Teen Skincare
proper techniques (
www.safe-tatoos.com). The Association of Professional Piercers website (
www.safepiercing.org) includes information on risks and aftercare. BMs have been around for thousands
of years in various cultures worldwide. Changes we make to our bodies not only define us but the culture in which we live. Yet every culture has its own standard for beauty and what is acceptable. Visible BMs are seen as an acknowledgment of sharing common experiences within a group, an expression of personal identity, a silent means of communication or a type of “brotherhood.” This rite of passage from adolescence to adulthood can be a statement defined through distinct fashion trends, tattooing, piercing and other BMs. In the United States there has been
an increase in BMs that began in the 1940s with men in the military and other close-knit groups. In the 1970s ear lobe piercing became a fashion trend for women. Because of this ongoing fashion
If you or your teens are considering BMs, now is the time to start the dialogue
trend, women tend to be pierced more often than men. Since the 1970s, there has been a steady rise in BMs, especially in the 18-to-50 age-group. It is estimated that 24 percent of the U.S. population has BMs of some sort. Adolescents who pursue BMs have
behavioral characteristics in common, too, especially as the number of BMs becomes greater, larger and more vis- ible. They tend to come from a lower socioeconomic and educational level and participate in risky behaviors such as rec- reational drug and alcohol use, impulsive decision-making and sensation seeking. But the biggest influence for whether or not to add BMs is dependent upon their friends and other supporting groups. A 2005 survey appearing in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that adolescents between the ages of 12 and 21 perceived BMs as normal within their age-group and minimally risky. Yet there is a high rate of complications due to piercing and tattooing, rang- ing from 17 to 69 percent. The risk of complications due to piercing increases depending upon the location of the site, who performs the piercing (the teen, a friend or relative, a licensed piercing artist or not) and how long the site takes to heal. Piercing sites associated with the greatest risks are: nipples, tongues, belly buttons and genitalia. Complete healing may take up to nine months! Typically complications from piercing
are localized bacterial infections, fungal in- fections, chronic bleeding, further injuries to the site and allergic reactions to jewelry. Serious bacterial complications of piercing include the risk of developing endocarditis, which, left untreated, can lead to heart dis- ease and stroke. Based on these findings, your health care provider should discuss
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