TATTOO REMOVAL CREAMS & PRODUCTS

2023-11-18T03:31:00.000-08:00

Tattoo regret is the unfortunate side-effect of body art, with around 50% of tattooed people in the USA having second thoughts.

According to a recent study by the British Journal of Dermatology, figures are even worse in the UK where 75% of British people who have tattoos wish they had never 'inked'.

So if you're looking to remove or cover up a tattoo that has become a permanent source of regret or embarrasment to you - you are not alone - in fact - close to 400,000 people Google the term 'tattoo removal' every month!

One method of tattoo removal is laser treatment - but this is expensive - add to it the original cost of the design, and that tattoo soon becomes a very costly mistake!

Thankfully though - there are inexpensive ways to remove a tattoo or to cover a tattoo - and this site is dedicated to tattoo removal through creams and other tattoo remover, concealing and fader products.

Here you will find information, articles and links about tattoo removal creams and products available to people like you who simply want to turn back time.

Unfortunately tattoos are like that: once acquired, you're stuck with them. Thanks to the miracle of the tattoo machine, just one drunken or ill-considered impulse can almost instantly become your lifelong companion. Thankfully there's something you can do about it right here.

TATTOO TRENDS IN THE USA

2010-05-20T04:56:00.000-07:00

During the last ten years, according to U.S. News & World Report, tattooing has become one of America's fastest growing categories of retail business. There are now an estimated 15,000 tattoo studios in operation, furthermore, it is estimated that at least one new studio opens daily.

According to the most recent Harris Poll, conducted in the summer of 2003, approximately 15% of Americans (or about 40 million people) have at least one tattoo. The increased popularity of the tattoo is apparent if you compare those findings to the 1936 Life magazine estimate that 10 million Americans, or approximately 6% of the population, had a tattoo.

Tattooing appears to be evenly spread throughout the United States with the West Coast having the most per capita, with 20% of the population having at least one tattoo. Tattoo statistics for men and women in the United States are now nearly even, with 16% of all American males having at least one tattoo and 15% of all American females having at least one tattoo.

The 2003 Harris Poll revealed that 83% of the respondents to the survey had no regrets about their choice to get a tattoo, while 17% said they did regret having chosen to get a tattoo. Of those who regretted getting a tattoo, 16% said it was because of a person’s name being the tattoo, or being included within the tattoo.

The same Harris Poll reveled that 16% of respondents stated their race as white and having at least one tattoo, 14% stated their race as black and as having at least one tattoo, and 18% of those respondents stated their race as Hispanic and having at least one tattoo.

According to political party affiliation, 14% of Republicans stated they had at least one tattoo, 18% of Democrats stated they had at least one tattoo, and 12% of Independents stated they had at least one tattoo.

STORIES OF MORE PEOPLE REGRETING THEIR TATTOOS

2010-04-22T05:21:00.000-07:00

Here is another tattoo regret story as published online by the New York Times - another case of someone (like you) wanting to erase their tattoo.

Kelly Brannigan was suffering from a case of tattoo remorse.All the Body's a Stage Just a year ago, Ms. Brannigan, 24, who holds up Case No. 24 as one of the models on the NBC game show “Deal or No Deal,” had been full of hope when she and her fiancé had each other’s names tattooed across their inner wrists.

But now, when she looks at the letters — P-A-T-R-I-C-K — she is reminded of the failed relationship.

For help, she turned to Dr. Tattoff, a chain of tattoo removal stores where nurses use lasers in a series of treatments to break down tattoo pigments. Dr. Tattoff is part of a growing industry catering to people who may not have thought about the implications of “forever” the first time around.

Removing tattoos is costly, uncomfortable and time-consuming, but the affinity for body art is so strong that some people say they do it to clear space to tattoo all over again.

Many dermatologists specialize in laser tattoo removal, and some laser hair-removal centers are adding services. In California, there are removal centers like Dr. Tattoff, Tat2BeGone and Tattoo MD.

Most of Dr. Tattoff’s clients are women ages 25 to 35, said James Morel, the chief executive of the company, which has given more than 13,000 tattoo laser treatments since opening here in 2004. “Maybe women are getting more tattoos than they used to,” Mr. Morel said, “or maybe they just have a higher level of tattoo regret than men.”

On the horizon is a development that could change the very nature of tattooing: a type of ink encapsulated in beads and designed to break up after one treatment with a special laser.

The technology for the ink, called Freedom-2, was developed by scientists from Massachusetts General Hospital, and Brown and Duke Universities. It is to go on sale this fall.

“We think the fence-sitters who always wanted a tattoo but have been afraid of the permanence will jump in and get tattoos,” said Martin Schmieg, the chief executive of Freedom-2. “But as your life changes from young to middle-aged to older, from single to married to divorced, you get tattoo regret, so we think the tattoo removal market will increase as well.”

There are no hard statistics on tattoo removal, but Catherine A. Kniker, a senior vice president for Candela, a laser manufacturer, calculated that Americans may have 100,000 laser tattoo removal treatments this year.

Tattoos have been used for centuries to reflect changes in life status, whether passage into adulthood or induction into a group like the military or a gang. In recent years, tattoos have also become a fashion accessory, a trend fueled by basketball players, bands and celebrities.

A report by the Food and Drug Administration estimated that as many as 45 million Americans have tattoos. The report based the number on the finding by a Harris Interactive Poll in 2003 that 16 percent of all adults and 36 percent of people 25 to 29 had at least one tattoo. The poll also found that 17 percent of tattooed Americans regretted it.

A tattoo that cost several hundred dollars could require several thousand dollars and many laser sessions to remove. Dr. Tattoff charges $39 per square inch of tattoo for each treatment.

Devices called Q-switched lasers are used to shatter tattoo pigment into particles that are cleared by the body’s lymphatic system. Full removal takes an average of eight treatments, spaced at least a month apart, using different Q-switched lasers for different-colored inks, said Dr. Suzanne Kilmer, a dermatologist and laser researcher in Sacramento.

Each treatment incrementally fades the tattoo. Some patients are left with pristine skin, others with a shadow or white spots, Dr. Kilmer said.

Many states allow nurses to perform laser treatments. But Dr. Kilmer said patients would be better off going to experienced dermatologists who owned a variety of lasers and were trained to treat possible complications like allergic reactions.

Some researchers are trying to determine whether tattoo removal treatments affect the lymph nodes. Researchers in Europe reported that lasers used on certain pigments had created toxic or carcinogenic byproducts.

“You would be concerned about where the pigment goes, how long it is there and at what concentrations,” said Paul C. Howard, director of the Center for Phototoxicology at the National Toxicology Program of the Food and Drug Administration, which is also researching pigments.

Still, last month, Dage Decuir, a comptroller at a construction company, was at Dr. Tattoff continuing treatments to remove a cat from her chest and a pig from her arm, which would otherwise distract from her strapless wedding gown.

Roger Rodriguez, himself a tattoo artist, was having an amateur tattoo removed. The tattoo — his mother’s name, Margarita, in wobbly calligraphy that had been partly covered with a sprawling tattoo of his last name — had been done when he was 12.

“The back is good real estate,” Mr. Rodriguez said. “We are bulldozing everything so I can have a blank canvas again.”

Recently, Dr. Eric F. Bernstein, a dermatologist and laser researcher in Bryn Mawr, Pa., was treating David Donch, of Collingswood, N.J.

Mr. Donch, a substitute teacher, wanted to erase black-and-white scenes of suffering souls and multicolored stained-glass windows that enveloped his lower right leg — a task that could take as many as 30 treatments, Dr. Bernstein said.

Mr. Donch said the treatments felt like rubber bands being snapped against his skin but that it was worth it. “As I am getting older and planning to start a family and get my teaching certificate, I am more aware that appearances are important,” Mr. Donch said.

Ms. Brannigan of “Deal or No Deal” said she was happy to see the name of her former fiancé fading from her wrist. She said she had learned an important lesson: “I’m not going to get a tattoo of another guy’s name until I get married.”

ANCIENT TATTOOS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE

2010-03-15T05:12:00.000-07:00

Here is an excerpt from a Smithsonian online article about the most ancient tattoos that we know about.

Humans have marked their bodies with tattoos for thousands of years. These permanent designs—sometimes plain, sometimes elaborate, always personal—have served as amulets, status symbols, declarations of love, signs of religious beliefs, adornments and even forms of punishment. Joann Fletcher, research fellow in the department of archaeology at the University of York in Britain, describes the history of tattoos and their cultural significance to people around the world, from the famous " Iceman," a 5,200-year-old frozen mummy, to today’s Maori.

What is the earliest evidence of tattoos?

In terms of tattoos on actual bodies, the earliest known examples were for a long time Egyptian and were present on several female mummies dated to c. 2000 B.C. But following the more recent discovery of the Iceman from the area of the Italian-Austrian border in 1991 and his tattoo patterns, this date has been pushed back a further thousand years when he was carbon-dated at around 5,200 years old.

Can you describe the tattoos on the Iceman and their significance?

Following discussions with my colleague Professor Don Brothwell of the University of York, one of the specialists who examined him, the distribution of the tattooed dots and small crosses on his lower spine and right knee and ankle joints correspond to areas of strain-induced degeneration, with the suggestion that they may have been applied to alleviate joint pain and were therefore essentially therapeutic. This would also explain their somewhat 'random' distribution in areas of the body which would not have been that easy to display had they been applied as a form of status marker.

What is the evidence that ancient Egyptians had tattoos?

There's certainly evidence that women had tattoos on their bodies and limbs from figurines c. 4000-3500 B.C. to occasional female figures represented in tomb scenes c. 1200 B.C. and in figurine form c. 1300 B.C., all with tattoos on their thighs. Also small bronze implements identified as tattooing tools were discovered at the town site of Gurob in northern Egypt and dated to c. 1450 B.C. And then, of course, there are the mummies with tattoos, from the three women already mentioned and dated to c. 2000 B.C. to several later examples of female mummies with these forms of permanent marks found in Greco-Roman burials at Akhmim.

Who made the tattoos?

Although we have no explicit written evidence in the case of ancient Egypt, it may well be that the older women of a community would create the tattoos for the younger women, as happened in 19th-century Egypt and happens in some parts of the world today.

What instruments did they use?

It is possible that an implement best described as a sharp point set in a wooden handle, dated to c. 3000 B.C. and discovered by archaeologist W.M.F. Petrie at the site of Abydos may have been used to create tattoos. Petrie also found the aforementioned set of small bronze instruments c. 1450 B.C.—resembling wide, flattened needles—at the ancient town site of Gurob. If tied together in a bunch, they would provide repeated patterns of multiple dots.

CAREFUL WHEN CHOOSING CHINESE CHARACTERS FOR YOUR TATTOO

2010-02-19T05:03:00.000-08:00

A TEENAGER who paid £90 to have his arm tattoed with Chinese characters got a shock when he learned the message read: 'At the end of the day, this is an ugly boy.'

Hairdresser Lee Becks thought he had Mandarin for 'Love, honour and obey' etched into his skin. But the 18-year-old found out that he had been tricked when he saw the effect it had on a woman serving at a Chinese take-away.

'At first, she said something about me making people laugh and talked about a crown,' he said.

'But then I realised she was really saying clown, not crown. The young woman blushed and was very reluctant to translate for me. Then she admitted what it really said.'

A 'totally mortified' Mr Becks went back to the tattoo parlour in Southend, the next day - only to find it had closed.

He added: 'I suspect the tattooist knew he was closing and just wanted to get his own back for some reason. I always wanted a tattoo and the design looked great. Now I am stuck with it but have to keep it covered up.'

When he dared show off his arm at a nightclub, a group of Chinese girls came up - and burst out laughing. Even his friends have been finding it hard to keep straight faces.

His employer, Gary Doyle, said: 'He's a bit sensitive about the tattoos - they look very trendy if you don't know what they really mean. I don't think Lee stands much of a chance with any attractive young Chinese lady he may meet.'

Mr Becks plans to spend £600 (UK pounds sterling) to have the tattoo removed by laser.

This story does illustrate why you should take due care when choosing a Chinese tattoo. At the very least do the following:

Get a sketch or printout of the proposed design.

Ask several Chinese people what they think.

Don't just ask if it means a certain thing - the person you ask may not wish to disappoint you so may agree that it does, when in actuality it would be better to use different characters.

If relevant, try and explain what deeper meaning you want to convey - maybe somebody will suggest a well known idiom to use instead of a literal translation.

If you want your name translated then be aware that speakers of different dialects may use different transliterations for your name. This is not necessarily a problem but you need to be aware of it.

Remember also that Western names can sometimes not be translated well into Chinese. If you are advised that yours is one of them then ask a Chinese person (preferably one who knows you) to give you a name. Check its meaning with other people and only keep it if you like it. For many people this would be the best option as you effectively get to choose a really cool name that actually means something!

FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT TATTOOS

2009-12-18T04:42:00.000-08:00

If you are browsing these pages, chances are that you feel your tattoo was a mistake and if so, you're not alone. Tattoo regret is the unfortunate side-effect of body art, with around 50% of tattooed people in the USA having second thoughts.

According to a study by the British Journal of Dermatology, figures are worse in the UK with 75% of British people who have tattoos wishing they had never 'inked'

If your tattoo has become a permanent source of regret or embarrasment to you - you are not alone - in fact - close to 400,000 people Google the term 'tattoo removal' every month! Here are some more facts and figures about tattoos....

■The Pew Research Center, January 2007

- 36% of 18-25 year olds have at least one tattoo

Original source: http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=300

■The U.S. Food And Drug Administration, April 2006

- More than 45 million Americans have at least one tattoo

Original source: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/oc/scienceforum/sf2006/search/preview.cfm?abstract_id=1047&backto=author

■The Gallup Poll, July 2005

- 13-17 year olds on average think that an acceptable age to get a tattoo is 19

Original source: http://www.gallup.com/poll/17485/How-Old-Old-Enough.aspx

■The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, March 2005

- 24% of the general U.S. population has a tattoo

- 5% of those with a tattoo have had it covered with a different tattoo design

Original source: http://www2.us.elsevierhealth.com/inst/serve?retrieve=pii/S0190-9622(04)03195-0&artType=full)

■Flash2xs.com Poll, August 2004

- 41% of those considering getting a tattoo would pay up to 50% more for a tattoo artist known to have a good reputation and who is certified by their local health department

Original source: Flash2xs.com, LLC Online Poll

■Flash2xs.com Poll, June 2004

- 61% of people say that the reputation of a tattoo artist and tattoo studio is most important factor when selecting who will tattoo them and where they will get tattooed

- 23% say the selection of flash to look at and choose from is the most important factor when selecting which shop to get tattooed at

- 8% say the prices for tattooing is the most important factor when choosing who will tattoo them

Original source: Flash2xs.com, LLC Online Poll

■Flash2xs.com Poll, September 2003

- 43% of people polled say they get tattooed to represent something personal

- 32% say they get tattooed because they are addicted to ink

- 19% of people say they get tattooed because they like the artwork

- 4% of people say they get tattooed because they enjoy the feeling of it

Original source: Flash2xs.com, LLC Online Poll

■Harris Interactive, July 2003

- 16% of all adults have at least one tattoo

- 31% of gay, lesbian, or bisexual people report having tattoos

- 36% of those with tattoos are between 25-29 years old

- 34% of people with tattoos feel sexier because they are tattooed

- 29% of adults with tattoos feel more rebellious

- Democrats are more likely to be tattooed than Republicans

Original source: http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=407

■Flash2xs.com Poll, May 2003

- 76% of people say that the biggest issue in preventing them from getting a tattoo is Finding the Perfect Tattoo Design

- 10% of people say that either finding the right tattoo artist or having the money for a tattoo are the biggest reasons preventing them from getting a tattoo

Original source: Flash2xs.com, LLC Online Poll

■Flash2xs.com Poll, April 2003

- 32% of people prefer traditional plain black tribal tattoo designs over tribal with other design elements, texture, or color variations

Original source: Flash2xs.com, LLC Online Poll

■Health Canada, April 2003

- The number of women with tattoos quadrupled from 1960 to 1980

Original source: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/iyh-vsv/life-vie/tat_e.html

■Flash2xs.com Poll, August 2001

- 38% of people say they choose a tattoo because it has special meaning to them

- 32% say the quality of the artwork is how they choose their tattoo

- 27% of people say they choose their tattoo for its originality

Original source: Flash2xs.com, LLC Online Poll

■The U.S. News and World Report, October 1997

- Tattooing is the United State's 6th fastest growing retail business

Original source: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/articles/971103/archive_008193.htm

TATTOOS AND NEGATIVE ASSOCIATIONS

2009-11-21T04:59:00.000-08:00

As if you needed more reasons to remove or fade your tattoo... here are some negative associations as listed by Wikipaedia that relate to tattoos.

Conspicuous tattoos and other body modification can make gainful employment difficult in many fields.In Japan, tattoos are strongly associated with the Yakuza (organised crime groups), particularly full body tattoos done the traditional Japanese way (Tebori). Certain public Japanese bathhouses (sentō) and gymnasiums often openly ban those bearing large or graphic tattoos in an attempt to prevent Yakuza from entering.

In the United States many prisoners and criminal gangs use distinctive tattoos to indicate facts about their criminal behavior, prison sentences, and organizational affiliation. A tear tattoo, for example, can be symbolic of murder, with each tear representing the death of a friend. At the same time, members of the U.S. military have an equally well established and longstanding history of tattooing to indicate military units, battles, kills, etc., an association which remains widespread among older Americans. Tattooing is also common in the British Armed Forces.

Insofar as this cultural or subcultural use of tattoos predates the widespread popularity of tattoos in the general population, tattoos are still associated with criminality. Although the general acceptance of tattoos is on the rise in Western society, they still carry a heavy stigma among certain social groups.

The prevalence of women in the tattoo industry, along with larger numbers of women bearing tattoos, appears to be changing negative perceptions. A study of "at-risk" (as defined by school absenteeism and truancy) adolescent girls showed a positive correlation between body-modification and negative feelings towards the body and self-esteem; however, also illustrating a strong motive for body-modification as the search for "self and attempts to attain mastery and control over the body in an age of increasing alienation."

TATTOO REMORSE STORY

2009-11-21T04:41:00.000-08:00

Tattoo Removal central brings you a tattoo remorse story from CNN.com as follows...

Laura Hathaway initially had no regrets after getting a tattoo on her lower back when she was 21. But now, 10 years later, she wants it gone.

The pharmaceutical sales representative from Atlanta, Georgia, says it doesn't fit in with her current lifestyle as the mother of a 2-year-old boy who just started to talk. "The other day I bent over and he said, 'What's that?' and it just confirms why I'm having it removed."

Dr. Scott Karempelis of Atlanta Dermatology Associates is performing a multitreatment laser procedure that will gradually erase Hathaway's tattoo with little or no scarring. The process is painful, expensive and time-consuming.

Karempelis says that in spite of the drawbacks, "business is booming." He and three other dermatologists in his office see more than 30 patients a day who want tattoos removed by laser.

The American Academy of Dermatology reports tattoo regret is common in the United States. Among a group of 18- to 50-year-olds surveyed in 2004, 24 percent reported having a tattoo and 17 percent of those considered getting their tattoo removed.

Karempelis uses a state-of-the-art laser that targets the pigment in the tattoo. "It goes through the skin without damaging it and hits the pigment depending on which wavelength and which color you have, and it blows it into small pieces."

The tattoo ink is then reabsorbed into the body through the lymphatic system. The process must be completed over several sessions in order to protect the skin from damage.

Hathaway expects to go through 10 sessions several weeks apart, each lasting less than a minute. She admits it's a lot more painful than getting the original tattoo. "It's prickly," describes Hathaway. "It feels like a bee is sitting on your back stinging time and time again. Afterwards, the pain does go away and you're a little sore for a few hours.
Patients with bigger tattoos are sometimes given the option to use a topical anesthetic, but Karempelis points out that it adds to the cost.

Like other dermatologists, he charges by the square inch for the laser treatment. By the time Hathaway's done, she expects to pay more than $2,200.

There's no guarantee that she won't have a scar. "Scarring is your major risk," says Karempelis. "Almost everyone gets a little bit of discoloration, a little lighter, a little darker for a while. But in most cases if you wait a year, you cannot see where it was done initially."

Certain tattoo colors, such as green, yellow and purple, are harder to remove, Karempelis says, especially for people with darker skin. Some parts of the body also pose a challenge. "The farthest away from the heart are hardest to treat, so the ankles are the toughest," Karempelis says.

He predicts his business will increase in the future, after a new type of tattoo ink hits the market. Freedom-2 is a microencapsulated dye. It's designed to be easily removed by a single laser treatment. "The laser would hit that pigment and it would completely dissolve immediately. ... You wouldn't need repetitive treatments," the doctor says.

But until the ink becomes available, Karempelis expects to see a variety of patients going through long sessions to remove reminders of their past. He says the most popular tattoos to be removed in his office are the names of old boyfriends and former spouses.

In Hathaway's case, her tattoo of a flower didn't fit the image she wants to portray. She says she got the tattoo long before low-rise pants became popular. "It's just something I wanted to be private and now it's not”

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Read here about Actress Helen Mirren who revealed to People Magazine that she is now 'utterly disgusted' by her 'drunken' tattoo (a symbol on the back of the thumb of her left hand)

ISSUES TO CONSIDER BEFORE HAVING A TATTOO

2009-11-21T04:30:00.000-08:00

Tattoo Removal Central would like to inform you about what to consider before deciding to go ahead with a tattoo.

Health dangers

Skin infections - These can range from minor bacterial infections, like impetigo, to serious antibiotic-resistant skin infections, which can lead to pneumonia and blood infections.

Blood-borne infections - Dirty equipment will put you at risk of infection from serious diseases like hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV or tuberculosis.

Allergic reactions - You may have a reaction to the ink or latex gloves, though alternatives can be used.

Skin disorders

Anyone prone to keloid scarring - permanent, raised scars - should stay away from tattoos. Some people also get skin bumps called granulomas around a tattoo.

MRI complications

Some people find the tattooed area swells and burns after a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan - but it is rare.

Before you get the needle ask yourself these questions:

How might I feel about this in 30 years?

It's unlikely you'll be wearing the same clothes or have the same hairstyle so consider how your taste may change. If it's a name, for instance your boyfriend, are you really sure you'll be together for ever and, if not, how will subsequent partners feel?

Where should it be?

Very visible tattoos are incompatible in certain workplaces. If you need to cover it, how would it restrict clothing? Also, consider the pain factor. The fleshier the area, the less painful it will be.

How big?

If it's your first tattoo, it's best to start small in case you suffer an allergic reaction. And the bigger it is, the harder it will be to remove.

If you're not satisfied...

According to the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 (in the UK), the tattooist's work should be done with "reasonable skill and care". Otherwise, they may have to pay for it to be put right or for you to have it removed.

However, this doesn't apply if you've just changed your mind. If you want it removed, methods include laser treatment and dermabrasion but discuss pros and cons with your GP first. Go with a doctor who regularly carries out the procedure.

Alternatively try the many creams that will fade your tattoo, often to the point of being barely noticeable.

Eight ways to protect yourself

(1) Find a reputable tattooist

By law, all tattooists must be registered with the local authority and have an up-to-date certificate to prove it. They should also have a health and safety certificate on display. Look in the Yellow Pages or contact your local authority's environmental health department for the addresses of registered tattoo parlours. Also check that the tattooist is a member of a professional body such as the Tattoo Club Of Great Britain (visit www.tattoo.co.uk).

(2) Give it the once-over

A tattooist's parlour should be as clean and tidy as a dentist's surgery. They should wear gloves while tattooing and a new needle and ink should be used for every customer. Other equipment should be sterilised between customers. And a reputable tattooist won't mind you asking.

(3) Do your research

Shop around but don't make price the deciding factor. A tattoo should always be regarded as permanent since removal is expensive, difficult and can scar. You need to consider their style as well as skill. Go on recommendations and ask to see a portfolio of their past work.

(4)The right questions

The tattooist should ask you certain health questions. This should include whether you've had particular conditions, including allergies, impetigo, anything that affects your immune system, blood infections such as hepatitis or HIV, seizures and high blood pressure.

(5) Find a rapport

If you don't have a rapport with the tattooist, move on. It's vital that you communicate well and are both clear about the exact design, colours and size of the tattoo.

(6) Don't do it on holiday

There may be good tattooists abroad but hygiene standards are lower in many countries. Also, if something goes wrong, you may not be protected by law. You're

also more likely to be reckless on holiday.

(7) Don't have a drink first.

Drinking affects your judgment.

(8) Be clear on aftercare

You should be given detailed advice on how to look after your tattoo to avoid infection. And see your GP if the skin becomes red, inflamed, discoloured, itchy or painful.

TATTOO HISTORY

2009-11-21T04:21:00.000-08:00

Tattoo Removal Central brings you this extract from Wikipaedia about the history of tattoos.

A tattoo is a marking made by inserting indelible ink into the layers of skin to change the pigment for decorative or other reasons.

Tattoos on humans are a type of decorative body modification, while tattoos on animals are most commonly used for identification or branding.

Tattooing has been practiced worldwide. The Ainu, the indigenous people of Japan, traditionally wore facial tattoos. Today one can find Berbers of Tamazgha (North Africa), Maori of New Zealand, and Atayal of Taiwan with facial tattoos. Tattooing was widespread among Polynesian peoples and among certain tribal groups in the Taiwan, Philippines, Borneo, Mentawai Islands, Africa, North America, South America, Mesoamerica, Europe, Japan, Cambodia, New Zealand and Micronesia. Despite some taboos surrounding tattooing, the art continues to be popular in many parts of the world.

Tattooing has been a Eurasian practice at least since around Neolithic times. Ötzi the Iceman, dating from the fourth to fifth millennium BC, was found in the Ötz valley in the Alps and had approximately 57 carbon tattoos consisting of simple dots and lines on his lower spine, behind his left knee, and on his right ankle. [19] Other mummies bearing tattoos and dating from the end of the second millennium BC have been discovered, such as the Mummy of Amunet from Ancient Egypt and the mummies at Pazyryk on the Ukok Plateau.

Pre-Christian Germanic, Celtic and other central and northern European tribes were often heavily tattooed, according to surviving accounts. The Picts were famously tattooed (or scarified) with elaborate dark blue woad (or possibly copper for the blue tone) designs. Julius Caesar described these tattoos in Book V of his Gallic Wars (54 BC).

Tattooing in Japan is thought to go back to the Paleolithic era, some ten thousand years ago.[citation needed] Various other cultures have had their own tattoo traditions, ranging from rubbing cuts and other wounds with ashes, to hand-pricking the skin to insert dyes.

Tattooing in the Western world today has its origins in Polynesia, and in the discovery of tatau by eighteenth century explorers. The Polynesian practice became popular among European sailors, before spreading to Western societies generally.

TATTOO COVER UP - HOW TO DO IT

2009-11-21T03:57:00.000-08:00

So you have a tattoo that you'd like to cover up - perhaps you'd like to conceal it for a special occasion such as a wedding or maybe you're going for an interview or to meet you partners' parents and so you would prefer to hide your tattoo for a few hours.

Unlike specialty products such as 'The Tattoo Coverage Kit', the solution given below will not be flawless and it will not be smudgeproof - but it might just help you out in an emergency.

Here's some tattoo cover-up advice sourced from EHow.com...

You'll Need:

Concealer

Powder

Powder pad (or brush if you don't have one)

Foundation

Eyeshadow or blush that is close to your skin tone

Small cosmetic brush

Step 1 Apply concealer. If you happen to have two shades, use them both. Put on the lightest shade first, applying it as you would when covering up the dark circles underneath your eyes. Blend it well into the surrounding area. Repeat this using the darker concealer if you have some.

Step 2 Apply powder on the tattoos. Although a brush will work, a pad is much better. Press the pad firmly into the compact before dabbing evenly and gently across the concealer.

Step 3 Apply foundation. Once again, if you have a darker shade and a lighter one, use both. Put it on as you would on your face, using a light touch, applying the lighter shade first. You can always apply more but, if you put too much on, you'll have to remove it all and start over with the concealer. Instead of using makeup sponges, as you would when applying theatrical makeup, use your fingertips to blend it in well. This gives you more control and better coverage. Do the same with the darker shade of foundation if you have it before repeating Step 2 and applying powder.

Step 4 Apply eyeshadow or blush. Choose a shade that is close to your skin tone. Use a small cosmetic brush to sweep it over the tattoos, dabbing in areas that seem harder to cover. Put it in light coats, building the coverage and color as needed. Make sure to blend it into the surrounding areas as you go. Repeat step 2 to seal it all in.

THINK BEFORE YOU INK

2009-11-21T03:30:00.000-08:00

A recent article by the Seattle Post looked into what you should consider before you tattoo so as to reduce your chances of having to have tattoo removal later on.

The article reads.... "From NASCAR dads to soccer moms, tattoos and body piercings have become about as rebellious as a minivan, evolving from a guaranteed way to provoke the parents to an acceptable form of expression.

If you're thinking of getting a tattoo, there are several things to consider before going under the needle.

Signs you are likely to suffer tattoo regret:

• If you walk into a tattoo studio to get a tattoo, but are short on specifics, walk right out. If the tattoo doesn't have any personal meaning behind it, you'll end up hating it later on, tattooists say.

• Getting a tattoo of your sweetheart's name can be a mistake, said Dr. Bernard Goffe, a general dermatologist at Swedish Medical Center who's removed "hundreds" of tattoos in the past 20 years.

Other reasons for tattoo removal, Goffe said, include:

• You made the decision under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• Family pressure.

• Disassociation from a gang.

Consider how a piercing or tattoo might affect your lifestyle or career:

"You have to consider that people are going to look at you differently if you have something they can see. Not that that's right, but they will," said Christy Brooker, a tattoo artist at Seattle's Apocalypse Tattoo.

A 2001 study by Vault, a career Web site found that most employers view tattoos as unprofessional, and 42 percent said their opinion of employees is lowered by exposure of them at work.

If you're going to get a tattoo, think about location:

• The most popular place on men: arm, shoulder, upper back, calf.

• The most popular place on women: small of back, bikini line, ankle.

• The most painful areas on both: behind the knees, between the toes, spine, inner arms, middle of sternum, top of feet and hands.

• Least painful areas: Outer part of forearm, shoulder, buttocks.

How much should a tattoo or piercing cost?

Most studios charge by the hour. In Seattle, you can expect to pay around $100 to $125 per hour, said several tattooists, but prices vary depending on the studio and the complexity and size of the tattoo. Bigger or elaborate tattoos can cost much more.

In general, you don't want to go bargain shopping for a tattoo.

The basic fee for most piercings — ear , naval, tongue, nostril — is around $25.

Jewelry, depending on metals and gems, can range from $15 to more than $50.

In case you want to un-tattoo you:

Laser tattoo removals increased by 27 percent between 2001 and 2003, according to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

So.... how do you know if you're serious about getting inked or just swept up in the craze?"

TATTOOS - ARE THEY ARE FADING CRAZE?

2009-11-18T05:08:00.000-08:00

Tattoos often seem like a good idea at the time. But - the BBC UK website asks - has the current craze, especially among young women, had its day?
Celebrities from Liam Gallagher to Stephen Gately, Helen Mirren to Holly Valance have their own, often discreet, pieces of body art. Such celebrity ‘endorsement’ has encouraged women from all walks of life to have their own.

But as time passes, it's not just celebs such as Angelina Jolie and Geri Haliwell who're regretting decorating their body with everything from loved one’s names to Japanese characters. Ordinary people do too. Seventy-five percent of the UK people who have tattoos eventually regret it, according to a study by the British Journal of Dermatology.

Ordinary folks like Melanie Grimes from Eccles in Greater Manchester is one of these people. She is having the tatto she opted for when she was 16 years old removed.

Melanie says, "It looks tacky. I just picture myself in an evening dress or a wedding dress and I just see that thing on my shoulder, no!!!"

Laser treatment is one of the standard methods of tattoo removal. However, this can cost around £1,000. So how can you avoid regret?

According to Louis Malloy, people can reduce the risks of regretting a tattoo later in life. Louis is one of the most prominent tattoo artists in the North West. He adorned David Beckham’s body with an angel and the words ‘Romeo’ and ‘Victoria’.

Louis says, "If you don’t put the thought in it’s highly likely that you will regret the tattoo."

Louis would advise those considering a tattoo to follow these simple preparation steps to reduce regret later:

• Plan your tattoo art carefully, doing lots of research

• Consider its placement and how this will fit into your life

• Save up and get what you really want

• Go to a reputable tattoo artist

• Ask to see previous examples of their work

• Follow aftercare instructions religiously

• Don’t go ahead if you are not 100% sure

Sam Cox is the editor of a tattoo website. Two thirds of her body is tattooed. It started with a small butterfly on the base of her back.

Sam's website offers advise to 'tattoo virgins'

Sam claims that whilst people are following fashion fads with tattoos, they are more likely to regret them. Such fad, are often instigated by celebrities.

Sam says, "If you have a tattoo for fashion reasons - because it looks cool at the time - it will go out of fashion."

With over 5,000 years of history behind them, it is unlikely that tattoos will ever become a ‘thing of the past’.

However, whilst willing youngsters are allowing their bodies to become a canvas for the latest fashion fads, incidences of removal look likely to rise.

REASONS WHY YOU'RE REGRETTING YOUR TATTOO

2009-11-18T03:42:00.000-08:00

Are you annoyed with your tattoo? Does it embarrass you? Do you wish you'd never set foot in that parlour in the first place? Well, the reasons why you feel this way boil down to one or more of the following reasons...

• You had your tattoo done in a non-certified shop - those who have their tattoo/s done cheaply most often end up with regrets because they are not satisfied with the result. Perhaps the colour isn't right or the tattooist wasn't really an artist so tweety Pie looks more like a griffin...whatever the reason - you usually get what you pay for when it comes to tattoos.

• You chose the wrong design - those who went through the tattoo process impulsively without giving much thought to design and placement usually end up disappointed. Make sure you know what design you want and if you're really ready for it.

• Be sober - maybe you got your tat when you were drunk or high and were not impressed once you sobered up.

• Maybe you have a lover's name or facial image tattooed on your body. This is never a good idea - if you're considering this and if you absolutely feel compelled to do so - make it small so that if the worst happens you can design another tatto over and around the original one.

• Do not 'test' a tattoo - your body is not an A4 sheet of paper that you can 'vandalize' anytime and when you are tired of the design - have it erased. Perhaps you didn't think of the long-term when you had your 'ink'. But none of us are a living Etch-a-Sketch. Tattoos are permanent. Most people regret having been spontenous when it comes to tattoos.

• You have found that people judge you - Research shows that most companies do not hire people with tattoo/s though they are qualified. Most of the time having a tattoo is not acceptable in the workplace - especially so in the corporate world. You may have experienced this - hence you want to remove your tattoo.

• You are worried - When it comes to transmittable diseases - you are in the high risk of having these when you are engage in body art. Most of the time people get HIV, Hepatitis and other disease through tattooing, especially when it is done by underground tattoo artists.

• You have simply grown out of your tattoo or no longer have that lifestyle - people often regret having a marujana leaf tattoo or tattoos that depict certain political affiliations or even the logos of certain music bands. Tastes and lifestyles change and that Rolling Stone or Spice Girls tattoo can soon become a source of embarrassment.