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Non-fiction: Making Your Mark
Making Your Mark
By Mark Rowh
What you need to know about body art, from piercings to tattoos
When Savanna P. looks in the mirror, she sees herself as a work of body art.
The Salt Lake City 15-year-old sports jewelry in her lip and nose, on her
collar-bone, beside one eye, and on her ears. She also has two tattoos, one
on her back and another on the front of her hip.
Imageshop/Corbis
Maintaining the image she prefers has not come easily, Savanna admits. She
has developed infections in some piercings and wishes one of the tattoos
had been done more professionally. She suffered a rip in one ear when her
mother accidentally caught a finger in a hole made by a stud.
Despite those challenges, Savanna remains positive about the changes she
has made in her appearance. “This makes me unique,” she says.
Others feel differently about such practices. In fact, opinions about piercings
and tattoos for teens vary widely. Many teachers, employers, and other
adults disapprove of them. Some parents say sorry, no way. Others are
more lenient, letting teens decide for themselves.
Often it’s a matter of degree. For example, some parents might draw the
line at mere ear piercing, while another parent might allow a small nose stud
or a conservative tattoo. And then there are parents such as Savanna’s, who
were OK with her getting inked.
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Non-fiction: Making Your Mark
Views among teens also cover a lot of territory. For some, body art offers a
way to express themselves. Others find it’s not for them.
Decisions in this area carry more weight than other appearance-related
choices. If you shave off your hair, you can always grow it back. But
piercings don’t always close up, and a tattoo will be with you forever unless
you pay huge bucks to have it surgically removed. “It currently runs about a
thousand dollars a square inch to remove a tattoo,” says Dr. Frank Barnhill,
a physician in Gaffney, S.C.
Jason
Woodcock/Istock
If you decide to get tattoos or piercings, make sure you’re well-informed.
Don’t just go ahead without considering the implications of decorating your
body.
Possible Problems
Tattoos and piercings come with risks—and that’s not just scare talk from
people who disapprove of them. If you are considering getting either or
both, be aware of possible side effects or other negatives.
Barnhill warns of exposure to infectious diseases caused by dirty, previously
used instruments and inks. Even if the right precautions are taken, infections
can develop later, causing redness and pain in the affected areas. “Skin
infections may destroy the tattoo by causing scarring,” he says. “Sometimes
these are so bad they need plastic surgery.”
Scarring can also come with piercings, especially in the nose or ears, where
damage to cartilage may lead to holes that enlarge and fail to heal.
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Article: Copyright © 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved.
Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation.
Used by permission.
Non-fiction: Making Your Mark
Fractured teeth also may result from pierced tongues or lips, according to
Dr. Bruce DeGinder, a dentist in Williamsburg, Va.
“People chip teeth on the piercing while eating, sleeping, talking, or by
chewing on the jewelry,” he says. “It is possible for the fracture to go deep
into your tooth, which may require a root canal or removal of the tooth
altogether.”
Along with physical problems, body art can pose challenges in the workplace
or the larger social world. “Tattoos and body piercings do not give the
professional image many organizations are looking for,” says Christine Chen,
an etiquette consultant in the Washington, D.C., area. “In today’s
competitive business environment, companies are looking at the whole
package—a package that will give a positive impression to their clients.”
Even if employers don’t make appearance a factor in hiring, they may
demand that employees wear long sleeves or other types of clothing to
cover body art, Chen adds.
Playing It Smart
If you decide to go with tattoos or body jewelry, there are a few things to
consider.
Don’t assume any items are totally without risk. Fake tongue rings
made of small magnets, for instance, can be dangerous if swallowed.
Allergies to various types of metal jewelry may cause itching, redness, or
blisters. Permanent makeup might sound convenient, but it can cause the
same kinds of problems as other types of tattoos.
Deal with established businesses. “Don’t go to anyone who doesn’t know
what they’re doing,” Savanna says. “They have to be in a shop.” Keep in
mind that most states have laws that protect customers of businesses that
provide piercings or tattoos. If you try to cut corners by going to an
amateur, you could expose yourself to serious infections such as human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis.
It’s best to avoid metal mouth jewelry. A study published in the Journal
of Adolescent Health found that plastic studs are less likely to lead to
infections than stainless steel or titanium ones are. Researchers believe that
bacteria stick to metal studs more readily than to plastic, leading to
infections. At the same time, metal tongue studs are more likely to chip
teeth or damage gums.
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Article: Copyright © 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved.
Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation.
Used by permission.
Non-fiction: Making Your Mark
Think ahead. When choosing the size or design of a tattoo, ask yourself
whether it will be something you will always want. “I see teens all the time
who have what I call tattoo regret,” says Susan Bartell, a New York
psychologist. “Something as permanent as a tattoo may not be something
you’ll like later on in life.”
No matter how you decide to adorn yourself, get all the facts first.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the process or what you’ll be left with
afterward. Be sure to spend time thinking about the way you want it all to
look—and how it might look to you, or to others, years down the road.
When it comes to tattoos, for instance, Savanna says it’s best to choose
designs that are truly meaningful. In her case, one tattoo conveys an
antidrug message, a movement she believes in. The other is a memorial
poem to a friend who died. Being sure of yourself is especially important
because the process of getting a tattoo can be uncomfortable at best.
“Tattoos are very painful,” she says. “Make sure you get something that
means something to you.”
Talk It Up
Scott Griessel/Istock
When it comes to considering any type of body art, be sure to keep your
parents in the loop. In many states, the law requires that anyone younger
than 18 have the consent of a parent or a legal guardian before getting
piercings or tattoos. At the same time, it’s always a good idea to avoid
family conflict by talking openly about your interest. “Explain that tattoos
and body piercings are a form of communication and an attempt to be a part
of a larger peer group,” says Dr. Frank Barnhill, a physician in Gaffney, S.C.
Then, if they give you the go-ahead, gather all the facts and take care in
moving forward with your decision.
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Article: Copyright © 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved.
Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation.
Used by permission.
Non-fiction: Making Your Mark
Tongue Tips
If you decide to have your tongue (or lip or cheek) pierced, take care of it,
recommends Virginia dentist Bruce DeGinder, a past president of the
Academy of General Dentistry. He suggests the following:
Sandra Kim/iStock
Use an antiseptic mouthwash after every meal.
Brush the jewelry clean the same as you do for your teeth.
Use acrylic jewelry rather than metal to minimize damage to your
teeth.
Consider removing the jewelry before eating, sleeping, or playing
sports.
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Article: Copyright © 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved.
Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation.
Used by permission.