Body art (body piercing and tattooing) among undergraduate university students: "then and now".
OBJECTIVE
To survey the prevalence of body art and incidence of medical complications among university students comparing results in 2001 and 2006.


METHODS
Students reported body piercings and tattoos and occurrence of medical complications.


RESULTS
Prevalence of body piercing was 51% and tattooing 22%. Piercing medical complication incidence was 19%. No tattooing medical complications occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
Body art is prevalent among undergraduate university students, with prevalence essentially unchanged during two consecutive 5-year samples. Medical complications occur frequently among those with piercings.
Mayers
Lester B
LB
Division of Sports Medicine, Pace University, Pleasantville, New York 10570, USA. lmayers@pace.edu
Chiffriller
Sheila H
SH
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D046288:Body Piercing / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011336:Probability; D012309:Risk-Taking; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013653:Tattooing / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D014495:Universities