50 Ways Teens Get Trouble

The Problem
Years ago, young girls dreamed of getting their ear lobes pierced. But today, body piercing - of ears, lips, nostrils, eyebrows, chins, navels, and even tongues - is popular among both girls and boys.

What is behind this teen trend? If you remember the days when body piercing was seen only on criminals, bikers, and gang members, you may have a hard time understanding it. You may view your child's desire for an eyebrow bar as a sign of rebellion or delinquency. At the very least, you may worry that it's unsafe.

But while excessive body piercing may be a sign of an emotional problem, most teens simply see body piercing as a form of self-expression, an outward sign of independence, a fashion statement, or even an adventure of sorts.

What To Do
Learn all you can about body piercing, including the risks, safety issues, and proper procedures. If your child is interested in a piercing, ask him why. Is it just because he thinks it's cool? If so, you need to remind him of the not-so-cool aspects of piercing, such as the risk of infection or scarring. Tell him that the nose ring that seems so cool now will leave a permanent scar on his face if he decides to take it out in the future. And the eyebrow ring that fits into his current lifestyle may not be so acceptable in the adult professional world.

If your teen persists in the idea of piercing as a form of self-expression, you may allow her to make this decision regarding her own body (especially if she's an older teen). If you absolutely forbid the idea, she may end up getting the piercing anyway - but in a less-than-ideal setting. At present, the body art industry is not well regulated, so risks of infection and scarring increase when professional standards aren't adhered to.

Help your child to learn all he can before making the final decision about piercing, especially when deciding which body area to get pierced. Certain areas can cause more problems than others. Infection is more common with mouth or nose piercings, for example, due to the bacteria present in these body sites. And piercings in the tongue, cheek, or lip can cause gum problems.

If your child does end up getting a piercing, make sure she's current on her immunizations, especially hepatitis B and tetanus. Make sure that the piercing shop is safe and sanitary, and that the person doing the piercing uses disposable or sterilized instruments and nontoxic metal jewelry.