As many parents know, body piercing is a growing trend, so as York's schools finish for the summer, City of York Council's Health and Safety team are issuing guidance to any young person considering having body piercing over the summer holidays.

There are risks associated with the "art" so an informed choice about when and where to get a piercing is essential. Currently, there are no specific legislation or licensing requirements for body piercing, nor any legally-recognised qualifications for body piercing studios and practitioners.

Therefore, City of York Council's environmental health officers are working with local piercing studios to ensure they follow good practice.

The Health and Safety team also plans to include school visits in its drive to encourage good practice and safety, starting in September, because of an increased number of complaints to them about body piercings.

If you are going to have your body pierced remember the following advice:

Always ask the piercer about his or her training and experience to ensure that you are comfortable with their competency to undertake the piercing you want

Think carefully about why you are having your body pierced. Any piercing will need a lot of care. They can easily become infected, which can lead to scarring

You need to be prepared to spend time keeping it clean. There is nothing sexy about an infected piercing, so think carefully before taking the plunge

It is unwise to have body piercing if you are under 16 because your body is still developing. It could lead to problems. Any studio that agrees to pierce anyone under 16 should do so with a parent or guardian present

It is a criminal offence to pierce anyone under the age of 18 in areas of a sexual nature

Choose a studio that is clean and well kept. Dirt is a sign of poor hygiene. Reputable businesses provide good aftercare and explain in detail what the piercing involves. If you feel uncomfortable, leave

Equipment must be sterilized to prevent spread of infection such as HIV, hepatitis B and other blood born infections. Jewellery should be sterilized before use in a purpose-designed, bench top sterilizer, which looks like a pressure cooker. Sterile needles must be single use and should be unwrapped in front of you.

The piercer should always thoroughly wash his or her hands before starting a piercing and wear disposable gloves throughout the practice. Gloves should be changed regularly as they can easily become contaminated. Failure to wash hands and wear gloves is extremely bad practice and could lead to infection so don't be afraid to refuse a piercing from piercers who follow poor practices

Ensure that you are fully recovered from the piercing before you leave the studio. Take contact details in case you need further advice. Also you should be provided with an aftercare leaflet. It is vital that you follow the aftercare instructions and keep the piercing clean while it heals completely. We recommend you return to the studio a few weeks after the piercing for a check up. Reputable piercers should encourage a revisit.

Further guidance and information is available in our leaflet Body Piercing - The Facts. For a copy phone Jackie Armitage or Steve Adamthwaithe on York 551522.

Updated: 09:17 Thursday, July 31, 2003