Tattoos and body piercings are becoming increasingly popular among teens. Many teens use permanent body art as a way to express themselves. These teens may find themselves confronted with a myriad of issues including legal consequences, negative responses from schools and jobs, and potential health consequences.

Discusses the history of various forms of body marking, current popularity of body piercing and tattoos, how and why these are done, and some things to think about before choosing to be pierced or tattooed.

This interesting and informative book about body piercing and tattooing traces the vast cultural and social history of body modification as well as its origins, providing students with a rich foundation to help them form a more complete understanding of the art. The author provides students with a realistic overview of the health risks associated with both practices, noting recent infections that originated from equipment used by various unlicensed body artists and the potential link between tattooing and hepatitis C. Personal stories, anecdotes, and a detailed array of facts fill out the text.

Tattoos have been steadily gaining popularity since World War II, and in the 1990s even the practice of body piercing became a mainstream fad. The selections in this volume explore the history of tattoos and body piercing, the reasons people practice body modification, and the controversial nature of these trends.

Body piercing and tattoos have become a popular way for individuals to express themselves. Give readers something to think about as they may be considering self expression in these ways. Readers will evaluate the real meanings behind getting tattoos and piercings, what risks are involved, and how to avoid making mistakes in efforts to be trendy. Essay sources include the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Reef Karim, Silvia Cardona-Tapia, and Rebecca Lawrence.

Body art, including tattooing and body piercing, is ubiquitous today, but many teens do not understand what is involved in these two forms of body modification. While not condoning the practices, this expert-reviewed book offers informed answers to the most important questions regarding body piercing and tattooing.