TATTOOS
are everywhere—or so it seems. Rock stars, sports figures, fashion
models, and movie stars flaunt them. Many teenagers have followed suit,
proudly displaying tattoos on their shoulders, hands, waists, and
ankles. Andrew contends: “Tattoos are cool. Having one or not is a
personal choice.”
Says the World Book Encyclopedia:
“Tattooing is the practice of making permanent designs on the body. It
is done by pricking small holes in the skin with a sharpened stick,
bone, or needle that has been dipped in pigments with natural colors.”
Although exact
statistics are hard to come by, one source estimates that 25 percent of
all 15- to 25-year-olds in the United States have a tattoo. Sandy says:
“It’s the popular thing to do.” Why are tattoos so appealing to some
youths?
Why So Popular?
For some, a
tattoo is a way of making a grand romantic gesture. Michelle relates:
“On his ankle my brother has the name of a girl he used to go out with.”
The problem? “He’s not dating her anymore.” According to Teen
magazine, “doctors estimate that more than 30 percent of all tattoo
removal is done on teen girls who want the name of an ex-boyfriend taken
off.”
Some youths view
tattoos as works of art. Others see them as symbols of independence.
“I’m in charge of my life,” proclaimed Josie, adding that getting a
tattoo was “the only life decision I’ve ever made.” Tattooing allows
some youths to experiment—to feel they have control over their
appearance. Tattoos can also serve as a symbol
of rebellion or of alternative life-styles. Some tattoos thus contain
obscene words and drawings or provocative slogans.
The majority of
youths, however, may simply have become caught up in a fad. But just
because it seems as if everyone is getting tattooed, does it mean that you should?
The Ancient Art of Tattooing
Tattooing is by
no means a modern practice. Tattoo-bearing Egyptian and Libyan mummies
have been found that date back hundreds of years before the time of
Christ. Tattooed mummies have also been found in South America. Many of
the tattooed images were directly related to the worship of pagan gods.
According to researcher Steve Gilbert, “the earliest known tattoo that
is a picture of something, rather than an abstract pattern, represents
the god Bes. In Egyptian mythology Bes is the lascivious god of
revelry.”
Health Risks
There are also
health concerns you should consider. Dr. Robert Tomsick, an associate
professor of dermatology, comments: “What you’re doing is breaking the
skin and introducing pigmented material into the area. Even though the
needle only goes in a little way, anytime you break the skin, you have a
risk of bacterial or viral infection. I think [getting a tattoo] is
generally a risky thing to do.” Dr. Tomsick continues: “Once pigment is
in, even if there’s no infection, there’s always the chance of contact
allergies, dermatitis and allergic reactions that can cause skin to get
red, swollen, crusty and itchy.”
Despite the
intended permanence of tattoos, various methods are used in attempts to
remove them: Laser removal (burning the tattoo away), surgical removal
(cutting the tattoo away), dermabrasion (sanding the skin with a wire
brush to remove the epidermis and dermis), salabrasion (using a salt
solution to soak the tattooed skin), and scarification (removing the
tattoo with an acid solution and creating a scar in its place). These
methods are expensive and can be painful. “It’s more painful to have a
tattoo removed by laser than to get the original tattoo,” says Teen magazine.
What Will Others Think?
You should also give serious thought to how others might feel about your wearing a tattoo, as many react negatively. An article in American Demographics
magazine similarly observed: “It is clear that most Americans consider
it risky to have visible body art. Eighty-five percent [of youths] agree
with the statement, ‘people who have visible tattoos . . . should
realize that this form of self-expression is likely to create obstacles
in their career or personal relationships.’”
Like all fads,
tattoos may lose their appeal over time. Really, is there any
garment—whether a pair of jeans, a shirt, a dress, or a pair of
shoes—that you love so much that you would commit to wearing it for the
rest of your life? Of course not! Styles, cuts, and colors change.
Unlike a piece of clothing, however, tattoos are hard to shed. Besides,
what is “cool” to you when you are 16 might not be very appealing when
you are 30.
A.A.
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