What is the APP?

We talk a great deal about the importance of the APP but have never discussed the APP itself. Let’s take a brief moment and discuss this vitally important group and how they help keep both piercers and the pierced safe and using up-to-date procedures!

The Association of Professional Piercers was founded in 1994. While based in California, they are an international organization. Their mission statement says that they are “dedicated to the dissemination of vital health and safety information about body piercing to piercers, health care professionals, legislators, and the general public. ” That is a commendable mission, indeed! The APP does not do actual piercings, it’s more of a professional organization/watchdog group for both piercers and the general public who may wish to be pierced.

The APP website is stuffed with small articles for non-piercers, particularly in the ”Troubleshooting” section. Topics such as Migration/Rejection. And When to See a Doctor are infinitely helpful when it’s 4 AM and your two-week old piercing gets snagged on your shirt. There’s even a section for medical professionals to help them help their pierced patients! There are even brochures on how to pick a piercer and the customer’s bill of rights. Now that is comprehensive!

Of course, even the best educated and skilled professional groups have their limitations. The APP does not license or certify piercers, nor does it police the industry. However, it does investigate reports against its piercer members and can remove them from the organization if need be. This is why you want to go to an APP-certified piercer…non-members are working with no real oversight from the industry itself. An APP-certified piercer stays that way by adhering to proper sanitation procedures, performing quality piercings, and treating their clientele with respect. If your local APP-certified piercer is, for some reason, NOT doing these things, you can report them to the APP who will start an investigation.

The Association of Professional Piercers is a vital watchdog for the piercing industry, as well as a vast fount of information for both the pierced public and the piercers themselves. Thank you, APP, for continuing in your work to keep us both safe, happy, and happily pierced!