Within the past ten years the American Academy
of Dermatology (AAD) constructed a survey of five hundred individuals between
the ages of 18-50, 24% reported having a tattoo. Of these individuals, 16% had gotten their
first tattoo by the age of eighteen.
Today, however, 17% of them have considered getting their tattoo
removed, but none have actually gone through with it.
Whether the reason for garnishing your skin
with ink is impulsiveness or personal expression, tattoos over time can become
regretful. Those with unwanted ink can
testify that the meanings behind their tattoos may become no longer
significant. Not to mention the price and pain associated with getting a tattoo
removed. That once vibrant tulip located on your hip, the initials of your high
school boyfriend on your wrist, or the tattoo of your favorite quote from
spring break that takes up your entire rib cage are all constant reminders of
how permanent tattoos really are.
For it
being such a popular fad, many of us know very little about tattoos. The risks associated with getting one are
both dangerous and painful. If you have
never gone under the needle before here are a few threats linked to getting
inked:
Allergic Reactions –
Tattoo dyes, especially blue, red, green, and yellow, can cause allergic skin
reactions resulting in an itchy rash around the area of the tattoo.
Bloodborne Diseases – The
equipment used to create your tattoo can be contaminated with infected blood
from the previous client, making you susceptible to disease. These diseases include tetanus, hepatitis B,
and hepatitis C.
Skin Infection – Small
bumps called granulomas sometimes form around the ink of the tattoo that can
develop into keloids, or raised areas of overgrown scar tissue. Tattoos have also been known to cause
redness, swelling, and even pus-like drainage of the site.
Cancer Risk - Several chemists have
identified low levels of carcinogens in tattoo ink. In the tattoo removal
process the pigment is scorched with heat, triggering chemical reactions to
generate carcinogenic products absorbed by the body.
A new FDA warning was just released warning
people not to be tricked into getting the “safe” and temporary alternative, a
henna tattoo. Permanent tattoo ink is
injected into the skin, whereas henna tattoo ink is applied to the skin’s
surface. The most popular henna “black ink” often contains a coal-tar hair dye
containing p-phenylenediamine (PPD). This ingredient can cause dangerous skin
reactions. By law the ingredient PPD,
because of the severity of it’s harmful factors, is not even permitted in
cosmetics. Serious and long-term
reactions have been reported which include redness, blistering of the site,
raised lesions, loss of pigmentation, sensitivity to sunlight, and permanent
scarring. Reactions can appear immediately or take weeks to show.
So if you feel the risks aren’t enough to deter
you, think about how unattractive tattoos look on more “mature” skin. It’s not
always pretty!
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