Parent’s Guide to Body Decoration

#4: Talk about all kinds of pain
It’s no secret that getting a tattoo hurts-really hurts. And although some teens might find enduring the pain of a tattoo sort of a war story of adolescence, they may feel differently when it’s time to get one removed-an excruciatingly painful process. (And also expensive. In 2001, the AAD reported that a tattoo that costs $50 to $100 to obtain may cost $1,200 to $1,500 to remove by laser, with the average cost of an individual tattoo laser treatment ranging from $350 to $600 per treatment.)

What if I Give in to My Teen’s Request?
Still, if you and your teen decide to go forward with body decoration, how do you pick the safest procedure and best venue? According to Fleming, each state has different regulations with regard to tattoos and piercings, but check to be sure the establishment is properly licensed,” he says. “Also, like restaurants, the cleanliness of the floor, walls, and bathrooms is a rough index of the sanitary conditions. I would also observe for good sterile technique in terms of use of sterile gloves, disposable needles, and properly sterilized instruments.” A piercing gun should not be used since it cannot be properly sterilized, and needles should never be reused. Fleming notes that for hair cutting, shaving, and dying, a sterile technique is not necessary, but it is again important to check out an establishment’s license and cleanliness. Additionally, make sure your teen is fully immunized against hepatitis B and tetanus before getting a piercing or tattoo, and, with piercing in particular, The American Academy of Pediatrics/New York Chapter 2 recommends that they use only jewelry made of surgical grade stainless steel, 14 karat or 18 karat gold, niobium, or titanium and that you keep pierced and tattooed areas clean until they are completely healed (see below).

Shaving/Dying Risks: Allergic Reactions

Piercing Risks: Scarring/Deformaties, Allergic Reactions, Hepatitis, Staph skin infections, infections, Bleeding/lacerations, Chipping of teeth/Speech impediments.

Tattooing Risks: Scarring/Deformaties, Allergic Reactions, Hepatitis, Staph skin infections, infections, Bleeding/lacerations.

By Dina Santorelli