Here ’s What Kids Should Know About Tattoos and Piercings

If teen trends lose their edge when adults find out about them, then this week may bring a sign that tattoos have finally gone mainstream. The American Academy of Pediatrics issued its first-ever recommendations on tattoos, body piercing and “scarification,” the practice of intentionally scarring skin into words or a design by burning or cutting it, in a clinical report released Monday in the journal Pediatrics. The association of pediatricians typically publishes guidance on health topics like vaccinations, nutrition and puberty. But the popularity of tattoos—three in 10 Americans reported they had at least one in a Harris poll last year—makes it more likely that doctors could face questions about tattoos, piercings in places beyond the earlobes and other body modifications from teens and their parents. “Tattooing is much more accepted than it was 15 to 20 years ago,” said Dr. Cora Breuner, lead author of the report, in a statement. “When counseling teens, I tell them to do some research, and to think hard about why they want a tattoo, and where on their body they want it.” The report says that complications from tattoos are likely rare and that attitudes toward tattoos are becoming significantly more accepting. It also emphasizes that doctors should not treat body modification as a sign that a teen wants to self-harm, but rather encourage them to talk to their parents and to find regulated, clean and reputable facilities to...
Source: TIME.com: Top Science and Health Stories - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Pediatrics piercing public health scars tattoo risks tattoos Source Type: news