Integumentary System: Tattoos

     If you are considering getting a tattoo, you might want to think about what you are doing to your body and what you want. Remember tattoos are permanent and if you're not happy, not many people can afford or bear the pain when it comes to tattoo removal(laser surgery). I will split this blog into certain parts so you can see which part you're interested in reading:

How tattoos are done

A tattoo is a permanent mark or design made on your skin with pigments inserted through pricks into the skin's top layer. Typically, the tattoo artist uses a hand-held machine that acts much like a sewing machine, with one or more needles piercing the skin repeatedly. With every puncture, the needles insert tiny ink droplets. The process — which is done without anesthetics — causes a small amount of bleeding and slight to potentially significant pain.

     Now, you might be wondering, since you're puncturing your skin with a needle, are there any risks? The answer is absolutely! There are way more risks than you might have thought possible. That is why if you get a tattoo, check the place out first, if it is a dark room with one light on in someone's basement, you might not want to get a tattoo there! Sanitation is key in the tattoo process. Look for a very clean place that has high recommendations and great reviews. Remember, tattoos aren't suppose to be cheap since they will be on your body forever. So, in the tattoo business you are getting what you pay for. Here is what you should think over before getting a tattoo:

• Allergic reactions. Tattoo dyes — especially red, green, yellow and blue dyes — can cause allergic skin reactions, such as an itchy rash at the tattoo site. This can occur even years after you get the tattoo.
• Skin infections. A skin infection — which might cause redness, swelling, pain and a pus-like drainage — is possible after tattooing.
• Other skin problems. Sometimes bumps called granulomas form around tattoo ink. Tattooing can also lead to keloids — raised areas caused by an overgrowth of scar tissue.
• Bloodborne diseases. If the equipment used to create your tattoo is contaminated with infected blood, you can contract various bloodborne diseases — including tetanus, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
• MRI complications. Rarely, tattoos or permanent makeup might cause swelling or burning in the affected areas during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams. In some cases, tattoo pigments can interfere with the quality of the image — such as when a person who has permanent eyeliner has an MRI of the eye.

Medication or other treatment — including possible removal of the tattoo — might be needed if you experience an allergic reaction to the tattoo ink or you develop an infection or other skin problem near a tattoo. 

An example of a tattoo gone bad( not done professionally):

Now, an example of a terrible artist! I hope nobody's kids look like this! Haha!: