Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Get a Tattoo

So What Exactly Is a Tattoo?

A tattoo is a puncture wound, made deep in your skin, that's filled with ink. It's made by penetrating your skin with a needle and injecting ink into the area, usually creating some sort of design. What makes tattoos so long-lasting is they're so deep - the ink isn't injected into the epidermis (the top layer of skin that you continue to produce and shed throughout your lifetime). Instead, the ink is injected into the dermis, which is the second, deeper layer of skin. Dermis cells are very stable, so the tattoo is practically permanent.

How Are Tattoos Done?

Tattoos used to be done manually, meaning the tattoo artist would puncture the skin with a needle and inject the ink by hand. Though this process is still used in some parts of the world, most tattoo shops use a tattoo machine these days. A tattoo machine is a hand held electric instrument that uses a tube and needle system. On one end is a sterilized needle, which is attached to tubes that contain ink. A foot switch is used to turn on the machine, which moves the needle in and out while driving the ink about 1/8 inch (about 3 millimeters) into your skin.

Most tattoo artists know how deep to drive the needle into your skin, but not going deep enough will produce a ragged tattoo, and going too deep can cause bleeding and intense pain. Getting a tattoo can take several hours, depending on the size and design chosen.

Does It Hurt to Get a Tattoo?

Getting a tattoo can hurt, but the level of pain can vary. Because getting a tattoo involves being stuck multiple times with a needle, it can feel like getting a bunch of shots or being stung by a hornet multiple times. Some people say it's more annoying than painful. Others describe the tattoo sensation as "tingling." It all depends on your pain threshold, how good the person wielding the tattoo machine is, and where exactly on your body you're getting the tattoo. Also, keep in mind that you'll probably bleed a little.

What's It Like to Get a Tattoo??

After showing a valid identification for proof of age, here's what you can expect from a normal tattooing procedure:

* The tattoo artist will first wash his or her hands with a germicidal soap.
* The area of your body you have chosen for your tattoo will be cleaned, usually with rubbing alcohol. Then, any hair will be removed from the area by shaving it with a new disposable razor which will be discarded after being used. Even the finest of hairs can get in the way and cause problems.
* The tattoo artist will put on clean, fresh gloves (and possibly a surgical mask).
* The tattoo artist will explain the sterilization procedure to you and open up the single-use, sterilized equipment (such as needles, etc.).
* They will make a stencil from your design using a special machine called a thermal-fax. Once your stencil is ready, the artist will transfer it onto your skin. Some artists use soap or water to moisten the skin, and some will use stick deodorant. The design transfers better and darker onto your skin. When the paper is pulled away from your skin, it will leave you with a purple-ish blue likeness of your future tattoo!
* Using the tattoo machine (with a sterile, single-use needle attached), the tattoo artist will begin drawing an outline of the tattoo under your skin.
* The inks will be placed in little tiny cups called "ink caps", and the needles and tubes will be removed from their sterile pouches and placed in the machine. Clean, distilled water will be poured into a cup for cleaning the needles during the tattoo process and to change from one color to the next. Some A&D ointment or Vaseline will be placed on a clean surface for your use only.
* The artist weill do the outline of the tattoo first. The outline will be cleaned with antiseptic soap and water.
* Sterile, thicker needles will be installed on the tattoo machine, and the tattoo artist will start shading the design. After cleaning the area again, color will be injected.
* Any blood will be removed by a sterile, disposable cloth or towel.
* When your tattoo is finished and clean, it needs to be treated just like a wound. A protective layer of ointment will be applied to the tattoo to prevent invasion of airborne bacteria that can cause infection. Then a bandage will be applied, and it will be taped up to make sure it is secure.

Taking Care of a Tattoo

The last step in getting a tattoo is very important - taking care of the tattoo until it fully heals. Follow all of the instructions the studio gives you for caring for your tattoo to make sure it heals properly. Also, keep in mind that it's very important to call your doctor right away if you see or feel any signs of infection such as pain, spreading redness, swelling, or drainage of pus. Your tattoo artist should provide you with complete written care instructions. To make sure your tattoo heals properly:

* Keep a bandage on the area for up to 24 hours.
* Avoid touching the tattooed area and don't pick at any scabs that may form.
* Wash the tattoo with an antibacterial soap (don't use alcohol or peroxide - they'll dry out the tattoo). Use a soft towel to dry the tattoo - just pat it dry and be sure not to rub it.
* If you don't have an allergy to antibiotic ointment, rub some into the tattoo. Don't use petroleum jelly - it may cause the tattoo to fade.
* Put an ice pack on the tattooed area if you see any redness or swelling.
* Try not to get the tattoo wet until it fully heals. Stay away from pools, hot tubs, or long, hot baths.
* Keep your tattoo away from the sun until it's fully healed.

Even after it's fully healed, a tattoo is more susceptible to the sun's rays, so it's a good idea to always keep it protected from direct sunlight. If you're outside often or hang out at the beach, it's recommended that you always wear a sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 on the tattoo.

What Are the Risks?

If you decide to get a tattoo, chances are everything will go as planned. But if disinfection and sterilization steps aren't followed, there are some things you need to be aware of that can go wrong. Because skin is broken when one gets tattooed, some basic health risks are possible. Once the skin is broken, the area being tattooed is essentially an open wound until it has healed. Because the tattoo is an open wound, some basic risks are:
-Infection
-Herpes Simplex Virus
-Tetanus and Staph
-Fungal Infections

To protect yourself from these basic health risks associated with tattoos, it is imperative that you make sure that the equipment that your artist is using has been properly sterilized and that your artist has experience in dealing with these basic issues.

FYI -- Because tattooing involves injections under the skin, viruses such as HIV and hepatitis B and C can be transferred into your body if proper precautions aren't followed. For this reason, the American Red Cross require people to wait 12 months after getting a tattoo before they can donate blood.

Tattoo Removal

A lot of people love their tattoos and keep them forever. But others decide a couple of years down the road that they really don't want a certain design or that they don't want a tattoo at all. One common method is laser removal. Some tattoo shops also offer tattoo removal, but it's a better idea to make sure the person doing the removal is a medical doctor.

Laser tattoo removal usually requires a number of visits, with each procedure lasting only a few minutes. The laser sends short zaps of light through the top layers of your skin, with the laser's energy aimed at specific pigments in the tattoo. Those zapped pigments are then removed by your body's immune system. Removing a tattoo by laser can be uncomfortable and can feel a lot like getting a tattoo. The entire process usually takes several months. Tattoo removal can be pretty expensive, depending on factors like the size and design of the tattoo, removal can cost significantly more than the actual tattoo.

So maybe you love tattoos but don't want to get one. You want to express the love of tattoos without the cost or risk of getting your own. Or maybe you would just love to have this hunk on your wall!

Buy a poster!

Tattooed Surfer Looking at Beach, San Sebastian, Spain

Photographic Print

Stribley, Dallas

Buy at AllPosters.com

Now some tattoos are meant to be copied, used for ideas or laughed at, but this one is simply to be admired!

There's something about a sexy back. This fits the bill.

If You're Thinking About It

If you're thinking about getting a tattoo, there is one very important thing you have to keep in mind - getting it done safely. A new tattoo is a wound. Like any other break in the skin, a tattoo is at risk for infections and disease.

First, it's not a bad idea to get up to date on immunizations, especially hepatitis and tetanus. Be prepared to seek medical attention if the tattoo becomes infected. Signs of infection include excessive redness or tenderness around the tattoo, prolonged bleeding, pus, or changes in your skin color around the tattoo, and you could develop a fever.

If you have a medical problem such as heart disease, diabetes, allergies, skin disorders, am autoimmune condition or infections, or if you are pregnant, ask your doctor if there are any special concerns you should have or precautions you should take before you get a tattoo.

Make Sure the Studio is Clean!

It's very important to make sure the tattoo studio is clean and safe, and that all equipment used is disposable (in the case of needles, gloves, masks, etc.) and sterilized (everything else). Some states, cities, and communities set up standards for tattoo studios, but others don't. You can call the health department to find out about the laws or check for any complaints about a particular studio. Here are some things to check for:

* Make sure the tattoo studio has an autoclave (a device that uses steam, pressure, and heat for sterilization). You should be allowed to watch as equipment is sterilized in the autoclave.
* Check that the tattoo artist is a licensed practitioner and that he can provide you with references.
* Be sure that the tattoo studio follows the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Universal Precautions. These are regulations that outline procedures to be followed when dealing with bodily fluids (in this case, blood).

If the studio looks unclean, if anything looks out of the ordinary, or if you feel uncomfortable, find a better place to get your tattoo. Don't take someones word for it that these procedures are done, ask to see it for yourself.



Teens seem to want tattoos, but need parental consent. Take the quiz below to see how tattoo savvy you are!

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