Tattoo's & Body Peircing

 

Tattoos and Body Piercings In the last decade, celebrities, entertainers, and sports stars have popularized tattoos and body piercings among teenagers.

Although many teens contend that tattoos and piercings are simply popular forms of body adornment, some parents, educators, and health professionals are concerned that tattooed and pierced teens are at greater risk for engaging in unhealthy behaviors.

About 500 teens and young adults between 12 and 22 years old who attended a military adolescent medicine clinic participated in a survey of health risk behaviors. The survey included questions about the teen's eating behavior, violence, drug abuse, and sexual behavior.

Thirteen percent of the teens in the survey had tattoos, and 5% had more than one tattoo. More than 29% of teens acquired their tattoos before they turned 17, and most of the teens had had their tattoos applied by a professional. In contrast, about 27% of teens had body piercings, and about 12% had multiple body piercings. The most common places teens pierced included the ear cartilage (other than the earlobe), mouth/tongue, and navel. Girls were more likely to have tattoos and piercings than boys: 17% of teen girls had tattoos, compared to 8% of boys, and about 37% of girls had body piercings, compared to 10% of boys.

What This Means to You

Body piercing (with the exception of the earlobe) is also not recommended by the UK Academy of Dermatology and the British Dental Association because of the risk of infection. If you decide to let your teen get a tattoo or body piercing, help him find a tattoo or piercing studio that is clean, safe, and professional. You can call your local health department to ask for recommendations and check for any complaints about a particular business. .