Many teenagers think about getting a tattoo or a body
piercing, but only a small percentage of teenagers actually go through
with it. And although body art can be a wonderful thing, there are many
risks to be considered. The first thing to consider is that you have
to be at least 18 to legally get a tattoo or body piercing, or you must
have the permission of your parent. Many teenagers who are interested
in these practices usually won’t go ask their parents, and if they do
their parents will reject the idea. So, desperation sinks in, the only
other option is to find a tattoo parlor that won’t ask you for ID. This
is where the problems start. Many of these tattoo parlors aren’t exactly
the cleanest ones. Non-sterilized needles can lead to infection, which
can cause death, yup, getting a tattoo or piercing can cause death.
Makes you think doesn’t it?
Even if you know the needles being used are sterilized or brand new,
you also have to check whether the equipment that holds the needles
are sterile as well, and in some cases the equipment cannot be sterilized
reliably due to their design. People with tattoos are nine times more
likely to be infected with the hepatitis C virus. Hepatitis C can be
treated if it’s caught early enough, but if not the virus can cause
serious damage to the liver, liver cancer, and death. Other blood related
diseases such as AIDS could even be transmitted through tattoo needles.
And that tattoo might start off looking all well and good but bad things
can go down. Granulomas are outgrowths of the skin that grow around
material that the body can perceive as foreign, such as a body piercing
or particles of tattoo pigment. It’s rare but people do get allergic
reactions to tattoos, and if this happens, it’ll be quite bad because
tattoos are hard to remove. And speaking of tattoo removal, procedures
can be very painful, very costly, and usually leave scars.
This article is not discouraging getting a tat or a body piercing. It’s
just a warning. I’d advise that anyone interested in getting a tattoo
or piercing to wait until they are 18, or if your parents will support
it, go for it. Also make sure you research different parlors. Ask the
artists about their sterilization procedures, and if something doesn’t
seem right, then you should just get it done somewhere else. I’d highly
recommend if you get a piercing to get it done professionally, don’t
attempt to do it yourself or allow your friend to do it. I’ve heard
many horror stories about piercings looking terrible and getting infected,
it’s not pretty. Another thing to consider is what you want to get tattooed
onto yourself. Say to yourself, am I still going to like this five years
from now? Remember styles change, and so does your body. Maybe society
won’t like that logo down the road, and you might want to remove it.
Not so simple. This is a very serious subject, so put serious thought
into it. Don’t just wake up one day and say, “I want a tattoo.” Think
about it for a couple of months to a year. Just consider the risks.
