When discussing body piercing with a mother of an adolescent, which statement is accurate regarding risks?

• A. Hepatitis B is a concern with body piercing
• B. Infection always occurs when body piercing is done
• C. Body piercing is generally harmless as long as it is performed under sterile conditions
• D. It is important to discourage body piercing because of HIV risk

Answer: (C)

The important idea is that the risk of complications with body piercing is strongly tied to sterile technique and proper aftercare. When a trained professional uses sterile, single-use equipment and the client follows aftercare instructions, the likelihood of infection or other problems is greatly reduced. That perspective makes the answer that piercing is generally harmless under sterile conditions the most accurate of the options, because it acknowledges that risk is not zero but is minimized with proper procedure and care.

It's good to remember there are still potential concerns—such as infections, allergic reactions to metals, or tissue injury—but these risks are much less likely when sterile technique and aftercare are followed. The other statements are more absolutist or incomplete: infection does not occur every time, and concerns like hepatitis B or HIV exist but are mitigated by proper practices, not make-or-break certainties.