Body art— whether it is holes in the earlobe or an intricate rose tattooed on the hip— has been common for centuries. In ancient Egypt, royal families often pierced their navels to represent their supreme social standing, and tattooed their mummies, as did Incas, Mayans and Aztecs. The Vikings tattooed family crests and tribal symbols on their bodies, while the Romans associated ear piercing with wealth and luxury. And nose piercing dates back to more than 4,000 years ago in the Middle East, then spreading to India where many women adorn their noses.
However, it’s the Western world that has used piercing and tattoos as an expression of individuality— it was popular during the hippie era of the 1960s, enjoyed a resurgence in the 1980s with punk rockers, and is as trendy as ever today.
But just because royal families, pharaohs and sailors have done it, does that mean your own child needs one? Only you (and your child) can make that decision.
Be aware, however, that body piercing and tattooing are unregulated in most states and are even illegal in some. In many states, tattoo artists must meet state sanitation requirements and have a permit, and in some states, it’s illegal to tattoo anyone younger than 18.
If your child has approached you about body art, do some research. Consider these facts and tips to guide you as you (and your child!) make the decision to let the needle fall where it may.

Holes Here and There
Body modification today goes far beyond the traditional pierced ears. Piercing sites now include the ear cartilage, tongue, lips, eyebrows, nipples, navel and genitals. In a 2002 study of 454 university students, more than one-half said they have a body piercing and about a quarter said they have a tattoo. The Mayo Clinic reported that of those students with piercings, nearly one in five reported a medical complication due to the procedure itself or how they cared for the piercing afterward. Complications include bacterial infection, bleeding and injury or tearing at the site.
The American Dental Association opposes tongue, lip or cheek piercings and calls it a public health hazard, while The American Academy of Dermatology has taken a position against all forms of body piercing. And both the U.S. and Canadian Red Cross won’t accept blood donations from anyone who has had a body piercing or tattoo within a year because both procedures can transmit dangerous blood-borne diseases.
Those who are pierced run the risk of chronic infection, prolonged bleeding, scarring, hepatitis B and C, tetanus, skin allergies to jewelry, abscesses or boils, permanent holes in nostrils or eyebrows, chipped or broken teeth or choking from mouth jewelry.
Last fall, researchers with the Infectious Diseases Society of America announced that piercing body parts containing cartilage— especially around the tops of the ears— can be more hazardous than piercing flesh because the cartilage heals so much more slowly. Ear lobes, however, are generally safe to pierce because the lobe is made of fatty tissue and has a good blood supply, which can help prevent infection.
Lydia, 37, wanted to make sure her 13-year-old’s belly button piercing was safe and supervised. She had heard too many horror stories about children being pierced by friends in less-than-sterile environments. But she discovered the shop her daughter Kelsey was referred to was less than ideal. “It was a pretty grimy place. The procedure itself was sanitary with sterilized equipment and antiseptic, but the place was a dive,” says Lydia, adding that it was one of the few places they found that would pierce a 13-year-old.

If your child is intent on a piercing, make sure the shop:
• is clean. •avoids the use of piercing guns, which aren’t sterile. •uses needles once and disposes of them in a special container. •sterilizes everything that comes near the customer in an autoclave. •has a piercer who wears disposable gloves and mask.
Keep a close eye on after-care. Remind kids not to pick or tug at the area, to keep it clean with soap (not alcohol) and not to touch the area without washing their hands first. Those who have a mouth piercing should use an antibacterial mouthwash after eating.

Skin Art
A tattoo is a permanent mark or design made on the body with pigment inserted into the dermal layer of the skin through ruptures in the skin’s top layer. A small needle pierces the skin repeatedly— an action that resembles that of a sewing machine— inserting tiny ink droplets with each puncture. A small tattoo on average takes about 45 minutes, and a larger tattoo may take several hours and possibly several visits.
Before your child indulges in a permanent tattoo, remember that tattoos are painful, can be extremely expensive to remove, and that there are health risks involved. If a teen or tween is serious about getting a tattoo, make sure the studio is clean, safe and professional. You can call your local health department to ask for recommendations and check for any complaints about a certain studio. Keep in mind the following questions:
• Is there an autoclave? This is a device that uses steam, pressure and heat for sterilization. You should be allowed to watch as needles and any other equipment are sterilized in the autoclave.
• Is the person a licensed practitioner? If so, the tattoo artist should be able to provide you with references.
• Are “universal precautions” followed? These are precautions listed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that outline a certain procedure to be followed when dealing with bodily fluids (in this case, blood). If they answer “yes” to this question, it should mean that guidelines for
preventing infections are always followed.
Most of all, trust your gut. Getting a tattoo at a place that doesn’t adhere to these regulations puts your teen at risk for HIV, hepatitis and tuberculosis. Those who do get a tattoo, should take care of it until it fully heals— protecting it by applying antibiotic cream and wearing sunscreen or covering it while in the sun.

Kathleen E. Conroy is the mother of two and a freelance writer and editor living in Charlotte, NC. She can be reached at suprwriter@carolina.rr.com.