As much as many parents don’t want to think about things like tattoos, piercings, and other body modifications, they are relevant to today’s kids.  With the stigma decreasing and their popularity increasing, many older adolescents and young adults are getting tattooed and pierced.  

First off, what are some of these things?

Tattoos.

Tattoos are made when ink is pushed into the skin with a needle.  The most common way of doing this is with a tattoo gun.

Tattoos are permanent.  There have been different methods tried for removing them, but nothing that is 100% effective.  Lasers do seem to have the highest success rate, but the process can include several sessions and be very expensive.

There are no good data on the complication rate of tattoos.  We do know that because the needles go into the skin it is possible to catch certain viruses, such as HIV and Hepatitis C and B.  Skin infections caused by bacteria are also possible. Keloids, which are an overgrowth of scar tissue can occasionally occur.

Make sure you choose a tattoo parlor that has professional artists that use sterile tools.  It helps to watch them work before you get one to make sure they use new gloves, ink, and needles.  

Temporary tattoos.

These are done with henna either by hand or with a stencil with red or black henna.  Black henna is made by adding a particular chemical to red henna that makes it dry faster and last longer.

Red henna is used by millions of people and only rarely causes an allergic reaction.  Black henna, on the other hand, is much more likely to cause an allergic reaction, so it is not recommended.    

Piercing.

Piercing is the forming of a hole in an area of a person’s skin with the purpose of placing jewelry.  The most common is the ear lobe, but also the belly button, tongue, and nose are often pierced. Piercings can be placed almost anywhere, including flat areas (called dermal piercing).  

 How permanent a piercing is depends on how long since it was placed and where it was placed.  If you remove it within the healing period the hole will usually close up, otherwise it scars and stays open.  The tongue will also stay open if the jewelry is removed after the healing period, but since it’s a muscle the hole created by the scarred area will become quite small.  How long a piercing takes to heal varies depending on where the piercing is located, how fast a person heals, and if it gets infected.

In general piercing is safe.  The rate of infection is low, but does occur in some areas more than others – such as the belly button – and can be harder to treat – like in the cartilage of the ear.  Since most jewelry is made from metal, there is also the risk of an allergic reaction to it. Usually the problem is nickel, but people also react to other metals, so if you get a reaction, then try a different kind of metal.  Also, be aware of the kind of back that’s on and where it might be pressing against, such as a pointed earring back pressing into the skin while a child sleeps. Finally, people who are keloid formers can develop unsightly keloid scars at piercing sites.  

There are a few specific risks.  With dermal piercing, where the back is under the skin, it may be difficult to remove and can require surgery.  It is not uncommon to chip teeth with tongue rings. Belly button areas can stretch with weight gain and pregnancy, looking not quite how you wanted.  Nipple rings should be taken out while breastfeeding so the baby can’t choke on them.

Make sure you get your ears pierced in a place that uses clean instruments.  Sometimes the gun isn’t cleaned in between customers, but make sure the earrings are sterilized and be sure to clean your new piercing as recommended.  Also, make sure that the jewelry is appropriate for the area, eg. ear rings are not long enough to use at the belly button.  

Stretching.

Stretching is the practice of using larger and larger plugs to stretch open an area that has been pierced.  As with many body modification practices it started with indigenous people, but is slowly gaining popularity in modern society.  The most common areas stretched are the ears, lips, and nose.

Once the stretch gets past 6mm it is considered permanent, and won’t close back to regular piercing size.  

Risks include the usual risks from piercing, as well as being left with a large hole that has to be surgically repaired if the person changes their mind.

Scarification.

This involves using any number of instruments to create a wound big and deep enough to scar.  In some cultures, the wound is irritated while healing to assure scar formation.  

Obviously the risk for infection is much higher with this than any of the others.  Also, scars are much more likely to heal in a way not anticipated or wanted. Keloid formation is a risk here as well.  

Why do people get these things done?

There are many reasons why someone would get some sort of body modification done.  It used to be associated with rebellion and people who were getting into other kinds of trouble.  Nowadays it is becoming more accepted and more common among all kinds of people.    

Won’t it affect their chances at a good job? 

Yes, it can still affect someone’s chances at a job and some educational opportunities.  People who get body modifications insist that it shouldn’t matter, but the fact is that especially in conservative jobs body modifications that are visible can work against you.  

So what do I do if my child wants some sort of body modification?

Talk to your child about why they want to do it.  Calmly discuss with them your views, especially if they are different.  Many states have laws about body modifications and those under 18 years old, so check into those for your discussion.  Make sure your child understands that while many people are starting to be more accepting, having visible body modifications can hurt their chances of some opportunities.  Also, be sure your child understands the risks of infection and bad outcomes.  

Links.

Laws from each state.

AAP Healthy Children on body modification.