LaMedicine
One Too Many
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Tattoos...
I read once that tattoos by soldiers started in Britain during the Napoleonic wars, as a way of identification in case of serious injury or death...
Anyone know the truth of this?
I live right now in a part of the world that is known for some of the most artistic tattoos, and because of my job, I have seen enough tattoos, from small ones to full color whole body tattoos that can only be called art.
But, I would not recommend anyone to go for them without giving it thorough thought for a number of reasons.
First, there are some societies where people with any kind of tattoos are looked upon as of dubious character, and are often refused admission to some public places where they may be clearly seen, e.g. public pools, gyms, saunas, hot spas. So, if you expect to do any extensive traveling, or to live in countries other than the US for one reason or another, you may find that the locals will eye you with suspicion. Of course, if you are very conspicuously a foreigner, you may be given room for doubt, but it would be easier and wiser to avoid such consequences. This goes not only for men, but for women all the more, because generally, such societies will look upon less kindly on women with tattoos, even if they are foreigners. Now, some of you may think this is discriminatory, but the fact is, especially full body tattoos can be intimidating because those who go for it are generally from the underworld in these societies, and these people actually use their tattoos to intimidate others -- if any of you are familiar with "yakuza" films, you may have noticed.
Two, as the tattoos get older, and of course the person with the tattoos get older, the lines tend to blur, and the colors recede and become dull so even if they are very pretty at first, they can end up looking dirty and ugly. Also, the texture of the skin hardens because of the pigments implanted. It is pretty hard, sometimes impossible, to get an intra-venous line where the skin is tattooed, and I have had one patient in the past who would, when he needed IV drips, turn on his stomach, point to the back of his knee(where there was no tattoo) and say,
"Doc, you can get a line in here..."
He was a legend among the interns and the residents...
Three, as in the article on the history of tattoos, the threat of hepatitis is very real. Here, whenever we doctors see anyone with tattoos, we suggest to them to let us run a lab test for Hepatitis C, and the percentage who come up positive is very high, espeically with the older and extensive ones, I can't remember off hand anyone I have seen who did not test positive for HCV. (Hepatitis C often causes liver cancer which is why it is of such great concern to us.) So, if you want to get one, make sure that the artist uses disposable equipment, not only the needles, but anything that you may come into contact with, pigments and such, because anything that is used in common with others without sterilization carries the danger of contamination. What better way is there to be sure that there is no contamination than having everything new and opened right in front of your eyes!
Four, if you find that you want them off in the future, if they are extensive, the only way you can get rid of them is through skin grafts, and that in itself will scar you for the rest of your life. Do you want or need that?
As for piercings anywhere other than ears (I do have one hole each in both of my ears) well, if some of my patients knew what goes on in my mind everytime I say, "Open your mouth, please." and see a pierced tongue... [bad]
All said, something that can mark you for life, and may have some medical consequence, is something that should be considered carefully and not done lightly, not because it is fashionable, or gives you that "naughty" look, or you do it for "attitude", is what I think.
I read once that tattoos by soldiers started in Britain during the Napoleonic wars, as a way of identification in case of serious injury or death...
Anyone know the truth of this?
I live right now in a part of the world that is known for some of the most artistic tattoos, and because of my job, I have seen enough tattoos, from small ones to full color whole body tattoos that can only be called art.
But, I would not recommend anyone to go for them without giving it thorough thought for a number of reasons.
First, there are some societies where people with any kind of tattoos are looked upon as of dubious character, and are often refused admission to some public places where they may be clearly seen, e.g. public pools, gyms, saunas, hot spas. So, if you expect to do any extensive traveling, or to live in countries other than the US for one reason or another, you may find that the locals will eye you with suspicion. Of course, if you are very conspicuously a foreigner, you may be given room for doubt, but it would be easier and wiser to avoid such consequences. This goes not only for men, but for women all the more, because generally, such societies will look upon less kindly on women with tattoos, even if they are foreigners. Now, some of you may think this is discriminatory, but the fact is, especially full body tattoos can be intimidating because those who go for it are generally from the underworld in these societies, and these people actually use their tattoos to intimidate others -- if any of you are familiar with "yakuza" films, you may have noticed.
Two, as the tattoos get older, and of course the person with the tattoos get older, the lines tend to blur, and the colors recede and become dull so even if they are very pretty at first, they can end up looking dirty and ugly. Also, the texture of the skin hardens because of the pigments implanted. It is pretty hard, sometimes impossible, to get an intra-venous line where the skin is tattooed, and I have had one patient in the past who would, when he needed IV drips, turn on his stomach, point to the back of his knee(where there was no tattoo) and say,
"Doc, you can get a line in here..."
He was a legend among the interns and the residents...Three, as in the article on the history of tattoos, the threat of hepatitis is very real. Here, whenever we doctors see anyone with tattoos, we suggest to them to let us run a lab test for Hepatitis C, and the percentage who come up positive is very high, espeically with the older and extensive ones, I can't remember off hand anyone I have seen who did not test positive for HCV. (Hepatitis C often causes liver cancer which is why it is of such great concern to us.) So, if you want to get one, make sure that the artist uses disposable equipment, not only the needles, but anything that you may come into contact with, pigments and such, because anything that is used in common with others without sterilization carries the danger of contamination. What better way is there to be sure that there is no contamination than having everything new and opened right in front of your eyes!
Four, if you find that you want them off in the future, if they are extensive, the only way you can get rid of them is through skin grafts, and that in itself will scar you for the rest of your life. Do you want or need that?
As for piercings anywhere other than ears (I do have one hole each in both of my ears) well, if some of my patients knew what goes on in my mind everytime I say, "Open your mouth, please." and see a pierced tongue... [bad]
All said, something that can mark you for life, and may have some medical consequence, is something that should be considered carefully and not done lightly, not because it is fashionable, or gives you that "naughty" look, or you do it for "attitude", is what I think.
