How to Discourage a Teen Body Piercing

Teens are exposed to influences, both positive and negative. Body piercings have become increasingly mainstream. Persuading a teen not to get piercings can be a tough task, but these steps can help.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Be very careful to not get too emotional. If a parent takes a child's actions too personally they will get the opposite reaction that was intended. The teen will do exactly what the parent did not want because teens by nature are rebellious. This is especially true if the teen is thinking about getting a piercing.
2. Discuss the physical dangers of getting a body piercing. Body piercings put your teen at risk for diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B and C and tetanus. Some diseases that can be contracted during a body piercing may not show up for 10 years. So even if the disease is not readily apparent the piercing can have unforeseen consequences down the line. Now this argument must be used tactfully because most teens feel they are bulletproof. You might have to find news stories or actual people affected to get the point across. Don't hype the data you do uncover. For example, the risk of contracting HIV through body piercing is real but minimal. Don't overstate it. If your teen finds out you fudged the numbers, you'll undermine any bond of trust you have with your child.
3. Show the teen the facts of body piercing. Show teens that half of piercings result in a visit to the doctors office. Allergic reactions are common when getting piercings. Mention the skin disorders that can result from piercings. Visual examples can be very useful in showing what happens when a piercing goes wrong.
4. Make the teen understand the financial implications. Tell your teens that any expense incurred as a result of the piercing will be their responsibility. Reveal the medical cost of any complications, including insurance deductibles and prescriptions. It could be a powerful deterrent if the teen realizes how much it could cost them if complications result.
5. Have the teen talk to someone who has suffered a bad piercing experience. Ask a dermatologist if he knows any patients who are willing to talk to teens and discourage them from getting piercings.