Parents have been pinning me down with all sorts of questions about what to say to their teen who wants to have parts of their body pierced or tattooed.

Well, let me see if I can push through with some information on this topic.

National Data on Tattoos and Piercings National data suggests that:

¯ 15-20% of older teens and young adults have tattoos

¯ 25% have body piercings other than an ear lobe

¯ 50% who don’t have a tattoo are expressing an interest in getting one

In fact, nowadays teenagers see body art such as piercing or tattooing as a way to express themselves and their identities, perhaps to fit in better with their peers, or as a sign of independence as they approach adulthood.

Please recognize that state laws vary for who can get a tattoo or body piercing under the age of 18. In Vermont parent consent is needed for either procedure — and in New York, parent consent is needed for a piercing but tattooing a teen under 18 even with parental consent is against the law.

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Possible Complications

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Complications of a body piercing or tattoo can include, but are not limited to:

¯ Bleeding

¯ Pain

¯ Infection, including possible transmission of HIV and viral hepatitis

¯ Large bumpy scars called keloids

¯ An allergic reaction to the metal or ink being used

¯ Chipped or broken teeth from a tongue piercing If your teenager is contemplating having this done, start by talking with, but not at them, about why they might want to do this and if they are aware of some of the medical risks.

Make sure they think before they ink, since it is very hard and expensive to remove a tattoo once it has been placed. A henna tattoo may be a good compromise since it is not permanent and only lasts for weeks.

If you are going to consent to the procedure for your teen, make sure your teenager’s immunizations are up to date. Help them find a place that is state regulated and practices good infection control – before, during, and after the piercing or tattoo is placed.

New disposable gloves should be used, needles should be sterilized, and inks should be new and used only once.

Finally, remember that it is not what a person looks like on the outside but what kind of person they are on the inside. Your teen will still need your unconditional love and support — so keep those talks with your teenager ongoing and remember to focus on what your teen does well rather than just what they have done to their body.

Hopefully tips like these will stick with you, the next time you are concerned that your teenager wants to get their body pierced or tattooed.

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Lewis First, MD, is Chief of Pediatrics at The University of Vermont Children’s Hospital and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine. You can also catch “First with Kids” weekly on WOKO 98.9FM and NBC5.