The piercing of oral structures presents risks of infection because of vast amount of bacteria in the mouth. Infectious disease specialists, like Dr. Arnold Lentnek, say stopping teens from piercing their lips, cheeks or tongues may take more than a stern warning. He finds that especially troubling because in the case of hepatitis C, for example, a teen might not even realize he has been infected for years. But Dr. Lentnek says turning teens away from this trend may take more than just scare tactics. Asking a friend to apply a tattoo may ruin a friendship if the tattoo doesn't look like you thought it would.
Tattoo removal is very expensive.
The law in many states prohibits the tattooing of minors. Tattoos are not easy to remove and in some cases may cause permanent discoloration. Think carefully before getting a tattoo. You can't take it back if you don't like it. Some people are allergic to the tattoo dye.