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Jul 11, 2023

Students stuck with stick and poke tattoos

The stick-and-poke method of tattooing is demonstrated on this YouTube video.

The stick-and-poke method of tattooing is demonstrated on this YouTube video.

Teen fads come and go, but the latest trend may outlast the teenage years.

Stick-and-poke tattoos are a traditional method of body modification, used recently by two Chestnut Ridge High School students as a way to pass time during study hall.

The ancient method of artistic expression involves using a needle dipped in ink which is then poked into the skin, dot by dot, until the final design is achieved. The process differs from modern tattooing, during which a handheld machine injects ink into the skin using multiple needles at once.

Because of their simple nature, stick and poke tattoos can be done nearly anywhere, which makes them both convenient and dangerous.

Chestnut Ridge High School Principal Eric Zeznanski said the tattoo that was given last week in the high school was done using regular pen ink and a sewing needle. The design was a small letter on one child's hand.

"Most students believed this was a temporary event, like, in a few weeks it will go away. From our research, we don't find that to be very accurate," he said. A search of the internet indicated that pen ink is toxic, he added.

Zeznanski said he does not believe the children understood the gravity of what they were doing, as they showed a teacher their handiwork the following period.

"It's very discreet and it looks like it's drawn on," Zeznanski said, noting that there was not any indication of "a bloody mess" that would alert teachers about what was happening.

Dr. Kaylee Keiper, a pediatrician with Pediatric Care Specialists in Alum Bank, said she has not seen this trend manifested in her patients, but parents should be on the lookout due to the inherent dangers.

"For starters, infection risk is a lot higher, particularly not knowing where they’re potentially getting their equipment from," she said.

Scarring and allergic reactions to the ink being used are also a worry, Keiper noted, but the problems could go deeper.

"If needles are being shared, then you have the risk of other blood born pathogens, like hepatitis and HIV," Keiper said.

She said problems could be exacerbated by the typical communication breakdown between teenagers and adults.

"One of my big concerns with pediatric patients or teenagers is they may be reluctant to seek medical help if they are having an issue with it, particularly if it's something they are doing without their parents’ knowledge," she added.

After the incident, Zeznanski said he did some research into stick and poke tattoos, and he said the students’ belief that it was temporary is not based in fact. Depending on the depth of the needle as the ink is being applied, Zeznanski said the tattoo could be there for years.

"Largely kids are doing this for entertainment value. They just can't see the long erm effect," Zeznanski said. "Social media doesn't put that out there. They don't put out what it's going to look like eight years down the road."

Because the tattoos in this scenario are generally given by amateurs, removal may be complicated if the child regrets the body art down the line, according to Keiper. If the ink is deeper than a professional tattoo, or there is more scarring, "you may actually not be able to have the same degree of removal."

At this point, the issue does not appear to be widespread.

Everett High School Principal Don Burd said, "That's not anything we’ve come across yet, although if it's happening in the county I’m sure it won't be long until we see something."

Tussey Mountain Principal Matt McCahan also noted stick and poke tattoos have not surfaced as an issue in his school.

The immediate entertainment value of stick and poke tattoos, like other challenges and ideas children find online on social media sights such as Instagram and Tik-Tok, can belie the long term, lasting effects of their actions, Zeznanski said.

"It's that short term dopamine rush that you get. All of the activities or trends are just to accelerate that, to get more short term feedback. Sadly, these kids struggle then with the long term effects," Zeznanski said.

To help combat that, the policies in the Chestnut Ridge School District were recently changed to broaden the umbrella of repercussions to include students who video bad behavior. Any child who is caught recording fights, property vandalism or any destructive behavior will face sanctions in the incident, just like the perpetrators. In the meantime, Zeznanski said the district will continue to monitor students and hold them accountable for such safety issues.

Keiper agreed, noting, "In general, we always try to screen our teenage patients for risky behaviors," and while body modification is not currently part of those screening tools, she said it is something to consider in the future.

Contact Heather Koontz at [email protected]; 814-623-1151, ext. 150.

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Sunshine and a few afternoon clouds. Areas of smoke and haze are possible, reducing visibility at times. High around 75F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Mostly clear. Low around 45F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.

Updated: June 7, 2023 @ 5:09 am

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