Think before you ink

There is talk that some of your classmates are going to get tattoos to commemorate their last year at school. To help them make an informed decision about this issue, write a letter to the editor of the school newspaper about why young people should not get tattoos. Write your letter here.

Dear Editor,

Getting inked is the latest fashion these days and there are a lot of people who are getting inked all over their bodies just to keep up to this trend. However, in my opinion there are a lot of disadvantages to getting inked permanently. Therefore, I am writing to perhaps help young people make an informed decision about getting a tattoo or not.

First of all, getting a tattoo can lead to negative impressions. Society still believes that most people who get tattoos are either outlaws or rebellious people. Those bound by tradition and culture do not want their kids to get inked. In professions where the physical appearance of a person is very important, tattoos are not considered decent. Getting a tattoo can ruin your career chances in many industries such as hospitality industry, marketing, media etc. This is because people working in these fields are considered to be those who are presentable, good looking and do not have any tattoos on their body.

Secondly, getting inked permanently has health risks unless you are getting it done by a skilled person. Some people are allergic to the ink, while others can get an infection like hepatitis because of infected needles or equipment being used at low-cost parlours. You also cannot donate your blood after getting a tattoo on your body.

Since tattoos adhere permanently to your body, are you sure that ten years later you will still like whatever you are getting inked on your body right now? For example, if you are getting your boyfriend’s or girlfriend’s name inked on your body, are you sure that person will still remain in your life years later. If not will you regret your decision? Even though, you can still remove tattoos by getting a laser, it is extremely expensive and not that effective.

Getting inked is in fashion these days. Therefore, more and more people are getting tattoos on their bodies. Getting a tattoo may appear attractive or cool but there are many drawbacks to getting inked permanently that should be considered carefully.

Yours sincerely,
Nanki Chularatnaphol