Body piercing as an accepted mode of expressing oneself has become increasingly common in the past few decades - and along with a rise in the popularity of body piercing in general has been a rise in penis piercing specifically. However, those interested in piercing their penis need to take into consideration their penis health and provide sufficient penis protection steps. After all, a penis piercing may provide a cool look to one’s manhood, but if it damages it in the process, what’s the point?

That said, most experts do agree that, assuming penis piercing is done properly, it can be done with minimal risk of damage and complications. So for penis protection, here are some tips to consider:

- Check out your health first. It’s a good idea for a guy to make sure he’s in good general health before any kind of piercing. For example, if he has some cardiac issues, he may be on blood thinners, which can impact the body’s healing process. There may be some penis health specific issues to consider as well. Are there any sores present in the area where the piercing is intended to go? Is there any pain while urinating or ejaculating? If so, it may be wise to delay piercing until any issues are cleared up.

- Go with a pro. A guy’s penis is one of his most valued possessions, so he doesn’t want to puts its health and safety in the hands of just anyone. Be sure that the person selected to perform the piercing is a professional with experience piercing the penis. If possible, get a recommendation from someone else whose penis was pierced by this person. If that’s not possible, check online for any reviews that indicate his or her skill.

It’s especially important that premises and the equipment involved are all spotless and sterile. If the area is dirty or if they do not sterilize needles and other equipment properly, go somewhere else. Dirty, unsterilized piercings can result in infections, some of which could result in serious damage to the penis or even in rare cases in death.

- It’s pretty permanent. Penis piercings are more permanent than piercings in, say, the earlobe, which will close up after a while if not used. In most cases, if a guy decides not to wear jewelry in his piercing, the hole will remain there; if it does close up, it will do so in a scarred manner. So a guy should be sure he wants the piercing before proceeding.

- Check for allergies. Some men are allergic to metals and may not know it, so if a man intends to wear jewelry in his pierced penis, he should first make sure the intended metal does not cause a penile allergic reaction.

- Watch for complications. A little pain or soreness is common just after the piercing, but continued soreness may indicate infection and should be examined by a doctor. Similarly, some bleeding for a short period of time is usual; prolonged bleeding is not.

- Give it a rest - and a condom. To avoid tearing, a man will need to refrain from sexual activity for a period of time. And when he does have sex with a partner, he should wear a condom (at least for the first several weeks) to prevent fluids from entering the piercing.

Penis protection from piercing will be aided if the penis is in good health already, so men should regularly use a top drawer penis health oil (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) . The most effective oils should provide a helping of various vitamins, such as A, B5, Cd, D and E. An oil with alpha lipoic acid is also recommended. This potent antioxidant strengthens penis skin by fighting free radicals that can cause oxidative stress.