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Tattoos: a permanent fad By
Emily Aikele
Every year thousands of people enter tattoo parlors. They sit through hours of pain waiting for a design to by placed on their body that they think they want. Surveys show that up to 50 percent of those with tattoos wish they hadn't gotten them. Stefanie Hullinger has a tattoo of a fish on her hip. She said that the parlor that did her procedure was very clean and used a sterile needle. "For three days it hurt and was very painful," said Hullinger from her desk at the Logan fly fishing shop where she works. Hullinger's tattoo is one inch by two inches and cost her about $45. When asked if she regretted getting a tattoo, she said she didn't because she had thought a lot about it and decided on a design that reflected who she was. Hullinger suggests to anyone who's considering a tattoo to think a lot about it because it's permanent. The number of people who are getting involved in this form of body art is increasing. Although this may seem like a recent trend, scientists say certain marks on the skin dating back to 3300 B.C. are tattoos. With the growth of Christianity, many European countries forbade tattoos in 2200 B.C. Historically, tattoos served as a marking of status and an identifier of one's tribe. They were so rare in the 18th and 19th centuries that Native Americans with tattoos would receive much attention at fairs and circuses. To many people today, tattoos are a way to express themselves. The process of tattooing isn't a simple one. The tattoo artist must make sure that every tool or piece of equipment used is completely sterile. Then, ink is injected into the skin with a needle attached to a hand-held tool. The needle moves extremely fast and penetration reaches nearly one millimeter. Rather then just puncturing the epidermis, the needle extends down into the dermis which has more stable cells. If the needle doesn't go deep enough it will leave jagged lines. If it goes too deep, bleeding may result and pain may be the consequence. Medical experts say that the bleeding from tattooing should cease only minutes following the application. The American Academy of Dermatology has further guidelines and information on tattooing. The size and the style of the tattoo design will decide how long it will take to apply. Sometimes, numerous hours are required. Body Art can prove to be quite costly. A one-inch tattoo may cost $50-$100, and custom tattoos can cost much more. The pain that accompanies tattoos varies with the location on the body. They are less painful on the arm and chest and are more sensitive on areas right above bone. The healing process usually takes around one week. There are also health risks that go along with tattoos. Possibilities include hepatitis, tuberculosis, and HIV. Non-profit organizations such as The Alliance of Professional Tattooists have created health standards that go along with the Body Art industry. Some states and cities have made it illegal to get tattoos due to the rising concern with health issues. There are no exact statistics, but a 1990 unpublished survey given to 10,000 households revealed that 3 percent of Americans and 5 percent of all men had tattoos. This would mean that 12 to 20 million Americans have tattoos. The last decade has resulted in tattooing becoming one of the fastest growing retail businesses. There are about 15,000 tattoo parlors currently in business. For those who have think they have made a mistake in getting a tattoo, there's a solution. Tattoo removal is also becoming popular. Different procedures such as surgical removal using tissue expanders, dermabrasion, salabrasion, and scarification can extract a tattoo. Of course, skin tone is taken into account and scarring is a possibility. The FDA has recently regulated three lasers that can be used for this process. Doing research on plastic surgeons who perform these procedures is recommended. Tattoo removal may be done at local hospitals or clinics. Information can also be found by contacting The American Society for Laser Medicine, or American Society for Dermatological Surgery. The cost for tattoo removal may range from $400 to over $1,000. There is also the alternative of getting temporary tattoos for those who might not want to get into anything permanent. A lot of considerations need to be taken before getting a tattoo. It's up to the customer to weigh the options and make a decision in their best interest.
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