SHARP RULES

How old do you have to be to get a piercing in the UK?

PIERCINGS come in all shapes and sizes across your body - and are a way for people to express themselves.

But how old do you have to be to get a piercing in the UK and what are the rules?

The age restrictions on piercings depend upon which part of the UK you live in.

In England and Wales, there is no legal age of when you can have a piercing, so long as the person consents to it.

This means that if the person receiving the piercing is happy to have it, there is no age restriction.

This applies to piercings to the ears, nose, eyebrows and belly button.

However, the rules are slightly different in Scotland, where parental consent is required until the person is 16.

This means that they can still get the piercing, but their mum or dad must agree to it.

However, many piercers have their own age limits on the people who they will pierce.

What other rules are there on piercings in the UK?

There are separate rules in England regarding those under 16, who want a genital piercing.

These rules also cover young girls under 16, who want to get their nipples pierced.

The rules state that people under the age of 16 cannot get a genital piercing until they are 18.

However, some local councils have put in age recommendations for those wanting piercings.

If you get a piercing, it is important to keep the area clean to reduce the risk of it becoming infected.

You should always wash your hands and dry them thoroughly before touching a new piercing and never fiddle with the piercing.

If the piercing becomes crusty, you also shouldn't remove it as as it is the body's way of protecting the new piercing.