[Body piercing complications in otorhinolaryngology].

Piercing is used to designate an ornamentation technique used on skin and mucosa in any site of the body, which consists of perforation and placement of studs, hoops, or earrings for esthetic or attention-seeking purposes. This fashion has spread in Spain in the last decade and although practitioners and users consider it to be inoffensive, we have observed an increasing number of hospital consultations resulting from the placement of such ornaments in ears, nose, tongue and lips. Local infection, bleeding, and contact dermatitis are the most frequent complications. The lack of legislation and health education of the practitioners can be expected to increase the number and intensity of the complications.