The author, Jay Cermenaro, is a senior at Lakeside High School and a member of Xtreme's teen board.File photo

Web posted Dec. 03 at 01:48 AM

 Tattoos can be painful
Artists advise caution

By Jay Cermenaro
Xtreme Teen Board Member

Rheinhard Gruebl is an 18-year-old exchange student from Germany. He just got a tattoo.

``I called my mom and told her, and she just cussed me out for about five minutes. It was great,'' he said, smiling. ``I'm not rebelling. I just thought a tattoo would be neat.''

Getting tattoos and piercing bodies seems to be a trend among high school students. Ironically, teens try to express their individuality by doing what everybody else is doing.

The downside to piercing your body includes infections, parents' disapproval, discrimination and the rate at which some of the holes grow closed. Although most infections caused by piercings are not serious, they can be painful. A small percentage may result in permanent disfigurement or require cosmetic surgery to correct.

The Association of Professional Piercers says: ``The jewelry used in these guns (ear-piercing guns) are usually steel, plated with gold, and frequently under-plated with nickel or copper. This can result in a metal reaction and infection for the piercee when the thin plating chips off. Furthermore, rather than being pierced with a surgically sharp needle, the tissue is brutally torn by the blunt backing of the eat stud. This is not an easier way to be pierced. The style of jewelry is less than ideal for even earlobes, but on other body parts, it can be dangerous, debilitating and permanently scarring. It is not unlikely that the body part pierced with an ear stud may lose all nerve sensitivity. For all these reasons, the APP is strictly opposed to the use of ear piercing guns.''

Many parents disapprove of their children putting holes in their bodies. Teens often must conceal their piercings, which would seem to make the whole exercise pointless. In most cases, the holes grow closed very rapidly, which may not be a bad thing.

Tattoos are also rising in popularity. However, they are not nearly as popular as piercings for several reasons: Tattoos cost much more; they hurt more; most parents think they are disgusting; and they are ``permanent.'' Nowadays, though, tattoos can be removed almost pain-free by lasers; for a small fee, of course!

The most compelling reason to get a tattoo is the complete customization. You decide the size, location, color and image. Then you dish out the money and hope the tattoo artist knows what he is doing!

One important factor that affects 20-somethings more than teens is employability. In the corporate world, many employers will not hire someone with visible piercings or tattoos. Call it absurd or call it discrimination, but many large corporation and businesses have very conservative policies and feel that tattoos and piercing do not project the right image.

With modern technology and sterilization practices, tattoos and body piercings are relatively safe. But keep in mind, just because it was safe getting your tattoo or piercing your body, you are not necessarily safe from your parents' or other people's opinions.