What parents should know about tattoos

Follow me on Twitter @drClaire These days, tattoos are increasingly common. According to a 2015 Harris poll, three in 10 American adults have a tattoo — up from two in 10 in 2012. They are particularly popular in young people; among Millennials, nearly half have a tattoo. In most states, you have to be at least 18 to get a tattoo, but with parental permission, in many states you can get one sooner. Given the popularity of tattoos, this means that lots of parents are having conversations with their teens about tattoos — and having to decide whether or not they should say yes to one. To help parents make this tough decision, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a clinical report entitled “Adolescent and Young Adult Tattooing, Piercing, and Scarification.” Here are some highlights — and some points parents and teens really need to talk about. It is a decision that is hard to undo — and can have repercussions. Tattoos are much more accepted than they used to be, it’s true. But they can still affect how others perceive you. In one 2014 survey discussed in the report, 76% of 2,700 people interviewed said they believed that a tattoo or piercing had hurt their chances of getting a job. Some professions tolerate them more than others, but not only can you not predict any particular person’s reaction, most teens simply don’t know what the future might hold for them professionally. While tattoos can often be removed, it’s expensive (laser removal costs b...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Children's Health Parenting Skin and Hair Care Source Type: blogs