Tattoos - Body Art
Think Before You Ink!

Tattoos are a common form of PERMANENT body modification and body art. The term comes from a Polynesian noun [Tahitian and Samoan ‘tatau’; Marquesan ‘tatu’ = "puncture, mark made on skin"].

Tattoos and skin art has been around for centuries in cultures worldwide and has become quite popular for women and men all ages. Some of the artistry is amazing too.

In humans, this type of body art is usually for decorative reasons, as a memorial, or even after reconstructive breast surgery. Permanent makeup is also considered a tattoo that mimics cosmetics such as eyeliners, eyebrows, etc.

Sites for tattoos on the body can be pretty much anywhere. Size, shape, and location vary, which also determines how much discomfort occurs when getting one since no anesthetic is used.

While it might be relatively easy to get one, it’s SO important to understand the risks first to protect yourself. Consider a tattoo to be PERMANENT, as removal is very difficult and can cause scarring. Know the facts before you ink.

Don’t do it on a whim or in a rush, especially if you're drinking or on drugs or during an emotional time. What seems like a very cool idea at the time might turn into a big regret later!

HOW IS A TATTOO DONE?

A permanent mark or design is made on the skin by inserting an indelible pigment or ink under the dermis (top) layer of the skin by pricking and staining.

Usually a tattoo artist uses a hand-held machine with several needles that repeatedly pierce the skin. With each puncture wound, the needles insert tiny ink droplets – all done without any anesthetic. It can be slightly to very painful, depending on the size and location on the body, and skill level of the artist.

REASONS PEOPLE GET A TATTOO:

According to a 2006 study in the ’Archives of Dermatology’, reasons people get inked include:
-- To feel unique
-- To feel independent
-- As a memory of a loved one
-- To bring attention to a particular lifestyle or experience

Approximately 1 in 4 American adults, ages 18-30, has one.

So, ASK YOURSELF WHY 'YOU' want it done -- Is it to impress someone, to look cool, to fit in, you just like the look of it, to remember your loved one, a reminder of a special experience, someone is pressuring you to do it, etc.?

TALK TO PEOPLE FIRST!

• Talk to people who’ve had them done themselves. Find out the pros and cons of doing it, problems, regrets, and recommendations. How do they feel now at age 50 or 60 with the tattoo? Can they recommend a professional tattoo studio?
• Talk to adults, not just your friends or someone like a 'boyfriend' pressuring you to do it.
• Talk to your religious leader or clergy. Some people have strong religious beliefs on the subject as well so explore that if necessary.
• Talk to your doctor about risks and precautions, especially if you have any medical conditions or allergies.
• Talk about cost and if you can really afford it?
• Talk to tattoo artists. Research their work first! Some are more skilled than others. Ask questions about their work and see samples. If they cannot do something well, they should say so and give the name of a talented artist who can.
• Talk to parents about age limits and rules regarding getting one, if any. Discuss reasons for the decisions plus consequences for going against family boundaries/rules.

When our own redheads were growing up, the subject did come up because their friends were doing it and seen in the media. We gave an age when they could decide for themselves, with mixed results. We talked about the risks, permanency, how other people would look at you in the workplace, why the rush, etc. Later, they did decide to get tattoos, which we still aren’t crazy about it, but it was their decision....and we still love them.

REASONS FOR REMOVAL:

Dermatologists are increasingly getting clients with REGRETS and requests to remove them. So WHY have the body art removed? – a main reason was "a shift in their identities." Other reasons were: embarrassment, lowering of body image, getting a new job/career, problems wearing clothes, doing away with the past, the stigma associated with it, negative comments, it no longer satisfied their need to be unique, or it was the name of someone and the relationship changed. While men reported similar feelings, women more often reported changing their feelings about it 1-5 years later.

In June 2010, ’The Tyra Show’ aired a program about "Tattoo Regrets" and quoted "Over 45 million Americans have tattoos, but a whopping 50% want at least one removed."

HOW THEY ARE REMOVED:

Tattoos are considered permanent and attempts at removal don’t always work. They can be costly, painful, and time-consuming. Currently, removal by laser treatments is one option but some ink colors are harder to remove than others, and it may never be gone completely; even surgery is considered by some people as a last resort and can leave scarring. Do NOT consult a tattoo parlor for removal. Do NOT buy do-it-yourself removal products because they can cause serious skin reactions, as they are acid-based. Consult a surgeon or dermatologist experienced in body art removal.

RISKS:
Since the skin is being punctured and injected, there are risks to consider:

• Discomfort. Getting one is not pain-free. It should be a bearable experience, and if it’s too painful then perhaps the artist is going too deep so find a different artist!
• Skin infections (local bacterial infection with redness, swelling, pain, and pus drainage)
• Minor skin reactions (like contact dermatitis)
• Allergic reactions causing itchy rashes that may persist, often from the various dyes and ink pigments (especially red ink).
• Scarring or raised areas caused by an overgrowth of scar tissue (keloids)
• Granulomas, which are inflamed firm bumps or knots in the area around tattoo pigment.
• Blood-borne diseases from contaminated or dirty tattoo equipment (hepatitis B, hepatitis C, tetanus, HIV).
• Restrictions giving blood. If you've had one done within 1 year, you may be rejected as a donor. Check with your local blood bank.
• Unknown safety of the inks/dyes used and the health consequences. Body art pigments/inks are not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or approved for injection into the skin... nor has use of henna for temporary tattoos been approved by the FDA either (only for use as hair dye). The inks contents are often unknown and not required to be revealed. They are usually pigments (vegetable dyes or metal salts or plastics) suspended in a solution. The FDA is still researching what happens to the pigments once in the skin, why some migrates to the lymph nodes, why some tattoos fade, where the ink goes, etc.
• Henna skin tattoos risks – (according to Dr. P. Marazzi)

  "The Food and Drug Administration has received complaints from people who have received products marketed as henna temporary tattoos, especially so-called "black henna," at places such as salons and kiosks at beaches and fairs. There have been reports of allergic reactions, skin irritations, infections, and even scarring. "Black henna" may contain the added "coal tar" color, p-phenylenediamine, also known as PPD, which can cause allergic reactions in some people. Henna itself is made from a plant and typically produces a brown, orange-brown, or reddish-brown tint. Other ingredients must be added to produce other colors. Even brown shades of products marketed as henna may contain other ingredients intended to make them darker or make the stain last longer. While the FDA has approved henna for coloring hair, and PPD is used in cosmetics as a hair dye, neither of these color additives is approved for direct application to the skin."

• MRI complications. During an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), powerful magnetic forces are used to image specific body parts; and, for safety reasons, certain metals cannot be present in the body or the room during the scan. Because of possible metal fragments/substances in the ink (especially if older than 20 years old), permanent makeup or inked sites might experience burning, swelling, or discomfort, which are reportedly rare and brief. Even if there is no discomfort, these kinds of dye fragments can cause distortions (artifacts) and make the MRI image useless. So, IF you need an MRI done, inform your physician beforehand or the radiologist or technician about your tattoo so appropriate precautions can be taken or other imaging can be selected.

  

• Unborn or nursing babies. PREGNANT or Nursing women should wait to get one because any possible infections, allergic reactions, etc., can be passed onto the child, so please wait a few months until that time is over. Most reputable body art studios will not do them during this time.

FOR REDHEADS ESPECIALLY: Many redheads do have extra sensitivity to pain and medical and dental procedures and/or anesthesia. Many also have very fair, sensitive skin so this could be an issue when it comes to getting body art procedures! If your skin is more sensitive than other people, you can tell the artist you must have short sessions (maybe just 5 or 10 minutes). Also, if you decide to have the image removed later on, any redness from laser-treated sites may take longer to disappear, as it often persists longer in blondes and redheads because of their fair skin. If you have any concerns, visit a dermatologist BEFOREHAND to ask questions. Remember, this type of body art is permanent!

KNOW THE LAWS:

If you are under 18 or 16 years of age, considered a minor, some places won’t do tattoos without a parent’s consent... and some will.

As a parent, I feel it’s my right to be informed about this type of body art procedure being performed on my child who is a minor; it’s for their own protection. That’s my job as a parent, to protect them. However, not everyone agrees.

Each state law in the USA is different; and each country is different. According to the "National Conference of State Legislatures" website (as of January 2010):

“Advocates of prohibiting minors from getting tattoos or body piercings want state laws to reflect parental rights and allow them to have the final word on minors altering their appearances in this way. A number of states have laws prohibiting these practices on minors without written parental consent ..... Many of the laws across the country establish financial penalties, prison time or both for violators. Most of the laws define "violator" as the person who performed the tattoo or piercing.”

INSPECT THE STUDIO:

• Go to a reputable body art studio with trained artists.
• Do NOT tattoo yourself or have a ‘friend to do it’
• Is the shop licensed and clean?
• Does the artist wash their hands and put on a fresh pair of gloves for each procedure?
• Are needles and tubes from sealed packages before the procedure starts? All trays, pigments, and containers should be unused.
• Is equipment properly sterilized? Do they autoclave (heat sterilize) all nondisposable equipment after each customer? Is furniture, drawer handles, sinks, tables disinfected with commercial disinfectant after each use?
• If you have sensitive skin, are they willing to do short 5-minute sessions? (It’s your money and your body!)

Care of the wound site depends upon the location, size, and type. At first, the puncture area may be swollen and there may be some crusting on the surface. It is normal for the tattoo to ooze small amounts of blood for up to 24 hours, and it may ooze clear, yellow, or blood-tinged fluid for several days.

Get after-care instructions, but they will probably include instructions like these from Mayo Clinic:

• Remove the bandage after 24 hours. Apply an antibiotic ointment to the area while it’s healing.
• Keep the skin area clean. Use plain soap and water and a gentle touch. Pat the area dry, and DO NOT RUB.
• Use a moisturizer. Apply a mild moisturizer to the design area several times a day. Don’t pick at any scabs, which increases the risk of infection and can damage the design and cause scarring.
• Avoid sun exposure. Keep the design area out of the sun for at last a few weeks.
• Choose clothing carefully. Don’t wear anything that would stick to the design.
• Allow up to 2 weeks for healing.

-- WARNING SIGNS -- If you think the tattoo is infected, not healing properly, or have any concerns, contact your doctor, especially if it looks inflamed, red or swollen, or feels warm to the touch.

OKAY....I hope this information helps you make your decision! PLEASE take time to find out more, imagine how you'll feel having it 5 or 10 or 20 years from now, the cost, the risks, ask yourself WHY you are doing it, and not be in a big rush! If you are a Christian, pray about the matter and ask God to tell you His thoughts about it. Personally, I feel that people (and redheads!) are beautiful already without going through all this, but that's me...

Go to "Body Piercing"

Go to "Teen Issues" main page

Go to "Self-Esteem"

Go to "Skin Care Tips"

Leave "Tattoos" and go to "Home Page"