Tattoos-Body Piercing

Tattoos

Tattooing has been practiced by humans in some form or another for thousands of years, but for many years tattoos were stigmatized and perceived by most people to be the exclusive realm of sailors, whores, criminals, and sideshow freaks. However, in the last two decades, there has been a resurgence of interest in stretching the limitations of the body by means of tattoos and other forms of body modifications. Would it be safe to assume that the rise in the interest of body modification is nothing more than a fad and you didn't believe your momma when she said you'd regret getting that tattoo one day?

Let's take a look at some modern day tattoos.

The Good

The Bad

The Ugly

Imagine, if you can, having a needle prick you skin thousands of time. If you have a low threshold for pain, this is not for you. If you are thinking about getting a tattoo, especially a large one, consider Henna body painting first. Henna doesn't hurt. You're not injecting anything into your skin. It's just a vegetable dye is being painted on top of it. (See sample on the left.)

Henna is a plant that has been used in the Middle East and India for thousands of years to create beautiful, temporary skin art. When henna is applied to the surface of the skin, it stains down through the outer layer, leaving a design that can last for almost a month. Since skin is always growing and sloughing off, the henna will gradually fade and then wear off completely.

Many stores sell a pre-made paste which often lasts about a week. If you do things like swimming, putting on lotions, or soaking in the bathtub, the color will fade away more quickly. When bathing, try to wash the stained skin as gently as possible.

Some people react badly to henna body painting. This reaction it is most often to an essential oil in the henna paste rather than to the henna itself. The most common side effect from henna painting is contact dermatitis, usually appearing as a brief rash with itching.

Since this is a stain on and in the skin, there are no good methods for henna removal. If only applied for minutes or a few hours, washing the paste off leaves a paler stain, which is often gone in a few days. However if you've worn the paste on your skin for as long as overnight, you may have to wait for up to four weeks for the orange-brown stain to leave your skin.

So you have made up your mind to get a tattoo.  Here are some things to consider. Since tattoos involve needles and blood, they carry several risks. These include transmission of diseases like hepatitis, tuberculosis and possibly HIV. When tattoo artists follow all the correct sterilization and sanitation procedures, risks for disease transmission are relatively low.

Few regulations cover tattooing, other than the use of universal precautions and laws requiring minors to have parental permission.  Licensing usually involves completing a health department course on infectious disease transmission and passing an exam, but no governing body inspects tattoo businesses. Laws allow anyone to buy a machine, get a license and start tattooing whether or not they have any artistic ability so it's a good idea to do your homework before rolling up your sleeve.

Here are some basic steps for choosing a safe tattoo parlor: Look around to see if the studio is clean and professional. Ask questions: Is there equipment to sterilize equipment and supplies? Are the needles and other materials single-use? Are EPA-approved disinfectants used? Do the tattoo artists wear gloves? Watch the artist and pay attention to health and safety precautions. Watch the artist open all needles before beginning work.

Taking care of a new tattoo can prevent health problems and protect the quality of the image. Customers generally receive instructions to: Remove the bandage one to two hours after completion. Wash gently with cool or lukewarm water, using a mild antibacterial soap. Pat dry. (Don't rub!) Apply very thin coats of antibacterial ointment and work into the skin. Too much ointment can pull color out of the tattoo. Avoid soaking the tattoo in water or letting the shower pound directly on it. Avoid the sun, sea and swimming pool until healed. Refrain from picking at scabs. They will fall off as the tattoo heals, usually in one to three weeks. Use ice packs if swelling or redness occurs. Call a doctor if you have even the slightest signs of infection.

If you took the plunge and you now believe your momma and regret having that multicolored, fire-breathing dragon that starts at the small of your back, reaches up to your shoulder blades and wraps its orange flames around your biceps, put on your body, tattoo removal has come a long way. For more information click on How Tattoo Removal Works.

Body Piercing

Like tattoos, body piercing has been practiced by peoples all over the world for thousands of years. Some people practice piercing for religious or other cultural reasons, while many individuals, particularly in the modern West, choose to be pierced for spiritual, ornamental, or sexual reasons, or as a form of rebellion.

Prior to the 60's, in the U. S., ear piercing was associated with whores and pirates, but that is not the case today, even though parents shudder at what their children propose to do to their bodies.  A person can have his/her body pierced in just about any location: ears, noses, toes, bellies, tongues, lips, nipples, eyebrows, navel, the male or female genitals, and elsewhere. Take a look at these pictures for example.

Attractive

Gross

Frightening

Body piercing is a serious decision and can be risky. Before you decide what you want to do, ask someone you trust what they think and do extensive reach on the Internet. Here are some thoughts to ponder before you have any body piercing.

• Nostril Piercing - A nostril piercing takes two to four months to heal. As with any piercing, piercing a nose requires cleaning the area to be pierced with surgical soap, coating the sterilized needle with a surgical lubricant, piercing the nostril in a single motion and inserting sterilized jewelry into the new hole. Always use a licensed piercer.  Here are some tips from one.



• Ear Piercing - Ear lobe piercings take about four to six weeks to heal. If you pierce other parts of your ear, it will take longer to heal. Ear piecing is unlikely to cause infection or damage if you have it done by a licensed piercer, and if you properly care for your ears while they are healing.

  After you have your ears pierced or any other piercing, cleanliness is very important. Wash the area daily and treat the area with a saline solution or a product like Blue Wave Piercing Aftercare Kit. Rotate the earrings at least twice a day to keep the holes open. Also, do not remove the earrings for three to four weeks while the skin heals.

• Tongue Piercing - Tongue piercing takes approximately four to six weeks to heal. Be prepared to deal with tongue swelling, difficulties with chewing and swallowing, tissue overgrowth and metal hypersensitivity. During the healing period, use non-alcoholic (no Listerine, etc.) mouthwash two or three times a day. Purchase a new, soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid exposure to bacteria from your old toothbrush. Also, avoid oral contact with other persons, alcohol, hot liquids and spicy foods until the area is healed. Using ice during the healing process will help decrease swelling.

  The risks of tongue piercings include infection of the pierced area, numbing of the entire tongue and chipped teeth. Weigh the risks of getting a tongue piercing with tips from a licensed piercer in this video.



• Belly Button (Naval) Piercing - Belly button or naval piercings can take four months to a year to heal. These piercings are more likely to become infected because of irritation from tight clothing. Wear loose fitting clothing with a navel piercing to let the air help with healing. Wear clean soft fabric clothing.  Avoid wearing jeans because the material can be irritating. Don't wear pantyhose, leotards, or belts.

  Cleaning a navel piercing involves cleaning it often with antibacterial soap, antimicrobial soap, a saline solution, a homemade sea salt mixture or a product like Blue Wave Piercing Aftercare Kit.

  Care for a belly button piercing is presented in this video from a licensed piercer.



• Eyebrow Piercing - An eyebrow piercing takes approximately six to eight weeks to heal. Caring for an eyebrow piercing is the same as ear or naval piercing above. Here are some tips from a licensed piercer.



• Lip Piercing - Lip piercing takes four to six weeks to heal. Cleaning lip piercings involves using an antibacterial or antimicrobial soap on the outside and rinsing with an alcohol-free mouthwash after eating, drinking or smoking. Keep a new lip piercing clean, avoiding spicy foods and alcohol. Here are some tips from a licensed piercer.



• Nipple Piercing - Nipple piercing takes three to six months to heal. Nipple piercings can damage some of the milk-producing glands in a young woman's breasts. This can cause infections or problems later if the woman decides to breast-feed her baby. Caring for nipple piercings is the same as ear or naval piercing above. Take a look at how it is done.



• Body Piercing Jewelry - Body piercing jewelry comes in several shapes, including belly bar bell rings, captive bead rings and horseshoe rings, and they are available in a variety of metals, including surgical steel, gold, titanium and niobium. Get the facts about different types of body jewelry from a licensed piercer.