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A tattoo is design in ink or some other pigment, usually decorative or symbolic, placed permanently under the skin. Tattooing is technically referred to as "micro-pigment implantation". Tattoos are a type of body modification.
The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian tatu, which means, "to mark."
Tattooing has been a Eurasian practice since Neolithic times. "Otzi," the ice man discovered frozen in the Tyrol and dated ca 3300 BCE, was tattooed as was the mummified man found in the Pasaryk burial whose body was tattooed with stylized animal designs. In the Steppes, other natural mummies up to 7000 years old have been found to have tattoos.
Europeans rediscovered tattooing during the exploration of the South Pacific under Captain James Cook in the 1770s, and sailors were particularly identified with tattoos in European culture until after World War I.
The reasons why people choose to be tattooed are diverse; identification, cosmetic, religious and magical uses are the most common. The pain is usually accepted to show courage. Since the pigments are mostly dark, tattoos are usually restricted to peoples of fair skin. Traditionally, dark-skinned peoples have instead decorated their bodies with scarification; however, tattoos are more common than decorative scars among African Americans. Tattoos are often used in prisons to identify oneself as a member of a prison gang. Maori chiefs had very intricate patterns on their faces, that they drew as signature in treaties. Throughout history people have also been forcibly tattooed for a variety of reasons. The best known is the ka-tzetnik identification system for Jews in concentration camps during the Holocaust.
European sailors were known to tattoo the crucifiction on their backs to prevent flogging as a punishment.
Tattoos are also placed on animals, though very rarely for decorative reasons. Pets are sometimes tattooed with identification marks, and certain of their body parts (for example, noses) have also been tattooed to prevent sunburn. Farm livestock are sometimes tattooed with identification marks; all Thoroughbred horses receive a tattoo in their lips shortly after foaling, also for identification. Such tattoos are performed by veterinarians and the animals are anaesthetized to prevent the sensation of pain and ensure their safety.
Some tribal cultures create tattoos by cutting the skin and then rubbing the wound with ink, ashes or other agents. This may be an adjunct to scarification. Some cultures create tattooed marks by "tapping" the ink into the skin using sharpened animal bones.
The most common method of tattooing in modern times is to introduce ink via a group of needles soldered to a needle bar and attached to an electric tattoo gun or tattoo machine. When the gun is activated the needles move rapidly up and down; when placed against the skin the action of the needles results in the insertion of ink beneath the epidermis layer of the skin into the dermis layer. Tattoo machines operate on an electromagnetic principle -much like an old-fashioned door bell- and are manufactured by many small to mid-sized companies throughout the world. In prison, these machines are not available. Handmade tattoo guns can be built from walkman motors to be used with ordinary ink. In the absence of ink, prisoners have been known to compromise, utilising available substances like boot polish mixed with urine. These non-professional tattoos are more painful, coarser and risk illness, but prisoners dismiss these inconveniences or even accept it in a show of toughness.
Permanent cosmetics are tattoos that mimic eyebrows, lip liner, lipstick, eye shadow, mascara, and even moles.
According to Orwell, workers in coal mines would wind up with characteristic tattoos owing to coal dust getting into wounds.
The temporary tattoo art Mehndi, popularly used in Middle Eastern, North_African and Asia, is usually drawn with intricate patterns and designs, on the hands and feet since the stratum corneum is thickest there (especially for males) and the stain will last for a long period of time. Although the body art is predominantly applied onto the hands and feet of brides, there exist traditions in Bangladesh, Kashmir and Sudan where bridegrooms are also are expected to be tattooed before wedding ceremonies. Once the henna plant is converted to powder, it is mixed with a dark liquid like coffee or tea, lemon juice (to release the dye) and sugar (for consistency) into a paste which is then applied. Depending on how long the paste rests on the skin, the tattoo lasts from a few days to two weeks beginning with a red-brown colour and ending with a fading orance presence.
Temporary tattoos made with so-called 'black henna' may cause allergic reactions. 'Black henna' is fabricated by adding PPD (p-Phenylenediamine) to natural henna, in order to achieve a black color rather than the orange through brown stain of natural henna. PPD is very unhealthy and has been known to cause burns.
Common sense in choosing a tattoo establishment is key to getting a clean, well executed, and professional tattoo. Visit several studios before choosing one. Look for things like:
Also, make sure the tattoo artist always opens a needle package in front of you. Use your head and you won't be in any real danger. Think before you ink !
A health problem associated with tattooing is the transmission of viruses by blood contact. This may occur if needles or tubes are reused without sterilizing.
AIDS and Hepatitis C are rare in clean, modern tattooing.
Allergic reactions to tattoo pigments are rare but not unheard of. People who are sensitive or allergic to certain metals may react to pigments in the skin, causing damage to the epidermis.
People with allergies should consider carefully getting a tattoo because of the risk of anaphylaxis (hypersensitive reaction) and the shock that might occur, which can be life threatening. Tattoo artists can often give small tests, by marking a small amount of ink behind the ear to determine if that person has an allergic reaction.
Infection from tattooing in clean and modern tattoo studios is rare but can happen. Common infections include surface infections of the skin all the way to staph infections that can cause cardiological damage. People who are susceptible to infection should know the dangers of the abasing of the skin can have and would be advised to consult their regular physician before getting a tattoo.
A note on Aftercare -
Whilst a tattoo does not need the continual attention to hygiene as that of a piercing, it is worth remembering that whilst the healing process is taking place, the tattooed skin is a 'wound', which needs to be looked after properly. Immediately after the tattoo, most tattooists will cover the area to keep out dirt - sometimes the area is wrapped in clingfilm in order to 'incubate' the tattoo and draw out any impurites. This wrapping can be removed after a few hours and the area bathed carefully with warm water (avoid hot water or power showers which may damage the tender skin and your artwork). Massaging an antiseptic cream like Savlon into the tattoo twice a day for the first two weeks is a good way of insuring the area does not become infected. The scabbing of the area varies according to the size of the tattoo and the body's healing process, but if kept clean (and not scratched as this can damage the tattoo), healing tends to be fairly quick. Avoid too much sun, and don't swim for the first couple of weeks, to keep the skin in good condition. Looking after yourself and your health will obviously promote good healing, and ensure the best results.
Interference with magnetic resonance imaging has in the past been a concern with tattooing. The magnetic fields involved in a routine MRI scan (used to detect conditions such as multiple sclerosis and breast cancer) would sometimes interact with the metal particles formerly used in tattoo dyes. This causes the site of the tattoo to heat, ranging from slight warming to severe pain-causing heat. The metal particles could also interfer with the scan, producing distortions in the resulting image, though this aspect is not well documented. For the most part, reports of pain during MRIs by tattoo bearers are rare, with no lasting effects, and a cold compress during the procedure will alleviate any discomfort.
Today the majority of professional tattoos do not contain metal particles and therefore there is no concern with MRIs. Tattoos of the "permanent make-up" variety (eyeliner, etc.) are more likely to contain metal particles, and these individuals should consult with their doctor or technician before the process begins. There are alternatives to MRIs—individuals with pacemakers also need to use other diagnostic tools—so when in doubt, ask your doctor.
Regulation usually includes one or several of the following measures:
In the United States of America tattooing is widely regulated by the individual states and municipalities. A good place to find regulations are state, Department of Health web sites and are typically controlled by Environmental Health or Consumer Protection divisions.
Along with body piercing, tattooing has become popular with young people in the US in the early 2000s. Many celebrities sport tattoos, such as Angelina Jolie and Britney Spears.
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