This means they can still get the piercing, but their mom or dad has to agree. The rules state that people under the age of 16 can only have a genital piercing at the age of 18. It is important to know the laws regarding piercings in the UK if you are considering getting one. Piercings are generally safe, so there are very few restrictions imposed by national legislation, although this may vary depending on the region you are in or the specific facility you are using. It may also differ depending on the specific location of your piercing, although most piercings are not specifically mentioned. However, the laws are quite simple, so it`s easy to check if your piercing is suitable. The following piercings are available for the respective age groups. The final discretion belongs to the piercer. Immediately after a piercing, you usually need to leave the piercing inside until the wound is completely healed, otherwise the wound may close. Although many piercing salons impose their own age restrictions on piercings, in England and Wales there is no legal age limit for each type of piercing, unlike Scotland where people under 16 need a parent`s permission before ears and other body parts are pierced. Before starting the piercing procedure, you should always check if the school has a policy for piercings for students. Schools are allowed to ban or restrict visible piercings, and they may be able to prevent students from attending if they have more piercings than their policies allow.

You can ask the child to take out the jewelry during school hours. According to the NHS website, there is no legal age restriction for most piercings, but performing genital piercings or nipples on people under 16 could be considered a criminal offence. Some local authorities and piercing companies may have their own regulations regarding age limits and consent to piercings. Ask other parents what they decided. You may not agree with their decision, but it can also help you decide at what age you agree to give your child piercings. Ear piercing is more widely accepted by society once a child is old enough to be able to verbalize consent or express their own desires for this type of piercing. However, parents should always be prepared to face certain obstacles if their child wants a piercing. However, some local councils have issued age recommendations for those who want piercings. In England and Wales, there is no legal age at which you can have a piercing as long as the person agrees. Check if there are rules for piercings in your school.

Most allow an ear stud or piercing, but some may be stricter. It`s worth checking before making your decision. Is this just a phase or has your child been asking for a piercing for a while? Some parents opt for ear piercings for their child when the child is still an infant. While many make this choice for aesthetic reasons, others argue that it may be better to prick at a young age because they don`t remember the pain. Proponents also suggest that it is easier to control follow-up care once an infant has pierced their ears, as the focus is on maintaining good hygiene practices in all areas of their life. Some proponents of ear piercing for infants also say they pierce their child`s ears at this age for cultural reasons. Finally, many opponents believe that piercing the ears of a child incapable of giving informed consent can be considered a form of mutilation. Even if the piercings are removed in the future, they could leave permanent scars on that person. Opponents argue that people should have full control over permanent aesthetic changes in their bodies, which is not possible if a parent decides to pierce a child. For the vast majority of piercings, there is no legal age in most parts of the UK. This means that things like ear, nose, lips, tongue or belly button piercings are legal regardless of age. This is the general rule, but there are a few notable exceptions you should be aware of before assuming your piercing is fine.

But how old do you have to be to get a piercing in the UK and what are the rules? Children over the age of 16 and adults over the age of 18 must bring their own identification and consent. This means that a parent or guardian cannot consent and does not need to bring a parent or guardian to their appointment. Those over 16 must present their own ID – Again, a single parent`s ID is not sufficient or is not accepted. This means that if the person receiving the piercing is happy to have it, there is no age restriction. In England, there are separate rules for people under the age of 16 who want a genital piercing. Age restrictions for piercings depend on which part of the UK you live in. A consultation on how to make cosmetic piercings safer for young people started on 18 October 2011 and ended on 31 January 2012 in Wales. The lead plaintiff was Russell Spencer-Downe,[2] a father of two and councillor and former mayor of Llantwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan, who campaigned for a change in the law.