Adolescents` And Body Art

1126 Words5 Pages
The frequency of body piercing and tattooing on adolescents has been on the rise since the early nineties Even though it has become more socially acceptable, parents and teenagers need to know and understand the repercussions that can occur. Parents as well as adolescents should research each issue before considering any body modifications. Studies have shown that body art can be a costly mistake for adolescents and their parents in different ways. Would any parent want that for any child? Tattooing and body piercing on children should be illegal because body art could cause negative medical, psychological, and social problems for them. There are many medical issues that need to be considered before any teenager should be allowed to receive any type of body art. One key factor that needs to be considered is the potential dangers of different types of infections. Hepatitis has been the most documented blood borne infection connected to body art. Infections are mostly caused by unsanitary conditions and tools used or shared for the body art. Body piercing of the lips or tongue can cause breaks to the teeth, deterioration of the gums, and can become a choking hazard if the jewelry becomes dislodged. The risk of an allergic reaction caused by the metal used in piercings, and the ink or pigmentation used for tattooing is yet another issue to be addressed. (Wysong, 2006). Different types of body art take different amounts of time to heal, this can range anywhere between four weeks to a year, and proper care needs to be considered. Another issue to consider is the medical cost that would be attached to any infections or allergic reactions. The cost of removing a tattoo can be as much as $1,000 depending on the size and what colors were used in the art. The removal of body art can be a very painful process that can take several trips to the dermatologist. The
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