IF, you want to make a statement through body art, there’s nothing better than tattoos. This permanent ink- and- needle art, is a great marker of your identity, personality and even love. So if you’re not threatened by the pain or its permanence, and have made up your mind about sporting a design of your favourite celeb dons, take a few minutes to consider these tips.
Our tattoo guide could save you a lot of agony before your money is spent:
LOOK BEYOND NEEDLE SAFETY
AT THE tattoo parlour, you choose a design, decide what body part to embellish, fuss about the colours and finally haggle over the price. The artist then whips out his tattoo gear, inks and takes out a fresh needle. Satisfied with this safe practice of needle use, you feel safe from infections like HIV and Hepatitis. But here’s what you’ve missed. A one- time use needle is good practice, but doesn’t mean the tattooing process is completely safe. Paraphernalia such as tattoo inks and electrically powered instruments can leave a nasty mark on you for life.
“ Most tattoo artists reuse tattoo inks on many clients”, warns Michael Cowasji who runs Mikes Body Art Studio in Delhi and Goa. “ They don’t throw away residual ink after using it on one client and reuse the leftover ink in ink caps for tattooing the next one”. Contaminated, this residual ink can spread skin infection.
Tattoo instruments are also not safe, unless sterilized. And when it comes to sterilization, seeing is believing.
A machine called autoclave is used to sterilize equipment. Should you come in contact with blood and bodily fluids of potentially infected clients you could walk away with any of these diseases — herpes, tetanus, fungal infections, hepatitis and even HIV…. Since tattooing is still new in India, research on its health impact is limited.
However, a recent University of Texas study indicated that people with tattoos are nine times more likely to be infected with Hepatitis B that is spread through infected blood and needles.
BEWARE: TATTOO INKS CAN CAUSE ALLERGIES
TATTOO pigments can cause allergic reactions, especially certain brands of red and green. People who are sensitive or allergic to certain metals may react to pigments in the inks resulting in swelling and/ or itching, sometimes followed by oozing of a clear fluid called serum. Though such reactions are rare, it is advisable to get a patch test done before getting a tattoo. Exposure to the sun can also stimulate an allergic reaction to the pigment used.
TATTOOS SAG WITH YOU
MOST people are unaware that tattoos age just like us. They lose brilliance and change with the quality of our skin. As the skin ages and loses its tone, tattoos start looking bumpy and wrinkled too.
The truth is that a tattoo looks best on taut, young, 20- something skin. Put on some weight and your tattoo will look less sharp. In ones 30s, tattoos begin to look wrinkled and in the 50s they can look like drawings on a flaccid balloon.
Eeok … now who wants that?
THE UNBEARABLE PAIN OF PARTING
WHEN you’ve out grown that phase of sunflower patterns, or are no longer with the girlfriend whose name you wear on your wrist, its time to shed the tattoo.
The good news is that even permanent tattoos can be removed. The bad news is that the removal process is even more painful ( and expensive) than when you got it done. Even though doctors and laser practitioners claim more than 95 % removal of tattoos is possible, the reality is that complete removal may never be possible.
Tattoo removal is most commonly performed using lasers. Pulses of light from the laser are directed onto the tattoo to break up the pigment. Then, over several weeks, the broken down ink is absorbed by the body. This technique often requires repeated visits to completely remove even a small tattoo and may even result in permanent scarring or discoloration of skin. Parts of the body with thin skin (ankles, wrists, spine) are more likely to scar than thicker- skinned areas.
If you are still brave enough to get one, heed all possible safety warnings.
A Hepatitis B and a tetanus shot is advised before getting a tattoo. Single use needles and gloves are a must and so is the practice of using fresh ink loaded into disposable ink caps to be discarded after each client.
Ideally, talk and get to know the artist before you place yourself in his or her hands. And make sure that that man or woman is aware of dangers of tattooing and how to avert them effectively.