Earstretching.net

I'm new to this forum and reading some of the posts and responses, I was just wondering what kind of backgrounds some of you may have that determine what advise you may give someone? Are any of you amateur or professional piercers? Is anyone a member of the APP or aware of their approved practices? Have you completed an apprenticeship? And has anyone studied human anatomy and dermatology?

I'm not a professional piercer, never have been, never will be. My piercer is a member of the APP and she gave me a lot of advice when I first got my 10G piercings and wanted to stretch my ears. I've also been a member of the bodyjewelleryshop.com forums for a couple years and there are a lot of really experienced people on there with super healthy lobes. I've seen what a lot of different people have to say about stretching and piercings in general and I found that the people who do certain things have the healthiest and happiest piercings. So that's the advice I follow and give.

Nice to meet you corazon. I've read quite a few of your responses and it seams you know your stuff pretty well. There is a lot of misinformation out there and I have seen a lot of people hurt themselves by listening to people that have no clue.
I've been a piercer for 13 years now. Professional for much of that time but now amateur. It doesn't pay the bills like it use to. I do follow the practices of the APP though I am not a member. My first apprenticeship was completed in 1998 and apprenticed under another in 2001 learning deep tissue piercing and transdermal placement. I've studied dermatology and anatomy specifically for modification and manipulation of the dermis and epidermis. I don't claim to know everything but I've seen a bit. If I can help I will. I still ask questions myself.

I get my knowledge from research, research, research! I'm paranoid like that, and every time I get interested in something, I try to learn everything I possibly can about it, and listen to the people who have been there, done that, got the T-shirt, have made the mistakes, and know how to avoid them. I prefer to learn from other's mistakes rather than make them myself and cause permanent damage or serious harm to myself.