A study by the British Medical Journal Society has found that blundered body piercings could be a “substantial burden” on hospitals in the near future.

The study found that one in 10 people, including nearly half of all younger women, have a body piercing other than their earlobe.

Just over a quarter of people reported complications including swelling, infection and bleeding.

The study has shown that many choose to avoid specialist piercing studios, and face greater risks by piercing themselves or using friends or relatives.

Experts have warned that non-specialist piercings could also cause hepatitis infections.

The survey, which drew on responses from 10,503 people, is the first of its kind and was carried out by public health doctors from the Health Protection Agency and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

They found approximately 10% of those surveyed had some sort of body piercing, with women and younger people most likely to have one.

Four out of five piercings were carried out at specialist piercing studios, which are licensed and inspected by local authorities, and complications were less likely among these piercings.

A small number of those surveyed admitted that they had carried out piercings of the tongue, lips and genitals without official expert help - 9% of tongue piercings were carried out this way.

Dr Angie Bone, of the HPA’s Centre for Infections, said: “There is a message here for the health service that body piercing is really very common and, if it remains fashionable, in the near future one in two women will have a body piercing and there will be more complications.”

Dr Bone further said that many people were unaware of the potentially serious nature of a piercing and stressed the importance of using a specialist piercing studio.

Another potential risk from piercings, particularly those carried out abroad or away from regulated studios, comes from blood-borne viruses.

A spokesman for the British Liver Trust, which offers advice on avoiding hepatitis infection, said: “It is important to remember the long-term problems that can occur, particularly if you get a piercing from a non-specialist.”

“You put yourself at a high risk of contracting hepatitis B or C, both of which are serious, life-threatening conditions which can be fatal.