Need to Know: Your Teen and Body Piercings

Teens want to get piercings, and it is becoming quite the fad to get pierced in a variety of places, and ways. However, as a parent there are a few things you ought to know about piercings and teens. Here are just three things every parent should know:

1. That body piercing can have dangerous side effects, infections, etc.: A piercing is a semi-permanent to permanent condition, and it is not just something kids should be doing haphazardly. As a matter of fact, infection, irritation, and long term scarring are quite common when it comes to piercing. Often the equipment or facility where the piercing takes place, or the person doing the piercing are not clean, and unsanitary. Sometimes equipment is used, or needles, while sanitary, are handled by unclean hands, or put in unwashed equipment. Sometimes teens just don’t take care of pierced areas properly. All of these conditions, as well as many others can lead to infection and irritation of a pierced area. When it is ears, or something, this is usually mild, and can be taken care of fairy easily. However, if it is a mouth piercing, or somewhere else and it gets infected, it can be very serious.

What do piercings say about people?

2. Where teens are getting pierced and why: One of the things that parents need to know is where their teen wants to get pierced. Many teens are graduating beyond ear piercings to bellies, noses, private parts, eyebrows, lips, tongues, and more. This is important to know. Why? Because sometimes kids get things pierced as a way to enhance certain experiences. For example, a nipple ring might make that area more sensitive during intercourse. A penis piercing might add stimulation for him and her. A tongue ring makes for better kissing, etc. Often piercing lead to other behaviors you may not want your child participating in. So, just know what your child is getting pierced and why. If she wants her belly button pierced so she looks cuter in a bikini that is one thing, her tongue, eyebrow, nose, etc. another.

3. The teen’s school rules about piercing: Many teens may neglect to inform their parents of school piercing rules before asking to get a piercing. Because piercings are both disruptive, and potentially dangerous to a student’s health, many schools have strict rules against piercings in places other than the ears. So, before you allow your teen to get a piercing, make sure that it will not go against a school policy, dress code policy, or rule that they are supposed to be following. Schools usually have good reasons for enforcing strict piercing rules, and as a parent it would be wise to consider the reasoning behind the rules before allowing your child to break them.

A piercing is a permanent thing, especially if you let your child get gauges, etc. so, be careful and selective about what your allow your child to pierce and when.