More Parents Allowing Teens to Get Tattoos
by Sue Scheff on Oct 12, 2010
A 2010 Pew Research study found that nearly 40 percent of young people between the ages of 18 and 29 have tattoos, and of those, half have two to five tattoos. The study also found that parents increasingly support their kids’ decisions to get tattoos.
How do you feel about your teen getting a tattoo?
This issue is a personal decision and each parent has different opinions. It is definitely becoming more common now, and some people believe it can even become addictive.
Tattoo laws for teens under 18 vary from state to state, and in some cases even from city to city. According to Florida Tatto Laws:
(3) No body of a minor shall be <tattooed without the written notarized consent of the parent or legal guardian.
However as the PEW Research study found, more parents are becoming acceptable of their kids getting tattoos.
According to a report on Good Morning America (watch video on sidebar), some chief concerns associated with underage tattoos are worries that teens will later regret their decision, and fears that people, including potential employers, will treat a person with a tattoo differently. Tattoo artists warn that inked art on still-developing bodies can change for the worse over time as skin stretches.
If you are a parent and allowing your teen to get a tattoo please take the appropriate precautions. It is important to get it done safely.
Teen Health advises you if you have a medical problem such as heart disease, allergies, diabetes, skin disorders, a condition that affects your immune system, or infections — or if you are pregnant — ask your doctor if there are any special concerns you should have or precautions you should take beforehand. Also, if you’re prone to getting keloids (an overgrowth of scar tissue in the area of the wound), it’s probably best to avoid getting a tattoo altogether.
Safety matters – with your health and with the services you use. Be sure you are going to a licensed and reputable tattoo studio.
Professional studios usually take pride in their cleanliness. Here are some things to check for:
- Make sure the tattoo studio has an autoclave (a device that uses steam, pressure, and heat for sterilization). You should be allowed to watch as equipment is sterilized in the autoclave.
- Check that the tattoo artist is a licensed practitioner. If so, the tattoo artist should be able to provide you with references.
- Be sure that the tattoo studio follows the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Universal Precautions. These are regulations that outline procedures to be followed when dealing with bodily fluids (in this case, blood).
Sources: Teen Health, Good Morning America
Be an educated parent, you will have safer and healthier teens.
Tags: Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Resources, Parenting Teens, Parenting Tips, Sue Scheff, Tattoos, Teen Issues, Teen Tattoos
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