Teens and Tattoos

If you are the parent of a teen you may have been approached with the request of letting your teen get a tattoo. Or you may have just been surprised when your teen showed up one day with a tattoo and you didn't get a choice in the matter. Some parents may be asking the question: "At what age is it appropriate to allow a teen to get a tattoo?"

The answer to that question is not an easy one and like most things it may vary depending on your family beliefs, the teen and their maturity level, any health risks that may occur and so on. There are many things to consider. One thing is for sure: tattoos are on the rise. They are now mainstream, not just something you see once in a while. They used to come with the stigma of rebellion or toughness and now you will find tattoos on people of all ages, sexes and races.

One thought that raises concern is that states and local authorities govern the standards that a tattoo artist is held to. These standards vary greatly across the country. In many states there are no regulations, no inspections and no training necessary. Most do not require consent forms or record keeping.

The major health concern associated with tattoos is the spread of a certain type of staph infection. By now we have all heard of these infections and how scary they can be and how rapidly they can spread through the body. Without any regulations on how many times a tattoo needle or ink get used it is very hard to determine whether or not you are in safe hands in this respect.

Regardless of your choice, here are a few things to consider:

• Only used a licensed person and make sure that they take precautions against infection.
• Teens have been known to do "do it yourself" tattoos. This is NEVER a good idea.
• Do your research on the health risks. Staph is not the only problem. If you grow too much scar tissue or have reactions you could be in a for a lot of trouble.
• What happens if you or the teen regret the decision. Look into tattoo removal, how well it works and the cost of such a procedure.
• Always use an actual medical doctor for tattoo removal.

This is a great conversation to have with your teens even if they haven't approached the subject. It is good for them to know your thoughts and ideals on such topics. You can always sit down with a parent contract and discuss these types of teen issues and it may clear up any misunderstandings on your expectations of your teen.