MedlinePlus: Piercing and Tattoos

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Piercing and Tattoos

Also called: Body art, Body piercing

Piercings and tattoos are body decorations that go back to ancient times. Body piercing involves making a hole in the skin so that you can insert jewelry. This is often in the earlobe, but can be in other parts of the body. Tattoos are designs on the skin made with needles and colored ink. Permanent makeup is a type of tattoo.

The health risks of piercings and tattoos include

Allergic reactions
Keloids, a type of scar that forms during healing
Infections, such as hepatitis

To reduce the risks, make sure that the facility is clean, safe and has a good reputation. Proper sterilization of the equipment is important. Be sure to follow the instructions on caring for your skin.

Holes from piercing usually close up if you no longer wear the jewelry. It is possible to remove tattoos, but it's painful and can cause scarring.

Start Here

Body Piercing(American Academy of Family Physicians)
Also available in Spanish
Tattoos, Body Piercings, and Other Skin Adornments(American Academy of Dermatology)
Tattoos: Risks and Precautions to Know First(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Basics	Learn More	Multimedia & Cool Tools
Overviews	Specific Conditions Related Issues	Pictures & Photographs
Research	Reference Shelf	For You
Journal Articles	Directories Organizations	Children Teenagers Women

Overviews
- JAMA Patient Page: Body Piercing(American Medical Association)
  Also available in Spanish
- Piercings: Proper Care Can Help Prevent Complications(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Tattoos and Permanent Make-Up(Food and Drug Administration, Office of Women's Health)
- Tattoos and Permanent Makeup(Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition)
Specific Conditions
- Temporary Tattoos and Henna/Mehndi(Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition)
Related Issues
- Body Art(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
  Also available in Spanish
- Can I Get HIV from Getting a Tattoo or through Body Piercing?(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  Also available in Spanish
- Do's and Don'ts When Considering Tattoos or Piercings(American Society for Dermatologic Surgery)
- Laser Tattoo Removal(Logical Images)
- Oral Piercing and Health(American Dental Association) - Links to PDF
- Tattoo Removal Information(American Society for Dermatologic Surgery)
- Tattoos and MRIs: What's the Risk?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Think Before You Ink: Are Tattoos Safe?(Food and Drug Administration)
- Warnings for Makers of Compounded Pain Products(Food and Drug Administration)
Pictures & Photographs
- Before and After Photos: Tattoo Removal on the Lower Arm(American Society for Dermatologic Surgery)
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Directories
- Find a Dermasurgeon(American Society for Dermatologic Surgery)
- Find a Plastic Surgeon(American Society of Plastic Surgeons)
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Organizations
- American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons
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Children
- Pierced Ears(Nemours Foundation)
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Teenagers
- Body Piercing(Nemours Foundation)
  Also available in Spanish
- Body Piercing and Risky Behavior: Is There a Connection?(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
- Tattoos(Nemours Foundation)
  Also available in Spanish
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Women
- Can I Get a Tattoo When I’m Pregnant?(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)
  Also available in Spanish
- Lower Back Tattoo: Can It Prevent an Epidural for Labor Pain?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- What about Belly-Button Rings and Pregnancy?(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)
  Also available in Spanish
- What about Nipple Piercings and Pregnancy?(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)
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