be pierced using an antiseptic.

At each session, for each client, the devices, particularly sharp and sharp, penetrating the mucocutaneous barrier are sterile and for single use. The other materials (scissors, pliers...) are sterilizable.

The work table must be disinfected, equipped with a sterile drape.