Tattoos were an Eurasian practice in Neolithic times, and have even been found in a mummy of the second century AD In 1991 a Neolithic mummy was found inside a glacier in the Austro-Italian Alps, with 57 tattoos in the back.
Are tattoos harmful to your health?
A tattoo is a permanent mark made on the skin with pigments inserted through punctures in the top layer of this. Typically, the tattoo artist uses a hand machine that acts as a sewing machine, with one or more skin piercing needles. With each puncture, the needles insert small drops of ink. The procedure (which is done without anesthesia) causes a small amount of bleeding and a slight pain that can be more intense depending on the area where the tattoo is performed.
Possible problems:
- The inks used may cause allergic skin reactions, such as an itchy rash at the tattoo site. This can happen even years after we have done the tattoo.
- Infections of the skin may appear: An infection of the skin, which can cause redness, swelling, pain and discharge of pus, may appear after the tattoo.
- Diseases of blood transmission: If the equipment used to create the tattoo is contaminated with infected blood, it can lead to the spread of various blood borne diseases such as tetanus, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
- Complications on an MRI: Rarely, tattoos or permanent make-up can cause swelling or burning in the affected area during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In some cases, tattoo pigments can interfere with the quality of the image – for example, when a person who has eyelids permanently has to undergo an MRI of the eye.
Before getting a tattoo we must ask ourselves if we really want to do it, letting ourselves be carried away by fashions and not by personal taste can make us regret in a short period of time. If you are not sure or are worried that you might regret it someday, take more time to think about it. Do not let them pressure you to get a tattoo, and of course, do not get a tattoo if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
If you decide to go ahead with the tattoo, choose the location of the tattoo carefully. Consider whether you want the tattoo to be visible or hidden under clothing. Also, remember that weight gain (including weight gain during pregnancy) can distort the tattoo or affect its appearance.
To make sure your tattoo will be done safely, answer these questions:
Who does the tattoo? Do not try to tattoo yourself or a friend without knowledge or experience try to get the tattoo. We should go to a reputable tattoo studio that employs properly trained employees. Keep in mind that regulatory requirements and licensing rules vary by country.
Make sure the tattoo artist washes his hands and wears a pair of protective gloves for each situation.
Does the tattoo artist use the right equipment? Make sure the tattoo artist removes the needle and tubes from sealed packages before beginning. Pigments, trays or containers must also be used hygienically.
I hope this information has served you to be able to decide more clearly what to do and how to deal with the moment you get a tattoo.
