What’s in your Tattoo ?
by Cindy Stiteler
Thinking of getting tattooed ?
The practice or art of tattooing has been around for thousands of years. Tattooing instruments have been discovered at several archaeological sites dating back to the Upper Paleolithic Period. (10000BC to 38000 BC). Original tribal tattoo inks were made from dyes from the natural environment, often soot. The world’s oldest tattoo, dating back 5300 years, was found in 1991 on Ozti, the Tyrolean Iceman. He sports 57 tattoos consisting of parallel and intersecting lines. Some believe the bar code like marks found on or near acupuncture points were therapeutic and not decorative.
Historically, tattoos produced a mark of royalty, religious devotion, manhood, warrior status, love, slave ownership, convict status etc. The recent surge in tattoos in this country can be seen in numerous works of art from the” basic” heart, MOM, ankle butterfly to elaborate full body art. There are several TV shows dedicated to the art. Tattooing is no longer for the margins of society. Approximately 1/6 of all Americans sport some form of tattoo.
A tattoo is created by piercing the skin with a needle or sharp object and embedding a pigment mixed with a carrier into the dermis. The carrier is usually a form of alcohol. It’s purpose is to keep the pigment evenly distributed in a fluid solution to inhibit the growth of pathogens, prevent pigment clumping and aid application to the skin. Alcohol also makes the skin more permeable allowing more chemicals to cross into the bloodstream.
Pigments are incredibly varied and may contain many substances such as metallic salts, oxides, sulphides,selenides and plastics. Some pigments that contain metal ores can leave metal filaments under the skin. Some say hospitals have refused MRI’s to heavily tattooed individuals because the procedure may heat up the metal filaments causing extreme burning under the skin. Some manufacturers are now making organic tattoo inks but it is still not known if they are any safer than metal based inks. Some tattooists are reluctant to use them because they don’t stay in the skin as long as metal based inks..
A study done in Europe found that many of the chemicals used in permanent tattoo inks were originally intended for use in writing, auto parts and printer inks. Tattooists either mix their own ink ingredients or use predispersed or premixed inks. Since tattoo inks are not regulated, the ingredients need not be disclosed. According to the FDA website, they have not traditionally regulated tattoo inks because of other public health priorities and previous lack of evidence. Tattooing is sometimes regulated by state and local authorities. From 2003-2006, the FDA did report more than 150 complaints of skin irritation tied to “permanent cosmetic” tattoos.
Complications do arise including but not limited to the following:
Infections, allergies which may appear years after the original tattoo, granulomas (nodules that form when the body perceives foreign material), keloids (scars that grow beyond normal boundaries).
Hepatitus B & C. Some doctors claim that Hep C is twice as prevalent in people receiving tattoos than in injection drug users.
Other blood born diseases such as AIDs, tetanus, TB and syphilis. The first case of syphilis from being tattooed was reported in 1853. NewYork City outlawed the “deadly tattoo” from 1961 to 1977.
If you are thinking of getting a tattoo, do your research. Go to a reputable tattooist who has been in business long enough to have many healthy satisfied customers. Ask about ink ingredients. Make sure your tattooist is passionate about sterile tools and equipment. Talk to tattooed people about their experiences. Get inked and make it extraordinary!
For more interesting historic facts check out: /www.nmm.ac.uk/explore/sea-and-ships/facts/ships-and-seafarers/amazing-facts-about-tattoos
Tags: Add new tag, can contain, cosmetic tattooing, fluid solution, foreign material, get inked, metallic salts, printer inks, sulphides, upper paleolithic
July 31st, 2009 at 10:25 pm
I have a butterfly I got with my daughter when she was 17. We did it together, kind a bonding thing. Don’t know what’s in the ink. I like my tatoo. It’s a transformational butterfly with my favorite colors — green, purple — and it’s on my ankle. Hum … I think i’d have another one if I had the money and the inclination. Mostly, it was a bonding mother-daughter ritual …
August 2nd, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Thank you very much for that marvelous article
August 3rd, 2009 at 7:47 am
Valuable thoughts and advices. I read your topic with great interest.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Great article, lots of intersting things to digest. Very informative
August 3rd, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Astonishing article . Will definitely copy it to my blog.Thanks
August 4th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Interesting info. Didn’t realize that 1/6 Americans have tatoos and that the ink is metal based. There maybe a niche for organic ink to be developed because it appears that this is more than just a fad. thanks for the facts and the article.
August 4th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Mosy of my friends have Tats, some are fully suited. I have bveen around tattoos and artists a lot, though I still don’t have my own…yet. I would not be surprised to find that tattoo ink is toxic, much less an irritant, but the prevalence of side effects or illness in large populations is either quite minor or not well documented. I live in one of the most tatooed cities in the world, yes, Oceanside, CA. There are artists on every srteet corner, more than 7/11 stores. However, I still rarely see or hear of anyone having an adverse effect from it. Think about BOTOX for a moment: people inject a known very potent toxin straight into the dermis…doctors, that is, do this. Are there side effects? I’m most sure that there are, somewhere out there…we just don’t hear about it much though. I can’t think for a second that a tattoo is less safe than a BOTOX injection. Physically, I see no benefit from having a tattoo, I also feel there is little to worry about either (assuming you did your research, as mentioned in the blog) . Emotionally, spritually, socially, and even historically, the tattoo has been a huge part of human civilization. It is even more so now with such a huge population on Earth, it is really one of the few ways to distinguish one’s self amongst the crowds. A way to be unique or different. I still plan on getting my first (albeit small) tattoo on my 40th Bday, just to remind myself that I am me and I am unique.