Hair implant thongs and other body jewelry can interfere with the wearer's blood flow in a variety of ways, including but not limited to the discomfort of the added weight and the potential thrombosis caused by jewelry rubbing against the skin. Furthermore, if the wearer wears their hair implants regularly, then they can develop irritation and pressure points on their neck, temples, back and thighs. Another issue with body jewelry is that it is susceptible to bacterial growth, and those skin-to-skin infections can take months to heal even with proper treatment. When they are left untreated, infections can travel and affect the surrounding tissue. The Skin Integrity Alliance recommends wearing body jewelry for special occasions such as special dates, festivals and performances. Any type of jewelry worn continuously should be removed upon exiting the bath or shower and thoroughly cleaned and kept in a safe and secure place. Body and Facial Piercings Piercings are a form of body modification that have been a form of body art for thousands of years. Piercings are placed in an existing body part and are commonly done with the skin on the part being pierced and then stretched or broken. Piercings aren’t always permanent. Sometimes piercings fall out for reasons unknown. This isn’t because the piercing is unsanitary or that it isn’t cared for properly. Many times they fall out because a person isn’t allowing them to heal in a proper manner. When they are properly cared for they will stay in place. To keep them that way the piercing should be cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis. Not doing so can result in an infection in the pierced area or the spreading of bacterial growth. Body piercing can and do open up wounds in the human body. There are times when a pierced hole will seal up and it is safe to use the same piercing again. When it does, the pierced area must be disinfected and sanitized with alcohol or bleach prior to re-piercing. Otherwise, there is a risk of infection. Pierced holes take a long time to fully heal, sometimes taking a year or more to do so. To speed the healing process pierced holes must be cleaned regularly with either hydrogen peroxide or alcohol. The holes should be disinfected and thoroughly cleansed prior to re-piercing. Bald patches, also known as alopecia areata, occur when hair follicles don't work properly. They occur due to an immune system reaction to foreign substances or bacteria, according to Weill Cornell Medicine. Bald patches usually grow outward, but can become scaly patches or in severe cases, bald patches. Because bald patches can grow larger, the body will naturally cause a bald patch to fill up with skin to prevent injury, according to Weill Cornell Medicine. Eventually, however, the bald patch will continue to grow larger and larger and will start to resemble patches. For alopecia areata, patches of hair in the scalp grow in a circular pattern, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center. If the bald patch appears on the head, it is known as alopecia totalis. If the bald patch appears elsewhere on the body, it is called alopecia universalis. The bald patches usually start out as a patch on the scalp. Sometimes the bald patch may appear on the upper part of the hair, according to the Mayo Clinic. Bald patches are found between the eyebrows, around the temples and on the back of the head. Bald patches usually start out as small round bald patches and can continue to grow in size. The bald patches in the beginning stages may be flat and flat. Eventually the bald patches might become raised and form into a circular pattern. The bald patches may grow longer hairs, which might not fall out, according to the Mayo Clinic. Bald patches may also grow into bumps or lumps. Skin Cancer Symptoms and Treatment The most common type of skin cancer is melanoma, also called skin cancer. The National Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that more than 11,000 Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer every day and that one in five of these cases are melanoma. Skin cancer can occur anywhere on the body. It can also be an indiscriminate skin cancer, where it can begin on a place that seems normal. Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that causes death. The cancer cells spread to different areas of the body and can also metastasize, also known as spreading to distant parts of the body. It can cause death because it invades other tissues or organs and has the potential to grow in all parts of the body. Melanoma of the skin can appear on the legs, arms and trunk. It can begin as a small, round, slightly raised bump, which can continue to grow or develop into a thick, scaly bump, according to the Mayo Clinic. Small moles may begin to look dark, possibly with a black center and it could feel scaly or itchy. The moles can begin to grow larger and larger and become thicker and discolored. Melanoma may spread to other areas of the body, even though it doesn't invade blood vessels, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. When it does, it is a form of metastatic melanoma. The most common symptoms of melanoma are usually painless bumps, lumps or discolored spots that have changed in size or shape or a spot that has turned from brown to black. A person may experience tenderness, redness, or itching. Swelling, thickening, and rashes may also be experienced. A person may also experience blistering, crusting, bleeding or pus coming from the mole, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center. If a person suspects that they have melanoma, the cancer may be diagnosed by one or more of the following: Checking the moles in the body with a doctor Skin examination by a doctor Looking under a magnifying glass Biopsy, which is usually done by a dermatologist The National Cancer Institute also recommends the following to prevent melanoma or other forms of skin cancer: Exposure to ultraviolet light, especially artificial sunlight If a person doesn't get enough vitamin D from the sun or is under the age of 35, they should take a vitamin D supplement Avoiding sunburn Regular skin exams by a doctor Getting a checkup if the skin becomes discolored or moles get larger or new ones appear Treating early with cancer creams is one way to reduce the likelihood of progression. People with melanoma must be very aware of changes in their moles and act quickly to seek medical treatment. Melanoma is typically treated with surgery to remove the tumor. According to the Mayo Clinic, skin cancer caused the death of nearly 100,000 people in 2011, making it the deadliest form of cancer. Skin Cancer: Diagnosis and Treatment Melanoma occurs when cells in the skin can become cancerous. About 1,000 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed each day and it is the fifth most common cancer in the United States. Skin cancer is usually treated with surgery to remove the tumor. Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is caused by cells in the skin becoming cancerous. It can appear anywhere on the body. It often occurs on parts of the body where the skin has been injured, including the chest, back, arms, hands and scalp, according to WebMD. The cancer may grow in a single spot or spread to other parts of the body. The growth may look like a raised bump or a dark-colored mole and may feel scaly, thickened and itchy. The bump may get bigger and thicker over time. Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. These cells travel through the lymphatic system, or the lymph nodes, which are located in certain parts of the body. Lymph nodes are small oval-shaped organs in the body. When a cancer cell is detected, the lymphatic system will detect the cell and tell the body to produce cancer cells that are more advanced. When a person has melanoma, the cancer is treated with surgery. The melanoma is typically removed with surgery, however, sometimes, radiation and chemotherapy may also be recommended for small cancers that can't be removed surgically. Skin Cancer Symptoms Skin cancer can be life threatening if not diagnosed quickly and taken care of immediately. The first step in identifying cancer is to be aware of the warning signs. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are several warning signs that can indicate that a person may have skin cancer. It is important to identify if any of the following signs apply to you or a family member or friend. Any of these symptoms might indicate that you may have skin cancer and should be checked immediately. Bright spots on the skin An abnormal-shaped mole Skin lesion that doesn’t heal Lump on the skin that is hard or has a rough surface Pink or red patches of skin on the skin Skin or mole that has changed in size, shape or texture Brown spots on the skin that are similar to skin cancers, but not the same Skin discoloration that has a smooth and waxy texture Skin lesion that has an oozing discharge or looks like a bru