title: Self-tattooing by schoolchildren.
abstract: Of 779 third-year pupils from seven secondary schools examined for evidence of self-tattooing, 31 (4%) had tattooed themselves. More boys (27/513, or 5.2%) than girls (4/266, or 1.6%) had tattooed themselves. One hundred and fifty six separate marks were identified in the tattooed boys and sixteen in the girls. The most popular sites were the fingers and back of the left hand, and the front and back of the left forearm. Only 2 pupils remained pleased with their tattoos and 19 expressed strong remorse. Waiting lists for the removal of such tattoos are very long. The craze for self-tattooing by schoolchildren should be curbed.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000209:etiology; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007281:Ink; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010379:Peer Group; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012606:Scotland; D012646:Self Administration; D013653:Tattooing / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*