Like tattoos, body piercing has an extensive history across both ancient and modern cultures. While it is not uncommon for youth to decide that they want their ears pierced (once or multiple times), other youth choose less conventional piercing locations such as tongues, noses, belly buttons, or even intimate body parts, such as genitalia and nipples. Any body part can be pierced where a flap of skin can be punctured with a hole and fitted with a post, rod, hoop, or other piece of jewelry. Most piercings are created when an electric-powered ‘gun’ quickly punctures the skin and a piece of jewelry is simultaneously inserted into the hole just created.
Few Things To Know about Body Piercing
As with tattoos, many states have laws about teens and body piercings. Many states require youth to be 18 years old to get piercings or for parents to be present during piercings. As with decisions regarding tattoos, parents can be an important resource for their children to make an informed decision about piercings. Parents can help their teens weigh the benefits they hope to receive, with risks of body piercings. Some body locations carry greater risks than others. For instance, tongue piercings can be more difficult to care for, may take longer to heal, and carry a greater risk of infection. All piercing can be dangerous if not performed by a qualified professional.
Youth may desire body piercings for a variety of reasons. For some youth, body piercing provides appearance. Others are interested in body piercing as a way to express their independence, to stand-out from the crowd, even to shock people or call attention to themselves. Still others are trying to fit with a group of peers who are attracted to body piercings. Sometimes they want to do this just so they can have a shared experience with their peers or they may worry that their friends won’t respect them as much if they don’t get the piercing.
Unlike tattoos, body piercings are usually not permanent. If a youth gets a piercing and then dislikes it, they can simply remove the jewelry in the piercing and the hole will eventually grow closed again on its own. However, because piercings and the jewelry can be quite expensive, this would be a rather costly mistake to make. Similarly parents and youth should also check to be sure certain piercing placements do not violate school or employment dress codes. Because new piercings can be close very quickly (sometimes within a few hours), youth cannot simply remove the jewelry during school or work hours. Again, this lack of planning could result in a costly mistake.
