Body piercing has become more and more popular among teens and young adults. Pierced ears have been common for many years. But now, no part of the body seems to be off limits for rings, studs, and bars. Navels, tongues, eyebrows, and nostrils have become popular places for piercings.

Piercing has been around for a long time. It has been used in religious and cultural ceremonies and is common in some cultures around the world. For many of today's American youth, piercings are fashion statements. Like tattoos, daring clothing, and extreme hair styles, piercing may be a badge of identity.¹

Adults may worry that piercing is unsafe, or just plain wrong. They may view it as a sign of delinquency and rejection of traditional values. While this may be true for some teens, others see body piercing as a form of self-expression.

So, which is it? Is body piercing a passing phase—part of a personal declaration of independence? Or, does it signal an urge to push social limits and to take risks? The answer is different for each teen. Risk-taking can be a growth experience; the key is to take the right kind of risk. This means taking part in activities that build ability, awareness, and character.

What To Say

If a young person wants a piercing or comes home with one, ask why he wants it and how it fits into his self-image and social life. Discussion will be more useful than anger or immediate rejection. You may learn something by listening to your teen’s views on the subject and you may get a chance to share your own thoughts.

What To Know

Learn about piercing, including the proper procedures, risks (there's that word again), and safety issues.² Having the facts will help you provide guidance and make it tougher for a child to dismiss your concerns. If a child gets a body piercing, remember, the industry is not well-regulated. However, there are professional standards for which some piercers are certified.

What To Do

Urging caution, keeping an eye on behavior, and enforcing rules can go a long way toward helping your teen make healthy choices. Prevention is about more than stopping problem behavior. Channeling a young person's search for adventure can yield great results. Exposing teens to people, places, and ideas can open them up to a world of opportunity, but that world is different for each teen. For many young people, body piercing is a decision to try something new and may satisfy their appetites for adventure.

Sources

Additional Resources:

• University of Rochester Medical Center, 5/6/2002. Doctors Follow the Nose (Ring) To Learn More About Youth Risks, last referenced 4/11/2006.
• 4Parents.gov. Risky Behaviors: Body Art, last referenced 4/11/2006.