Outline the situation: how to dissuade a teenager from getting a tattoo
Discussions about a complete ban on tattoos under the age of 18 have been going on for years, but no concrete decision has been made yet. Doctors associate the danger of nude drawings in the juvenile period with risks that relate not only to physical but also mental health. Immaturity of mind, mental instability and hormonal fluctuations can push teenagers to a rash act, which they will later regret. Why minors get tattoos, what restrictions exist in this regard, and how to dissuade a child from making a rash decision — in the Izvestia article.
The master of subcutaneous affairs
So far, you can get tattoos in a decent salon from the age of 16, but with permission and in the presence of your parents. However, if mom and dad did not support the initiative, then the teenager who is fixated on his own will find a way out of the situation. Underground craftsmen and craftsmen from the alleyway, armed with cars and paint bought on the marketplace, are not interested in passports. In this case, the threat to health is guaranteed. But no one is immune from problems even in legal cases.
There are no 100% safe tattoos, says Valentina Panikashvili, a pediatric dermatologist at the Be Healthy clinic on Sushchevsky Val. She associates medical risks primarily with the unpredictable reaction of the immune system to the introduction of a foreign substance into the body — a pigment. Such tattoos can be dangerous, in particular, from the point of view of oncology. The connection between the introduction of pigment and the triggering of cascading immune reactions with the further development of oncological and autoimmune diseases has been proven, the expert claims.
When drawing a picture, the possibility of contracting infections is also possible. The chance of catching something bad is especially great if a teenager goes to "beat the tattoo" secretly from his parents to underground masters. Violation of sterility and hygiene rules, as well as careful care after the procedure, can at least cause inflammation. But that's not the worst part.
"When tattoos are applied, the instrument and paint come into direct contact with blood, which can lead to infection with hepatitis, HIV and other viral or bacterial infections,— warns Panikashvili.
The body, especially a young one, sometimes reacts to foreign substances with allergic reactions. The dermatologist emphasizes that, as a rule, an allergy occurs to ink, especially if it contains plastic. The most allergenic are red, yellow, blue and green pigments.
— The use of paint can lead to local and general severe reactions (urticaria, anaphylactic shock), as well as burns that will leave scars, — says the specialist.
It is impossible to determine in advance how the skin will react to outside interference. One of the unwanted surprises is keloid scars. In simple terms, these are bumps raised above the level of healthy skin and containing scar tissue. It can be very difficult and sometimes impossible to deal with them, Panikashvili explains.
— The consequence of a tattoo can be a violation of thermoregulation and perspiration — this is due to the fact that the pores are clogged with paint, — she comments. — In addition, over time, the dyes dissolve and with the flow of lymph they enter the lymph nodes, which in response increase in the area around the tattoo.
The dermatologist clarifies that tattooed patients may have problems with MRI scans, from burns to a ban on conducting research. Such cases are rare, but they are possible when using ink with metals in the composition.
To reduce the risks, the doctor recommends at least using the services of official salons, checking the master, the shelf life of the paint and the sterility of the instrument.
The connection of tattoos with oncology
Due to the fact that the skin is clogged with paint, you may not notice the progressive disease hiding under the tattoo. Thus, there is a risk of missing melanoma (skin cancer) or other cancers if they fall into the drawing area, and the patient does not pay attention to dangerous manifestations.
A seemingly harmless tattoo can also provoke the development of benign and malignant neoplasms, such as fibroids, warns Valentina Panikashvili.
It is especially dangerous when moles get under the needle of the master — this is fraught with the growth and degeneration of the nevus into a malignant formation.
"Tattooing over or near a birthmark can have negative consequences," the dermatologist continues. — Moles require careful handling, and injury during the procedure can lead to complications. The needle causes pain and a slight burning sensation, and the resulting wound will bleed slightly or profusely, since there are many blood vessels in the body of the pigment formation.
It is possible to provoke the development of melanoma due to mechanical damage to the needle and from the influence of chemical components of the ink. At the same time, if the nevus is hidden under the drawing, then not all the changes that occur with it can be noticed at the initial stages, the expert notes.
— The body pattern masks the early signs of melanoma. The dense layer of pigment makes it almost impossible to detect early signs of malignant degeneration of an existing nevus or the appearance of a new suspicious formation in a timely manner," Panikashvili emphasizes.
Traumatization of a mole is not always associated with oncological degeneration — malignant neoplasms can occur on absolutely healthy skin, without nevi, the expert draws attention to. However, there is a statistical link between the injury of moles and the development of cancer.
— If the mole is injured, it is necessary to consult a dermatologist or oncologist in order to exclude the possibility of malignant degeneration of the neoplasm. The specialist will make a "map of moles" and give an opinion on the possibility of the procedure. Before the procedure, it is advisable to photograph the skin area as a souvenir in order to track possible changes in the future, the doctor adds.
What kind of drawings are in fashion
All these numerous risks are layered on another aspect — the psychological one. Tattoos themselves are not a mental disorder or a direct threat to mental health, emphasizes Daniil Petrov, a psychiatrist and narcologist, chief physician of Dr. Isaev's Clinic. However, in adolescence, everything depends on the reason for making such a radical decision.
— At the age of 14-16, personality is in the stage of active formation, and the ability to long-term forecasting and reflection is still limited, — explains Petrov.
The expert considers the influence of the social environment to be an additional risk: minors make decisions under the influence of their group and fashion. This increases the likelihood of impulsive and irreversible actions. Teenagers act spontaneously, without thinking about the fact that in a few years their views will change dramatically or they will end up in an environment where some "drawings with meaning" can cause a negative reaction.
— Historically, tattoos have had a clear symbolic and social function, from indicating status in certain circles to religious affiliation. In modern popular culture, this meaning has been largely lost, especially in the adolescent environment, where decisions are often impulsive and not accompanied by reflection, the doctor explains.
From the point of view of mental health, the risk is associated not so much with the desire to get a tattoo, as with motivation, the expert believes.
— In particular, an attempt to cope with inner insecurity, a sense of one's own "lack of expression", and the need for recognition can push a teenager to such an act. In such cases, the external change of the body becomes a substitute for the internal work of identity formation," Petrov continues.
Tattoos in the style of cybersigilism (neotraible), an abstraction with futuristic elements, are now considered the most fashionable among teenagers. Experts attribute this to the predilection of the youth crowd for one of the most meme brands today — Balenciaga. Similar graphic prints were used in high fashion collections, which influenced the choice of tattoos. And someone prefers phrases from movies, hieroglyphs or images of anime characters.
The masters themselves advise taking into account the fashion for tattoos — it is no less fleeting than stylistic preferences in clothing. For example, not so long ago it was important to put an infinity sign on your wrist, but now this trend is considered obsolete. And if fashionable brand shoes with triple soles can eventually be sent to the dustbin of history, then it's not so easy to get rid of the "tattoo". Removing drawings takes time and money, and the success of this depends on the individual characteristics of the skin, age and type of tattoo. According to the masters, it is easiest to etch with a laser the zonal "paintings" made with the help of the so—called burnt paint made on the basis of rubber (often these are shoe heels).
The limiting factors in the case of tattoos are usually maturity, the ability to reflect, an understanding of the long-term consequences, as well as the availability of alternative ways of self-expression.
Can tattooing be called an addiction
According to Daniil Petrov, in a strict clinical sense, passion for tattoos is not an addiction. However, in some cases, the behavior of a lover of nude images does acquire addictive characteristics. For example, it is important to take into account the neurobiological mechanism of drawing, that is, the fact that the tattooing process itself is associated with a painful stimulus. This stimulus is accompanied by the release of adrenaline and dopamine. A kind of "waiting loop" is formed: anticipation, procedure and result. This resembles the mechanisms underlying behavioral addictions.
— In addition, there is a psychological factor: the first tattoo is often not completely successful or not fully thought out. And this starts a cycle of "corrections" — overlapping the first drawing, additions and complications. As a result, the person is gradually drawn into the process," explains the psychiatrist-narcologist.
A significant proportion of people who have had one tattoo return to this practice repeatedly. This does not always indicate a serious mental problem, but in combination with impulsivity, inability to stop and an increase in the number of interventions may require the attention of a specialist, the doctor clarifies.
Tattoos are sometimes called a form of self-harm, but, according to Petrov, their application and auto-aggression have different psychological nature.
— Self-harm is usually associated with an attempt to cope with unbearable emotions, internal tension, feelings of emptiness or guilt. Tattooing more often performs the function of self—expression, aesthetic choice or social identification, the expert explains.
However, if it is the pain sensation that is important for a person, if he is looking for it again, then this may indirectly indicate some kind of trouble. In such cases, doctors do not evaluate the tattoo itself, but the general psychological context.
Is a tattoo on the face considered a deviation?
What should parents do if a teenager, despite everything, intends to get a tattoo? Direct prohibitions, as a rule, are ineffective and can only strengthen resistance, Daniil Petrov believes.
— A more productive strategy is dialogue and joint reflection. It is important not to devalue the teenager's desire, but to try to understand what is behind it — the desire for uniqueness, belonging to a certain group, or an attempt to cope with insecurity, the psychiatrist recommends.
In one of the capital's tattoo parlors, the Izvestia correspondent was assured that "decent" craftsmen try to dissuade even clients under the age of 20 from tattoos, since it is still difficult for young people to decide what they really need in life. And adolescence is dangerous because it is associated with protest, experimentation with appearance and the search for boundaries. It's much easier to mess things up than to fix them later.
Petrov advises offering children alternatives to self—expression - in creativity, sports, and intellectual activity. Practice shows that when a teenager finds a field in which he feels his competence and value, the need for radical external markers decreases. And the one who refrains from a rash step wins.
When a tattoo is already available, in some cases, disappointment, shame, regret can lead to depressive experiences. And if the drawings "flaunt" on the face, then the consequences can be the most serious. The doctor considers such mistakes of youth to be a form of demonstrative behavior — a desire for "maximum visibility", sometimes a protest against social norms. It may also be due to a pronounced need to belong to a particular subculture or an attempt to compensate for inner insecurity through a radical external image.
By itself, a tattoo on the face is not a sign of a mental disorder, the specialist emphasizes. However, if the decision to make such a demonstrative tattoo is made at an early age, is impulsive and is accompanied by other signs of maladaptation, then this is a reason for closer attention and specialist advice. Psychiatrists do not evaluate an individual act, but how it relates to a particular person and a person's life situation.
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