Tattoos and piercings do come with a lot of work during the initial healing process. Thus getting them during spring break as a “heat of the moment” idea can be exciting and something that you may think is a great thing to do when you’re slightly buzzed on the beach, melting in the sun. Getting a hole in your body or a new tattoo can be something someone may want to get as a trophy of surviving spring break, a memento perhaps, but here are 10 reasons not to go for it before break.

1. You can’t expose a new tattoo to the direct sunlight. So that means no tanning.
2. You can’t go in the ocean or unhygienic water with a new piercing or tattoo – there is a risk of infection.
3. A bodily piercing usually is closed (or kept on) with barbells, which can fall off in the water, or even in the shower, and you may not be able to save the piercing once it’s fallen out.
4. We all know that during spring break you will probably be drinking and responsibility will probably not be on your mind. When it comes to the cleaning schedule of piercings and tattoos to prevent infections, you may not want that looming over you during a week of relaxation.
5. Most tattoo and piercings can be painful depending on the placement and the surface area that it may take up. This pain may take you out of your wonderful drunken stupor.
6. Avoid wearing tight clothes on both piercings and tattoos because it can very irritating on the new addition. Watch what you pack if you’re planning on getting something done.
7. Think about what you’re adding to your body… is it something you want FOREVER? And will you accept the consequences if you don’t like it? Are you willing to pay for laser removal treatments if you aren’t all that proud of what you’ve put on your body?
8. If you don’t like your piercing, the likelihood that it won’t leave scar tissue behind is next to null. Safepiercing.org’s advice is: “Avoid undue trauma such as friction from clothing, excessive motion of the area, playing with the jewelry, and vigorous cleaning. These activities can cause the formation of unsightly and uncomfortable scar tissue, migration, prolonged healing, and other complications.”
9. Think to yourself, ‘Do I want this on my wedding day? Or is it for the pictures and the shock factor?’ because if it is for the shock factor and the “that’s so cool!” from your friends – you’re getting the tattoo for the wrong reasons.
10. Tattoos are a lot of money for spring break – aren’t you budgeting? Also if you’re on vacation in a tropical climate, you could easily ruin your tattoo if you’re careless. That doesn’t qualify as money well spent. Think before you spend.