Already 25% of 18 – 30 year-olds have a tattoo. In the next few years, this number is expected to grow to nearly 40%.

Here is an overview of the types of tattoos:

Amateur Tattoos. These are made by individuals or their friends often by simply jabbing ink, charcoal or ashes under the skin’s surface using a pin or needle. Additionally, because such tattoo are done under unsanitary conditions with unusual pigments, they pose a much higher risk of infection.

Professional Tattoos. These are applied by registered artists using a tattoo machine. This is a term many tattoo artists prefer to the term ‘tattoo gun’.
Cosmetic tattoos. These may be used as permanent make-up, such as eye and lip liner, lipstick, blush, eyebrows or hair imitation. The process may be repeated over time when the colors begin to fade.

Medical. These are not for decorative purposes, but are applied for medical reasons. Patients with medical conditions or chronic disease, such as asthma or diabetes, may use one to alert health care workers in the case or an emergency. After breast reduction surgery, a tattoo may be applied to simulate the nipple for example. These are similar to traumatic tattoos which may be applied after injury such as when dirt or other materials get embedded in the skin.

Safety Tips:
Check to see, first of all if the clinic is clean.
Check the bathroom, if it’s dirty – get out of there.
Confirm that the parlour’s business license is up to date.
Check out the tattoo area and look for a separate area for tattooing with a clean, hard surface with no contaminated items present.

Steps that you can take to increase your chances of getting a good tattoo:
Avoid alcohol or taking any drugs the day before and the day of getting a tattoo.
Avoid getting a tattoo when you are sick.
make sure all needles are removed from sterile containers.
Make sure the studio has sterilization equipment to clean instruments after each use.
Make sure that the artist cleans his or her hands and puts on clean, sterile gloves.
Get a list of the specific types of pigments that the clinic uses, including color, manufacturer and lot number.
Make sure to follow carefully the healing instructions that the tattoo artists provides to you.

Some people may develop allergic reactions to various kinds of pigments that are used within the inks – especially red. Remember that tattoos can be removed, sometimes, most easily is the tattoo was done entirely in black.

There are various ways to remove tattoos and each has its own unique costs and benefits. The most common options are excision, dermabrasion, laser tattoo removal, tattoo removal creams and and Intense Pulsed Light.

Although lasers are the most common approach, they are designed to break down the tattoo pigments which are absorbed by your body’s immune system. This can lead to the possibility of an allergic reaction.

Remember To Think Before You Ink!