Should Tattoos be restricted to 18 years and older?

Did you know that you have to be at least 18 to get a tattoo? No exceptions.

Why is California law so restrictive when most other states permit tattoos if a parent or guardian gives consent? As for body piercing, most of it is legal for under-18’s if a parent or guardian gives consent.

The language is in California Penal Code Section 653, which states that “Every person who tattoos or offers to tattoo a person under the age of 18 years is guilty of a misdemeanor” (link). Regardless of parental consent. It is flat-out illegal. This seems like overkill to me.

Why? Because there are very few risks associated with tattooing, which is why it is not regulated nationally by the FDA. The FDA’s webpage (here) explains that the main area of concern is not the inks, but infection from unsterile tattooing equipment and needles, which can transmit infectious diseases, such as hepatitis and skin infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (“staph”) bacteria.

The FDA also notes that despite advances in laser technology, removing a tattoo is a painstaking process (shouldn’t they say “painful” too?). Usually it involves several treatments and considerable expense and “complete removal without scarring may be impossible.” It also is worth noting that some tattoo parlors claim that the pigments in their inks are “FDA-approved,” but they are not. Local law also requires that tattoo and body art practitioners first pass a class in “blood-born pathogen training,” which seems like a good idea.

At the moment, if you want a tattoo or body piercing in Encino, the nearest places are Clandestine Rabbit or Yoni Tattooing in Tarzana, or Body & Soul Tattoo in Sherman Oaks. If you want a tattoo removed, there is always Dr. Tattoff here in Encino.