Tattoos and Piercings

A tattoo is a permanent mark or design made on your skin with pigments inserted through pricks into the skin’s top layer. During the procedure, a needle that’s connected to a small machine with tubes containing dye pierces the skin repeatedly (Mayo Clinic Staff). Tattoos are considered cosmetic and that is why tattoos are not regulated by the Federal Food and Drug Administration but local health departments. Even though tattoos and body piercing parlors are regulated by local health departments, there are risks involved due to unsanitary conditions that can cause disease. These risks are relatively uncommon even though tattoos and body piercing are very popular. Tattooing has been around for years and there are several reasons why people decide to get tattoos. Some people decide to get a tattoo that might reflect a loved ones name. They may want to pay tribute to a lost loved one or just might want to display their children’s names. Other people decide to get tattoos because they are a part of a gang and want to display their gang affiliation. Another reason could be to display religious beliefs, for example displaying Jesus or a Cross. Even though there are reasons people decide to get tattoos there are still risks involved. The next risk would be allergic reactions. Sometimes there are bumps that may appear around the tattooed area called Granulomas. These are especially common if you have used red dye in the tattoo. The Granulomas typically appear around an area of the body that perceives, such as particles of skin pigment. People may even have an allergic reaction years after receiving the tattoo. The last risk associated with tattooing and body piercing is infection. You can get Staphylococcus Aurcus â€Å"Staph† bacteria infection. Tattoos that are received at facilities that are not regulated by the local health department will also prevent you from being a blood or plasma donor for up to twelve months because of the risk of spreading infection. The most common problem associated with tattooing is dissatisfaction. Although tattooing and body piercing are popular now, in a few years they may be out of style. The tattoo or body piercing may have faded or became embarrassing. Even people who have received tattoos for cosmetic reasons have had trouble with the dye fading after a few years. The only way to correct the problem is to have the tattoo redone or to have it removed. Tattoo removal is very expensive and can be very painful. Not only that, but it can be hard to remove the tattoo completely. The idea of getting a tattoo or body piercing is very exciting. The risks and the facility the tattoo is being done needs to be researched. There are so many things that can go wrong although many of them are rare they can happen. Most people that have tattoos have multiple tattoos. The same goes for piercings. However, it is recommended one does research prior to getting them and is very aware of the procedure and about the tattoo parlor one chose. If these things are a concern there are temporary tattoos. These tattoos are not regulated by the Federal Food and Drug Administration or you local Health Department. If you are unsure if a tattoo is what you want then this may be the way to go. They can usually design anything you would want just like a tattoo artist would. These tattoos do wear off after a couple of days so you can test the tattoo to see if it is wanted permanently. These tattoos are performed at same the facilities that permanent tattoos are done. Temporary tattoos can be done almost anywhere even on a street corner because they are not regulated. There has been no research done on the side effects of temporary tattoos so they are done at the consumers own risk. Body piercings may be removed simply by removing the item used in the piercing. If the item is removed the hole will still be there but it is not visible. However, because the tongue is the quickest healing part of our bodies a tongue piercing does grow back quickly if the tongue ring is removed and left out. With body piercing it is very common to get infections at the piercing site. With body piercing the site has to be kept clean at all times especially in the tongue. There are a lot of bacteria in a person’s mouth due to all the things we eat and drink so it is important that this area is kept clean. There are people that really like tattoos and have their whole bodies covered as well as people in prisons that are in gangs. These people have decided that tattoos will be apart of their life forever. Men and Women in prison who are apart of a gang may not be able to make an informed decision but may have to get a tattoos to survive. People in gangs are the most likely to get a tattoo to show their gang affiliation. It is usually a matter of life or death. They get these tattoos for protection from other gangs in prison as well as on the streets. Please make an informed decision before taking part in either tattooing or body piercing because they can have a lasting effect on ones life. Tattooing and body piercing are very popular right now. There a lot of people doing it because it is a fad. This fad will eventually fade just like all of the other fads have. These tattoos are permanent and can effect ones future in the job industry. Works Cited http://mayoclinic.com/health/tattoos-and-piercings/MC00020