Side Effects of TATTOOS

Tattoo is a mark or design made by inserting pigment into the skin 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.

Tattoo is very common around the globe . Now at times tattoo is seen as a symbol of fashion unlike when it was synonymous to protection, marks of outcasts, slaves, religion and convicts.

The design and reasons for having tattoos on the body differs in different places and cultures. Tattoos are placed on different parts of the body like the breast, ankle, chest, face e.t.c

Some put tattoos on their bodies because that is what is in vogue , while others do it to remember loved ones or special occasions but as they grow up they become tired of seeing the tattoos on their bodies , they either want to remove it to have another design or get rid of it completely.

Removing tattoos might not be a burden but have we ever reflected on the side effects of the removal. Tattoo removal is most commonly performed using lasers that react with the ink in the tattoo, and break it down.

The body, mimicking the natural fading that time, then absorbs the broken-down ink or sun exposure would create. This technique often requires many repeated visits to remove even a small tattoo, and may result in permanent scarring.

It might interest you to know that some of the pigments used are known to break down into toxic chemicals in the body when attacked by light. This is especially a concern if these tattoos are exposed to UV light; the resulting degradation products end up migrating to the kidneys and liver.
Infection at the removal site is another side effect that one could envisage, since tattoo instruments come in contact with blood and bodily fluids, diseases may be transmitted if the instruments are used on more than one person without being sterilized but this rare because most tattoo parlors have cultivated the habits of sterilizing their equipment to avoid transmission of viruses like HIV.

Someone might risk having hypo pigmentation after tattoo removal; hypo pigmentation is where the treated skin is paler than surrounding skin, or hyper pigmentation where the treated skin is darker than surrounding skin.

Following treatment with tattoo removal lasers, cosmetic tattoos like lip liner, eyeliner, and eyebrows may darken, continuous treatment of the darkened tattoos results in its fading.

What would you do if you are a Human Resource Manager interviewing a potential employer having a very visible tattoo, would you offer him or her employment? Aside the values attach to people who have tattoos on their bodies; medically the side effect of putting and removing a tattoo cannot be over emphasized. it is very important you look before you leap.