Segni indelebili. Tatuaggi e Piercing in Adolescenza. Fattori di rischio e segnali di disagio

The amount of boys and girls who manipulate their body in a permanent way with tattoo and body piercing is an ever-increasing number. The body becomes the instrument through which young people show their feeling of uneasiness, which is consequence of adolescence. These kinds of manipulation of the body may be related to self injury phenomenon, or common adolescential behavior, such as use of tobacco, drugs or alcohol abuse, or to family conflicts and abnormal temperament traits. Considering adolescence as a critical period, this paper indicates the needfulness to monitor adolescents who manifest these behavioral tendencies not only to identify possible related medical complications, but also in order to recognize useful and early indicators of their feeling of uneasiness. This also in the view to carry out specific preventive strategies against the unset of risky behavior, such as smoking, alcohol and drugs abuse, and any other dangerous attitude.