“Get a tattoo! Pierce your body where? Are you crazy!” this is a common response of a parent when their teen asks for a tattoo or piercing. Tattoos and piercings among teenagers are more popular than ever. Research shows that 36 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 have at least one tattoo. I strongly agree with many others that teens should not be allowed to get tattoos and piercings without parent’s consent. Getting such procedures done can affect them in the future, tattoos are not easily removed, and is not entirely safe.
Furthermore, Tattoos are becoming a popular trend that is seen everywhere you go. Today's young adults are getting permanent tattoos to be cool and trendy, but don't consider the long-term effects. Getting a tattoo as a teen can affect job careers and job prospects. Some jobs may not allow for the person to have a tattoo or piercing that is large and is not covered. It is very common for the employer to have a dress code policy that may ban visible tattoos and piercings. Sometimes you might not even get the job because of the tattoo. The employers might feel that their employees should have a nice outer appearance that would look attractive to customers. “60 percent of employers reported that visible tattoos would have a negative impact on someone getting hired”(DLA Piper). Employees in the u.s have been fired or forced to resign because they chose not to cover up their tattoos. Applicants with extreme piercings are affected as well when in job interviews. For example, tongue, nose, lips, ears are common places where people have piercings. Piercings in those places are the most noticeable and can cost you your job. “Managers may see people with facial piercings as a poor fit for a job because facial piercings may be associated with negative personality traits”(APS). Facial piercings are less appropriate for jobs that require more customer contact compared to jobs with less customer contact, like computer programming.
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Also, getting a tattoo or piercing is not entirely safe. Teens must be aware of the damage that they may cause to their body when they perform such procedures. The unsanitary conditions of getting a tattoo tend to go unnoticed by teenagers. If the equipment to get the tattoo done is contaminated with infected blood, you can get infected with various bloodborne diseases. “blood-borne diseases, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, and tetanus; these can be contracted by using contaminated tattoo needles that haven’t been sanitized”(Getting tattooed or pierced). Many of these diseases will never go away, their are very few cures for those diseases. People may get severe allergic reactions caused by the tattoo ink. There is a risk that the tattoo can get seriously infected and can be allergic to the ink. “The biggest problem with tattooing is an allergic reaction. This can be an allergy to ink. It can either be the contents of the ink or even the color.” When getting a piercing done, it is usually safe, but when it is not done in a clean and professional environment, it can cause blood-borne diseases as well.“While sharing needles during illegal drug use is the biggest risk factor for contracting hepatitis C, there are increasing numbers of cases caused by some very common activities including tattoos, piercings, manicures and pedicures.” This shows how fast diseases can spread and affect the teens for the rest of their lives. Most of the time when teens don't get parent consent, they will go to a place where they don't ask for parent consent and get the procedure done illegally. If the proper procedures are not taken when getting a tattoo it can prohibit you from donating blood, if you were contaminated with a blood-borne disease.
In addition, The number of people that have regrets for a tattoo is increasing. Regretting a tattoo can cause physiological burden, which can be avoided if certain factors had been considered more thoroughly. As a teenager they might not think the same way as they will think when they become an adult.When a person becomes an adult they might regret getting the tattoo. Getting the tattoo removed can cost twice the amount of time and money it took to get the tattoo. A research by Anderson (2006) suggests that in the United States, “About 12 million adults (which is about 4 percent of the total population) regret their tattoos and consider getting it removed, but actually do.” Many people don't get their tattoos removed because of financial reasons. The average tattoo removal cost ranges from $200 to $500 per treatment session and as high as $10,000. The amount session depends on the size and color of the tattoo. Tattoos are not easily removed like video games. Getting a tattoo removed with laser can bring side effects. “Your tattoo removal site is at risk for infection. And there is a slight chance that you will have a permanent scar”(Stephanie S. Gardner, MD). Many teens might not even håve the money to get the tattoo removed without the help of an adult. Some people may argue that teens don't need parent consent to get a tattoo. “They have a right to their own bodies and if they feel like they want to go get a tattoo, they should have the right to do so”( Silvia cardona-Tapia 2). People get tattoos to make them feel good or look better. However, the teens may not think about the consequences that getting a tattoo may bring later in life. Getting a tattoo is a decision that you take when you are fully aware of the risk and dangers that it can cause.
In conclusion, Teens should not be allowed to get tattoos and piercings without parent’s consent. Teens may not be aware of the consequences of getting a tattoo may bring for them in the future. In the future a tattoo can even cost a lot of money to get it removed, and they may even get fired for having a tattoo. Teens should be more considerate about their decisions and shouldn't rush to make fast decisions.
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