Body Tattoos: Beautiful Art, Deadly Little Secrets

Since I suffer from needle-phobia, as much as I've thought of going in for an artsy tattoo, it just isn't going to happen. Skillfully done in a sanitary environment, there can be much beauty to be found in a well-designed tattoo. There is an immense popularity found in tattoos. They can be very unique from one person to the next as each person has something of their own belief or liking to symbolize or display.

Tattooing got its beginning over 5000 years ago. Tattoos are created by inserting colored materials beneath the skin's surface. Throughout the years, people have gotten tattoos simply for ornamentation, and others have gotten them for religious beliefs. For some primitive and historic cultures, tattoos signified power and were generally reserved for important religious figures. Early Christians even used tattoos as symbols of importance until 787 AD when the church edict forbade them.

Some people think that tattooing may have been done for medicinal purposes. The pigments used in tattooing may have been a certain type of berry known for its healing and curative effects for different ailments.

The tattoo machine is a gun shaped machine. It marks the skin with ink with the help of electromagnetic coils. The needle bar moves up and down in alternation and drives the pigment into the skin. However lovely you intend for your tattoo to end up, let's discuss the pigments, not known for their healing effects like the berries.

It will not be lovely when you have a serious skin infection and/or reaction caused by plastic-based pigments or pigments made to shine in the dark. Many people have bad reactions from the plastic-based pigments. The 'glow-in-the-dark' pigments are very risky and may be radioactive or toxic. Many chemicals used for tattooing are industrial pigments that were designed for the purpose of automobile painting or writing inks. I don't think I would want to inject car paint into my skin.

Other problems with body art are toxic shock syndrome, venereal ulcers, tuberculosis, and tetanus. Hepatitis C can be spread with the use of unsanitary needles. Since hepatitis C kills over 10,000 people a year, and growing, it's important to pay attention. Because the process of tattooing exposes blood and body fluids, other blood-borne illnesses like hepatitis B and HIV can be spread.

The most important thing to consider when getting a tattoo is making sure that the artist you pick practices proper health and safety guidelines. The artist should use gloves and sterilized needles. The necessary toxicological and risk evaluations should be performed on the materials, dyes, and colors for the well-being of the client. The tattoo artist who does a good job believes what he is doing is art. Unfortunately, many don't.

Another deadly little secret about the dirty tattoo parlor is the cause of chronic skin disorders. Sarcoid, dermatitis, psoriasis, photosensitivity, and benign or malignant tumors have been noted in clients undergoing the less-than-sanitary tattoo procedure.

The dangers can be dismissed if you decide to use safe, non-toxic temporary tattoos. Henna tattoos are also simple, safe, and all-natural. They look very realistic. They don't last forever, but is that really a bad thing? Body art is a wonderful form of expression. You just don't want your form of expression leaving you with a horrible illness.