Adolescent and Young Adult Tattooing, Piercing, and Scarification

Abstract

THE COMMITTEE ON ADOLESCENCE Tattoos, piercing, and scarification are now commonplace among adolescents and young adults. This first clinical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics on voluntary body modification will review the methods used to perform the modifications. Complications resulting from body modification methods, although not common, are discussed to provide the pediatrician with management information. Body modification will be contrasted with nonsuicidal self-injury. When available, information also is presented on societal perceptions of body modification. abstract Tattoos, piercings, and scarification, also known as "body modifications, " are commonly obtained by adolescents and young adults. Previous reports on those who obtain tattoos, piercings, and scarification have focused mainly on high-risk populations, including at-risk adolescents. 1 Tattooing and piercing of various body parts no longer is a high-riskpopulation phenomenon, as evidenced by growing numbers of adults and adolescents not considered at risk who have tattoos and multiple ear and body piercings. The Pew Research Center reports that in 2010, 38% of 18 to 29 year olds had at least 1 tattoo, and 23% had piercings in locations other than an earlobe. 2 Of those with tattoos, 72% were covered and not visible. 2 Scarification is the practice of intentionally irritating the skin to cause a permanent pattern of scar tissue; data are not currently available on the prevalence of scarification in the United States.Although body modifications have become a mainstream trend, they still may be associated with medical complications and, among adolescents, may also co-occur with high-risk behaviors. This first clinical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics on tattooing, piercing, and scarification discusses the history of these methods of body modification, educates the reader on methods used, reports on trends in associated adolescent and young adult risk behaviors, differentiates between nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and body modifications, and educates the reader about how to anticipate and prevent potential medical complications. The report analyzes the literature about societal acceptance of people with body modifications and perceptions that

Supplemental findings of the 2017 National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey

“…Although, since 2016, donors who have undergone tattooing within the most recent 12 months have been able to donate blood if the tattoo was applied by a state‐regulated entity with sterile needles and non‐reused ink tattoo deferrals increased by 25.1% between 2015 and 2017. This might be attributable to an increase in the prevalence of tattoos among the general population …”

“…This might be attributable to an increase in the prevalence of tattoos among the general population. 34 The total number of deferrals increased 35% from 2015 to 2017. This increase is likely partially explained by the 2016 change in donor eligibility criteria.…”

Do Multiple Body Modifications Alter Pain Threshold?

“…Although the number of people with body modifications has significantly increased over the past several decades (Kluger 2015, Breuner et al 2017, there have been no studies that test pain perception in these individuals. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare pain threshold to thermal and mechanical stimuli in groups with different motivations to experience pain, i.e., (1) in control subjects without body modifications, and (2) in subjects with multiple body modification under two different conditions, (a) emotionally neutral and (b) emotionally intense.…”

Are tattoos associated with negative health‐related outcomes and risky behaviors?

“…Up to 40% of the U.S. adult population has a tattoo, and nearly half of the Millennials have one . The American Academy of Pediatrics released its first clinical report in 2017 on tattoos in adolescents and young adults, noting tattoos may co‐occur with high risk behaviors …”

“…5 The American Academy of Pediatrics released its first clinical report in 2017 on tattoos in adolescents and young adults, noting tattoos may co-occur with high risk behaviors. 8 There is mixed evidence on the relationships between tattoos and health-related outcomes. The limited information that does exist on tattoos and self-reported physical health suggests little or no association between the two.…”