Are Tattoos and Piercings Good or Bad?

1069 Words5 Pages
Everywhere you go with see somebody with some form of tattoo or body piercing. Popularity set in and now piercings, tattoos, and body modifications are being widely accepted. “The days when body piercers could draw stares by wearing multiple earrings and a nose stud are long gone. We are now in the late baroque phase of self- penetration. Metal rings and bars hang from eyebrows, noses, nipples, lips, chins, cheeks, navels, and for that coveted neo-frankenstein look from the side of the neck” (Leo, 160). Those who choose to go this route, moreover, include people of all ages and races. Although tattoos are controversial they are a beautiful form of self-expression that has been embraced by humans for almost as long as they have been around. Tattoos should inspire more admiration and less criticism! Opposition to tattoos and piercings While the markings and pieces of metal are sometimes subtle and well concealed, some are so garish to suggest a competition to see who can be the most extreme. Whether tattoos, piercings and body modifications are good remains a debated question? One cannot deny that without proper precautions there may be several consequences. The wide spread of tattooing brings about increased concern for safety and awareness of hazardous conditions. Transmissions of infectious diseases, such as hepatitis B and C, and theoretically, HIV, can occur when proper sterilization and safety procedures are not followed. “The most documented infection transmitted through the tattoo process in the 20th century is hepatitis. Hepatitis, due to hepatitis B virus (HBV) in most cases, has been reported in tattoo-related outbreaks since 1950. 3 In most reported cases, the tattooist responsible for these cases used the needle for several customers without adequate sterilization. Often, the same ink receptacles were used for all customers. The number of adverse

More about Are Tattoos and Piercings Good or Bad?

Open Document