When contemplating the allure of body art, you cannot overlook the paramount consideration of how tattoos affect the skin and overall health, as well as societal and professional implications. Tattoos are a means of self-expression, with art becoming a permanent part of your identity.
Nevertheless, the process involves puncturing the skin with ink, potentially posing risks such as infections and allergies. This comprehensive examination aims to explore the intricate balance between the artistic allure of tattoos and their potential health effect on the skin, allowing you to make informed choices while safeguarding your well-being.
Credit to @Freepik | Pinterest
Why Do People Get Tattoos?
People want tattoos for various reasons, and the motivations behind getting a tattoo can vary widely from person to person. The most common cause is the fact tattoos can be a form of self-expression, allowing individuals to showcase their personality, beliefs, values, and interests. They serve as a canvas for people to tell their unique stories and represent who they are.
Tattoos often hold deep symbolic meaning. People get them to commemorate a significant life event, honor a loved one, or mark a personal achievement. Symbols and imagery can represent ideas, memories, or emotions that are important to the individual. Many people view their bodies as a blank canvas and tattoos as a form of wearable art.
Credit to @mervesenguntattooer | IG
Some individuals get tattoos to connect with their cultural or ancestral roots, while in some cultures and religions, tattoos symbolize one’s faith or spiritual beliefs. However, some people simply find tattoos visually appealing and choose to get them for the sake of beauty or adornment. Visible tattoos often signify membership in a particular group, such as a military unit, gang, or social club.
As you can see, there are various reasons to get a tattoo. However, there are still judgemental people who consider tattoos disrespectful to the skin and people with tattoos as unwanted parts of the community. So, let’s look at the good sides of getting a tattoo and the possible issues they can cause to the skin.
What Are The Benefits of Tattoos?
One of the primary reasons people go for a tattoo is that they see it as a way to enhance their physical appearance. A tattoo can boost your confidence and make you more assertive and maybe even more attractive. However, besides more confidence and self-expression tattoos, there are some benefits that are not apparent at first glance.
Credit to @IdeasDonuts | Tattoo, Nails, Trend, Style | Pinterest
Tattoos can also positively affect your health. The body’s reaction to foreign substances, such as tattoo ink, can bring specific advantages. That’s why all the benefits of tattoos can be separated into physical and psychological advantages.
Physical Advantages Of Getting A Tattoo
- Getting a tattoo can boost immunity. Tattoo ink is a foreign substance, which means that your immune system will attack it upon entering the body. The human body fights against any kind of external factors either by getting used to them or by producing antibodies to fight against them. Tattoos can decrease stress hormones while boosting disease-fighting antibodies. Each time you get a tattoo, your immune system will undergo the same process, and the benefits will add up.
- Tattoos can increase the production of white cells. Your tattoo is a wound that is filled with a foreign substance. Your body will start healing the wound and produce more white blood cells, trying to push out the ink and patch the wound. Increased white blood cell count stops infections and diseases more effectively and helps the skin repair the damage more quickly.
Source: https://support.tomorrowhealth.com/en_us/essentials-of-wound-care-SJ_emyMFD
- Tattoos can increase levels of immunoglobulin A. Immunoglobulin A is an antibody that helps the immune, gastrointestinal, and respiratory systems. Higher levels of immunoglobulin A repel pathogens and even the common cold or flu.
- Tattoos can cover scars and skin imperfections. Permanent tattoo designs are a highly effective way of covering and concealing skin marks like birthmarks, stretch marks, surgery scars, body scars, self-harm scars, etc. They are a long-lasting solution that can turn your scars into an art form or creative expression.
Cover a Birthmark with Chinese Calligraphy Tattoo Design
Credit to Chinese tattoo artist CC @ccccc_001205 on IG
Phycological Advantages of Getting A Tattoo
Besides your physical health, tattoos can also affect your psychological health. Various pieces of research have shown that tattoos can also improve mental health and confidence, boost self-esteem, or even reduce stress levels. Let’s explore how.
A Tattoo Can Improve Your Mental Health
Tattoos can be a boon to a person’s mental health. For people who are struggling with mental health, a tattoo can provide a sense of control and a way to focus on self-improvement. For those who have faced tragedy or trauma, a tattoo can be a great way of covering scars and unwanted memories.
A tattoo can be an anchor for people and remind them to stay firm and calm during a period of crisis. For people who have lost a loved one, tattoos can be a way to honor their memory of family members and keep them close.
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Tattoos Can Improve Your Confidence
A new tattoo is exciting, and you want to show it off. People get tattoos to commemorate a significant life event, honor a loved one, or mark a personal achievement. A new piece can be dedicated to something or someone you love or simply a cool and intricate design.
Whatever the case, the feeling is universal. You feel more confident, in control, and ready to face the world. A new tattoo makes you feel whole, like you’ve finally found the piece of you that was missing. You can also feel beautiful. Tattoos are attractive, and having one can increase your chances of meeting new people and engaging in interesting conversations. They are a great conversation starter, and they can make you more appealing.
Credit to @miguelameliach | IG
Form Of Self-Expression
Tattoos have been a form of self-expression for thousands of years. They are a mirror of a person’s soul and can help to convey a person’s individuality, beliefs, and personal history. People decide to get a tattoo after they’ve been through a life-changing experience, to show the world what makes them unique, or to stay connected to some vital part of their history.
Tattoos are unique to each person and can set individuals apart from the crowd. This sense of individuality and originality can highlight your distinct identity. This self-expression can lead to a greater sense of self-awareness and self-acceptance, ultimately boosting self-esteem.
Angelina Jolie Source: https://cangelljolie.tumblr.com/image/184858946247
Commitment And Self-Esteem
Unlike temporary tattoos, permanent ink is a long-term commitment. The commitment starts with the very idea of getting a tattoo and persists through getting it, through aftercare and tattoo healing. People are proud of their new ink, and going through the aftercare and recovery process only strengthens that feeling.
For some people, getting a tattoo can be an empowering experience. It represents a deliberate choice and an act of self-determination. This sense of agency and control over your body can have a positive impact on self-esteem. After stressful moments, tattoos can serve as reminders of resilience and strength, enhancing self-esteem.
Credit to @Our Mindful Life | Pinterest
Tattoos Can Reduce Stress Levels
During the tattooing procedure, cortisol levels are reduced. Cortisol is a stress hormone, and having the right balance is essential for your health. Producing too much or too little can cause health problems caused by stress. Stress can exacerbate many health conditions, like migraines and elevated blood pressure. Tattoos also benefit athletes since high cortisol reduces your ability to heal. Every time you get a tattoo, you decrease your cortisol levels, making your muscles regenerate and recover faster.
Additionally, tattoos are usually related to pain. The body fights the pain by releasing adrenaline and endorphins, which make us feel good and reduce stress levels. This is why some people report they enjoy getting a tattoo. Simply looking at tattoos can also reduce stress levels, as they represent an important part of your life.
LeBron James Tattoos
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How Are Tattoos Hurting The Skin And Body
The tattoo community is bigger than ever, as research shows that over 40% of Americans have at least one tattoo. A tattoo can improve your life in many ways but also hurts your body and skin.
The disadvantages of getting a tattoo range from pain and discomfort during the tattooing process to health issues. Additionally, not everyone approves of tattoos, so they can still be considered a limitation in the corporate world or reduce job opportunities. Many employers consider tattoos disrespectful to them and their clients, so that some people can encounter problems.
Source: https://smallbusiness.co.uk/acceptable-discrimination-tattoos-2538919/
The Risks Of Getting A Tattoo
Tattooing is an invasive procedure, as modern tattoo machines pierce the skin 50-3000 times a minute, delivering ink through the epidermis to the dermis. This can cause temporary stress to the skin, but when done correctly by a trained and experienced tattoo artist in a renowned tattoo studio, this stress is typically manageable and part of the normal healing process.
Source: https://www.emeraldtattoo.com/howtattooswork/
However, each person has a unique or sensitive skin type, so there are certain risks and complications. These are some of the risks you should pay attention to before getting new tattoos, and they can be categorized as:
- Skin risks
- Health risks
- Social stigma
Skin Damage And Infections
As an invasive and painful procedure, tattoos can harm the skin and tissue underneath. Additionally, they open the doors to various infections, so the saying “think before you ink” is valuable. Here are some of the common skin risks:
Tattoos can be too painful: If you’ve never had a tattoo, you should carefully choose where to get one. Some areas are more sensitive than others. For example, the armpit is arguably the most painful area, closely followed by the rib cage. Ankles and shins are in the third place. Depending on the complexity of the design, going for these areas might be an unbearably painful experience for you.
Source: https://www.healthline.com/health/body-modification/pain-tattoos-chart
Skin infections: Due to the invasive nature of the procedure, your new tattoo is an open wound, which can be prone to skin infections. The risk of skin infection is the highest during the first two weeks, and redness, swelling, and fever are never good signs. So careful maintenance while the tattoo heals can significantly reduce the risk.
Allergic reaction: Tattoo inks can contain various substances such as printer ink, calligraphy ink, metal salts, etc. These ingredients can cause allergic reactions that manifest as intense itchiness, red rash, or hives in a tattooed area and can develop years after you get inked.
Source: https://removery.com/blog/infected-tattoo-stages/
Keloid scars and granulomas. Tattoos can cause a form of inflammation called granuloma, which represents nodules of inflamed tissue around the affected area. Tattoos are also prone to scarring if they don’t heal properly. Keloids are raised areas caused by overgrown tissue, which can occur due to the type of the skin and various other complications.
Health Risks Of Tattoos And Tattoo Ink
The big issue around the tattooing procedure is the fact that tattoo ink is not regulated by the FDA. As a result, it can contain metals or other harmful substances. Some tattoo ink can even contain cancer-causing chemicals, and the risks caused by unsterile equipment are even higher. As a result, tattoos can present health risks such as:
Autoclave Source: https://www.tattoomagic.info/basics/tattoo-sterilization.html
- Bloodborne diseases. Rarely, equipment might not be adequately sterilized and contaminated with infected blood. Bloodborne diseases, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or even HIV, can be contacted.
- MRI complications. Tattoo ink can contain metals that interfere with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests. Magnetic properties might pull metallic ingredients, causing swelling or burning in the affected areas during MRI, and tattoo pigments can interfere with the quality of the image.
- Tattoos can hide skin cancer. A tattoo can’t cause melanoma, but it could hide one. The colorful ink can camouflage black or brown melanoma. Melanoma doesn’t cause a change in skin texture, so it can be hard to spot.
- Tattoos can be harmful to your liver. Skin is your biggest organ, and the liver is responsible for eliminating toxins from the body. When you get tattoos, the ink goes into the dermis and can be released into the bloodstream. This is why you can’t donate blood for at least three months after getting a tattoo. The presence of heavy metals in tattoo ink could negatively affect the liver and cause inflammation.
Source: https://www.quora.com/Why-cant-people-with-tattoos-donate-blood
Social Stigma That Might Limit Your Career Options
Tattoos are still not widely accepted by the entire community, and you can see the larger drawbacks when it comes to highly professional employers, governmental institutions, medical facilities, and more. A single tattoo that is visible to anyone can negatively impact your career path. A tattoo on visible parts can cause doubt or even offend potential clients, so a company can choose not to employ people with tattoos.
Even though things are slowly changing, so some companies may even have to hire people with tattoos, you should be fully aware that most reputable organizations will consider your tattoo disrespectful. So, besides possible health and skin risks, you should take into consideration the social aspects of getting a tattoo.
Job Fair Source: https://hotcore.info/babki/Job-Fair-People.htm
Tattoos Are a Lifelong Commitment
Body tattoos are a lifelong commitment that can positively and negatively affect your entire physical and psychological state. Therefore, before getting a tattoo, you should consider both the good and bad sides of it. It is essential to consider the pros and cons of getting a tattoo before you actually do it. The tattoo removal process on permanent tattoos can be a highly negative experience that can be painful, cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and even leave scars.
On the other hand, many people find themselves in the world of tattoos. They significantly boost their confidence, self-expression, mental health, and self-esteem, so many rarely settle for a single tattoo. The hidden benefits on the body are often disregarded, so the entire discussion on the good and the bad can be pretty complex.
