Some of us may think that Tattoos are the latest fashion craze, but it turns out that in fact, Tattoos were around almost 5000 years ago!  Other research suggest that the word tattoo comes from the Tahitian “tatu” which means “to mark something.” It is arguably claimed that tattooing has existed since 12,000 years BC. The purpose of tattooing has varies from culture to culture and its place on the time line.http://www.powerverbs.com/tattooyou/history.htm

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Needless to say, there is plenty of information about tattoos, however for this post we will focus mostly on some of the do’s and don’t when considering whether you want to ‘beautify’ your body with one of these picture expressions. As always you can click the links provided to read the details. 🙂

The word “tattoo” was brought to Europe by the explorer James Cook, when he returned in 1771 from his first voyage to Tahiti and New Zealand. In his narrative of the voyage, he refers to an operation called “tattaw”. Before this it had been described as scarring, painting, or staining.via Tattoo – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

So what are some of the things you should consider before tattooing?
What are the Risks?
1) Infection – Dirty needles can pass infections, like hepatitis and HIV, from one person to another.
2) Allergies – Allergies to various ink pigments in both permanent and temporary tattoos have been reported and can cause problems.
3) Scarring – Unwanted scar tissue may form when getting or removing a tattoo.
4) Granulomas – These small knots or bumps may form around material that the body perceives as foreign, such as particles of tattoo pigment.
5) MRI complications – People may have swelling or burning in the tattoo when they have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This happens rarely and does not last long. http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm048919.htm

Making Sure Your Tattoo Parlor Is Safe

Follow these safety checks from Tanzi
1) Treat a tattoo as you would any other medical procedure. “You want a tattoo parlor to be at least as clean as a dentist
or dermatologist’s office,” Tanzi says.
2) Ask to see the tools the artist will use. The needles should be new, sterilized, and wrapped — no exceptions. The ink should be in small pots meant for single-use and anything that touches your skin should not be reused. And the artist should wear gloves.
3) Make sure the work area is free of any possible contamination from items like purses and cell phones. via Tattoos: Are They Safe?.

Tattoos & Corporate Jobs Advice

A study by Careerbuilders shows the perils of tattoos for aspiring professionals, and confirms the conventional wisdom that tattoos are a bad choice for anyone who hopes to work in a corporate position:

• Over 42 percent of managers said their opinion of  someone would be lowered by that person’s visible body art.
• Three out of four respondents believe that visible tattoos are unprofessional

First Amendment Freedom of Expresson and Tattoo laws

This article titled “Body art in the workplace” confirms that companies have a constitutional right to ban employees with tattoos:

Companies can limit employees’ personal expression on the job as long as they do not impinge on their civil liberties. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), employers are allowed to impose dress codes and appearance policies as long as they do not discriminate or hinder a person’s race, color, religion, age, national origin, or gender.

There is a strong legal basis for discriminating against the tattooed, especially if the employer fears that having tattooed employees might hurt their professional image. http://www.dba-oracle.com/dress_code_tattoos.htm

What About Temporary Tattoos ?

A temporary tattoo is a non-permanent image on the skin resembling a real tattoo. Temporary tattoos can be drawn, painted, or airbrushed, as a form of body painting, but most of the time these tattoos are transferred to the skin. via Temporary tattoo – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Types of Temporary Tattoos: Know Them for Safety Reasons

Temporary tattoos are offered in several varieties. Decals (press-on) are the most common and the most easily applied. Airbrush-style tattoos are generally applied by a tattoo artist. Henna tattoos are painted on the skin. via Are Temporary Tattoos Safe? What Consumers Need to Know – Tattoo Manufacturing.

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You can visit the FDA’s page about temporary tattoos to learn more about their oversight of these products.

I hope this is helpful 🙂