Tattoo & Body Piercing Information
Body modification is an ancient practice of permanently altering one's physical appearance. Body piercing, tattooing, scarification and implants are all methods of body modification that have been used across cultures and around the world. In today's society, body piercing and tattoo art are the most popular methods of this type of self expression.
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Tattoo Description
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The art of tattooing involves injecting the skin with a permanent dye or ink. Rapid and repeated injections are needed to construct a given design for each tattoo. Injections of the ink are deep, reaching below the epidermis, which is continually shed, and into the dermis layer approximately three millimeters below the surface of the skin. Because dermal cells are quite stable, the tattoo is usually permanent. Although traditionally these injections were performed manually by using a sharp object dipped in ink, today there are tattoo machines that are used by most tattoo artists.
Tattoo History
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Evidence of the practice of tattooing can be traced back 4,500 years to ancient Egypt. The modern practice of tattooing began in the mid 18th century when western sailors first visited Polynesia. They returned with their newly tattooed bodies and became the first Europeans to display this form of body modification. In the late 1800s, heavily tattooed men would work in circus sideshows and fairground attractions. After World War I, tattooing became more popular with the mainstream. The first electric tattoo machine was invented in 1891.
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Body Piercing Description
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Body piercing involves the puncturing of an area on the body so that a piece of decorative jewelry can be inserted and worn. Traditionally, only the earlobes were pierced. Radical piercings have gained recent popularity and are performed on body parts other than the earlobe. The navel area, eyebrows, tongue, nipples and genital regions are all popular locations of piercings. Piercings can be stretched and enlarged over time by increasing the gauge, or size, of the piercing needle and jewelry.
Body Piercing History
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Body piercing dates back as far as 5,000 years. Evidence that the Aztec Indians of Mexico and the Alaskan Eskimos performed body piercing as a form of modification is well documented. Additionally, ancient art and documents provide evidence that body piercing was a common practice in many Native American cultures. During the Victorian era a genital piercing known as a dressing ring, or a Prince Albert, was performed supposedly to help secure a man's genitals to his leg, thus helping him to be discreet in the tight pants that were the fashion of that time. During the modern Punk era of the late 1970s and early 1980s, body piercing was reintroduced into the mainstream and has since become a very popular form of body modification.
Health Considerations
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There are several health concerns for both the tattoo or piercing artist and the customer. Those who provide body modification services should be vaccinated against Hepatitis B. Other blood borne pathogens that present a serious risk are HIV and Hepatitis C, neither of which have a vaccine available. Sterility is of the utmost important. Artists should wear gloves and sterilize all equipment after each use. Wash hands often and disinfect all surfaces in between clients. As a customer, ask to see the artist's sterilization procedure and equipment before allowing him to do any work. Other minor infections are a risk after a tattoo or body piercing is performed. Treat the area like a wound by applying antibiotic ointment and keeping it bandaged while it heals.
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References
- Photo Credit Tattoo man image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com
