2nd Draft-Is Getting a Tattoo Worth the Risks?

Kristen Roberts

Professor Kerr

ENG101H

13 September 2010

Is Getting a Tattoo Worth the Risks?

 Tattoos trace back to ancient Egyptian times. (“Tattoos | History & Archaeology | Smithsonian Magazine”) There is evidence that tattoos were used as early as 4000 B.C.  In 1891 the first electric tattooing machine was patented to Samuel O'Reilly. O’Reilly opened the first tattoo parlor in the United States in New York City. (“United States Tattoo History - Tattooing In US - American Tattoos - Tattooing In America”) However, years later in 1961, tattoos were illegalized in the state of New York. The City Health Department deemed it necessary to illegalize tattoos after they linked tattooing to an outbreak of Hepatitis B in the Big Apple. Tattoo artists worked out of their homes or in the underground society of New York. Several also offered the service in the back or basement of stores. Finally, thirty six years later, in 1997 tattoo artists of New York banded together and took the case of legalizing tattoos to court. They won and held the first New York Tattoo Convention in May of 1997. ("The Tattooing of New York City.") If New York legislation thought it was important enough to declare tattoos illegal for public safety, then why are they legal today? Getting a tattoo has a plethora of negative effects such as endangering one’s physical health, becoming a burden to ones appearance, and incurring additional expenses to remove.

There are serious medical risks involved in tattooing of which many consumers are unaware. Unsanitary tattooing is a breeding ground for blood-borne diseases. Hepatitis B and C, HIV, tetanus, and about any other blood-borne disease can be contracted from an unsterile or reused needle. An unclean work table can also harbor disease. ("TATTOOS Deadly Little Secret") Chronic skin diseases like sarcoid, keloid scarring, allergic dermatitis, photosensitivity reactions, hemorrhaging, psoriasis, and benign or malignant tumors have also been reported. (Deadly Little Secret) A tattooing machine can pierce the skin 3,000 times a minute. Basically, someone receiving a tattoo has 3,000 chances for infection to enter the body every minute they are under the needle. Blood-borne diseases can enter through any of those openings. ("TATTOOS Deadly Little Secret") Unsanitary tattooing parlors are the cause of more Hepatitis B and C infections than sharing drug instruments like syringes. Hepatitis can live in blood outside of the body for upwards 2 months. The threat of hepatitis is very real acknowledging only 0.00004 ml of blood is needed to transfer the virus. ("TATTOOS Deadly Little Secret") Tattoo parlors are supposed to use disposable needles and then discard them after one use. Not disposing of a used tattoo needle carries the same risk as sharing drug needles. Also, improper cleaning of the workshop exposes the next customer to others body fluids. A needle that touches anything else such as the floor or the unclean work table before it touches your skin can also carry infection. Lastly, the tattoo artist should never reuse ink caps. Some tattoo artists may even pour the extra ink back into the bottle to save money. Infected blood with Hepatitis can still live in the ink. There are several medical risks that are associated with tattooing that can spread disease and even cause death. ("Can I Get Infectious Diseases From Tattoo Needles?")

A tattoo is said to be forever; once someone gets a tattoo they may regret it when they are older. More respectable jobs usually require tattoos to be out of sight or covered in some way. If someone has a tattoo on their face or a very visible area it may be difficult for them to get hired for a certain job. ("Before Tattooing - Things to Know Prior Getting A Tattoo Done.") Tattoos can change color, shape, and form as you age.  Mutated tattoos can be removed, but only to a certain extent. Some may scar or leave permanent marks. It all depends on size, colors, location, how old the tattoo is, how it was applied, and the person's natural healing process. An older tattoo or a tattoo that was done by an experienced artist may be easier to remove. ("Discovery Health "How Tattoo Removal Works"")Some people get tattoos in their youth related to gangs or other shameful affiliations. Once they mature some people may not want the tattoo anymore.  It could interfere with a job, family, or could endanger them if they want to escape gang life. Some people, especially those who were in a gang, may not have the money to remove the shameful tattoos. They are stuck with them for the burden for the rest of their life. ("Before Tattooing - Things to Know Prior Getting A Tattoo Done.") Regardless, once something is inked in your skin there is no way to heal it 100%, which can negatively affect job aspirations, future social associations, or physical appearance. ("Discovery Health "How Tattoo Removal Works"")

The risks and complications of tattoo removal are costly and time-consuming. Laser tattoo removal can cost several hundred dollars or even thousands. The cost depends on the size, type, where the tattoo is, and the number of visits required. ("Discovery Health "How Tattoo Removal Works"“)Medical insurance does not usually cover tattoo removal. ("Discovery Health "How Tattoo Removal Works"“)Tattoos are removed by dermatologic surgeons. The methods available are either very costly, painful, or require multiple visits. Older, painful, and less successful methods are dermabrasion, cryosurgery, and excision. Dermabrasion involves sanding the skin where the tattoo is to remove the surface and middle layers. Cryosurgery is when the area is frozen before it is removed. Lastly, excision is where the dermatologic surgeon removes the tattoo with a scalpel. In cases with larger tattoos a skin graft may be necessary if too much skin is removed along with the tattoo. ("Discovery Health "How Tattoo Removal Works"") The most popular and current tattoo removal tactic is laser removal. The risks are much lower and the procedure is bloodless. But it requires several visits to the dermatologic surgeon and is expensive. The laser technique is called Q-switching. There are inconvenient side effects that come from laser removal. One is hyper pigmentation which is discolored skin at the treatment location. Hypo pigmentation happens when skin tone of the removed tattoo does not correspond with the color of rest of the skin. Infection, lack of complete pigment removal, and permanent scarring are some other side effects. ("Discovery Health "How Tattoo Removal Works"") Removing a tattoo requires more time and work than it takes to receive a tattoo and can negatively affect one’s appearance, wallet, and waste one’s time.

The dangers of tattooing are not publicized enough for how serious they are. Death, disease, and skin reactions can result from unsanitary tattooing. Down the road, displeasure, mutation, or social complications stemming from the tattoo can bring about necessity for removal. Removal in itself carries a slew of problems. The negative effects of tattooing can complicate one’s health, detrimentally alter one’s appearance which inhibits one’s social aspirations, and put a strain on one’s time and money.

Works Cited

"Before Tattooing - Things to Know Prior Getting A Tattoo Done." Tattooing Tips, Tattoo Body Art, Design Ideas & Care Information Guide. Web. 10 Sept. 2010. <http://www.tattooingtips.com/before-you-tattoo.html>.

Cosmo, Stan. "Can I Get Infectious Diseases From Tattoo Needles?" Internet FAQ Archives - Online Education - Faqs.org. 29 Jan. 2010. Web. 10 Sept. 2010. <http://www.faqs.org/faqs/bodyart/tattoo-faq/part3/section-1.html>.

"Discovery Health "How Tattoo Removal Works"" Discovery Health "Health Guides" 01 Apr. 2000. Web. 10 Sept. 2010. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/beauty/skin-and-lifestyle/tattoo-removal5.htm#>.

Lineberry, Cate. "Tattoos | History & Archaeology | Smithsonian Magazine." History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places | Smithsonian Magazine. 01 Jan. 2007. Web. 10 Sept. 2010. <http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/tattoo.html>.

Schepens, Beth. "The Tattooing of New York City." NYC 24. 04 Apr. 2003. Web. 10 Sept. 2010. <http://www.nyc24.org/2003/issue4/story4/page2.html>.

"United States Tattoo History - Tattooing In US - American Tattoos - Tattooing In America." Henna Tattoo Designs - Henna Designs - Mehendi Designs - Indian Henna Tattoos Designs. Web. 10 Sept. 2010. <http://tattoos.iloveindia.com/tattoo-history/tattooing-in-us.html>.

Watkins, Terry. "TATTOOS Deadly Little Secret." Victory Baptist Church. Dial-The-Truth-Ministries. Web. 14 Sept. 2010. <http://www.psalm118.org/health.html>.