Outline Organization: Risks of Tattoos

Outline: Risks of Tattoos


I. Introduction: Tattoos trace back to ancient Egyptian times. (History and Archaeology-Smithsonian Magazine) There is evidence that tattoos were used as early as 4000 B.C. The Japanese also tattooed themselves. In 1891 the first electric tattooing machine was patented to Samuel O'Reilly. The first tattoo parlor in the United States was the one he opened in New York City. Tattoos started to become very popular among men in the service somewhere around the first and Second World War. Different cultures participate in these acts for religious and cultural beliefs. Regardless for the motivation behind tattoos they are very popular among a variety of countries and cultures. (United States Tattoo History)

Thesis: However, 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.

II. There are serious medical risks involved in tattooing of which many are unaware.

a. Some serious diseases can stem from unsanitary tattooing. Hepatitis B and C, HIV, tetanus, and about any other blood-borne disease can be contracted from an unsterile needle or tattooing environment. (Deadly Little Secret)

b. 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)

c. Tattoos are at such a high risk for infection because a tattooing machine can pierce the skin 3,000 times a minute. This makes a person very susceptible to blood-borne diseases. (Deadly Little Secret)

d. Unsanitary tattooing parlors are the cause of more Hepatitis B and C infections than the sharing of drug instruments. 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. (Deadly Little Secret)

e. Tattoo parlors are normally forced to use disposable needles and then discard them after one use. Not disposing of a used tattoo needle is the same as sharing drug needles. Also, improper cleaning of the workshop exposes the next customer to others body fluids. A needle that touches anything else like the floor or the unclean work table before it touches your skin can also carry infection. Lastly, the tattoo artist should not reuse ink caps. (FAQ)

III. A tattoo is said to be forever; you will have a tattoo for the rest of your life and may regret it when you’re older.

a. More respectable jobs usually require tattoos to be out of sight. If someone has a tattoo on their face or a very visible area it may be much more difficult for them to get hired. (Tattooing Tips)

b. Tattoos can change color, shape, and form as you age. The tattoo can be removed, but will leave more of a scar or residue than others. It all depends on the size of the tattoo, the colors used, location, how long the person has had the tattoo, how it was applied, and the person's natural healing process. An older tattoo or a tattoo that was done by a more experienced artist may be easier to remove. (Discovery Health “How Tattoo Removal Works”)

c. Some people get tattoos in their youth related to gangs or other harmful and unacceptable affiliations. Once they mature they no longer want the tattoo. Some people, especially those who were in a gang and may not have a lot of money, do not have the money to remove the shameful tattoos. (Tattooing Tips)

d. Most tattoos can be removed but only to a certain extent. But, some will leave more of a scar or blemish than others. It all depends on the size of the tattoo, the colors used, location, how long the person has had the tattoo, how it was applied, and the person's natural healing process. Regardless, once something is inked in your skin there is no way to heal it 100%. An older tattoo or a tattoo that was done by a more experienced artist may be easier to remove. (Discovery Health “How Tattoo Removal Works”)

IV. The risks and complications of tattoo removal are costly and time-consuming

a. 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”)

b. Medical insurance does not usually cover tattoo removal. (Discovery Health “How Tattoo Removal Works”)

c. Tattoos are usually removed by dermatologic surgeons. The methods available are either very costly, painful, or require multiple visits. Some older, more painful, 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. The area is then stitched. (Discovery Health “How Tattoo Removal Works”)

d. 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 rest of the skin. Infection, lack of complete pigment removal, and permanent scarring are some other side effects. (Discovery Health “How Tattoo Removal Works”)

V. Conclusion: 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.