Tattoo Research Articles

Aftercare Should Not be an Afterthought

Permanent skin tattoos are becoming increasingly more common in today’s society and culture. As tattoos become more prevalent in the mainstream, healthcare professionals need to understand how to properly care for tattoos, and this understanding will not occur without more available research into the subject of tattoo aftercare. The purpose of this study was to investigate tattoo aftercare methods by interviewing experts in this field, tattoo artists. The data analysis revealed the most recommended tattoo aftercare methods included the use of antibacterial soap and petroleum-based or unscented lotion two to three times a day. More than half of the participants recommended no dressings and leaving the tattoo open to air to heal, and almost a third of the participants recommended an unscented petroleum-based product for moisture during tattoo healing. Many participants stated the source of their knowledge to be trial and error or from directions passed to them from other artists. From this study, it was also discovered that there is a lack of instruction concerning proper aftercare hygiene with 12% of participants providing only verbal instructions to their clients, forcing clients to rely on remembering aftercare instructions.

Using Syndromic Surveillance to Investigate Tattoo-Related Skin Infections in New York City.

In response to two isolated cases of Mycobacterium chelonae infections in tattoo recipients where tap water was used to dilute ink, the New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene conducted an investigation using Emergency Department (ED) syndromic surveillance to assess whether an outbreak was occuring. ED visits with chief complaints containing the key word “tattoo” from November 1, 2012 to March 18, 2013 were selected for study. NYC laboratories were also contacted and asked to report skin or soft tissue cultures in tattoo recipients that were positive for non-tuberculosis mycobacterial infection (NTM). Thirty-one TREDV were identified and 14 (45%) were interviewed to determine if a NTM was the cause for the visit. One ED visit met the case definition and was referred to a dermatologist. This individual was negative for NTM. No tattoo-associated NTM cases were reported by NYC laboratories. ED syndromic surveillance was utilized to investigate a non-reportable condition for which no other data source existed. The results were reassuring that an outbreak of NTM in tattoo recipients was not occurring. In response to concerns about potential NTM infections, the department sent a letter to all licensed tattoo artists advising them not to dilute tattoo ink with tap water.

Depigmentation and hypertrophic scars after application of a fluid lactic acid tattoo eraser

Tattoo removal is often requested by patients. The gold standard is laser tattoo removal that can be time- and cost-intensive. Therefore, safe alternatives without lasers, pain, and scars would be desirable. We wanted to address safety of chemical tattoo erasers. We report a case of depigmentation and hypertrophic scars after use of a chemical tattoo eraser and searched the literature. Chemical tattoo erasers are not only used by physicians, but also nonmedical professionals such as beauticians, tattoo artists, and others. The case report we observed and other cases from the literature suggest that lactic acid based tattoo erasers are risky. Available safety data are unsufficient to recommend such procedure as an alternative to current laser therapy. Chemical tattoo erasers based on lactic acid may be capable to remove tattoo ink but the procedure bears safety risks of permanent adverse effects. For the safety of patients, better regulations for tattoo erasers need to be implemented. Patients need to be informed about adverse effects by such procedures.

ESTUDO ETNOGRÁFICO SOBRE O CAMPO DA TATUAGEM NA CIDADE DE CASCAVEL – PR

A pesquisa desenvolvida trata-se de uma descrição etnográfica sobre o campo da tatuagem na cidade de Cascavel/Paraná, com o intuito de trazer luz às representações acionadas nas relações sociais dentro do campo. A metodologia utilizada foi a etnografia juntamente com revisão bibliográfica. Verificou-se que, em meados dos anos 80 os estúdios receberam uma normatização sanitária que permitia tornarem-se legais perante o Estado. Os principais resultados obtidos com a pesquisa demonstram que tatuadores passaram a ser vistos como profissionais em decorrência de uma série de regulamentações em relação aos estúdios e na entrada de novos materiais e métodos mais sofisticados no Brasil. A higiene é também adotada como reforço da representação de profissional. Chancelados pelo Estado, os tatuadores profissionais projetam em sua prática a assepsia necessária e não presente nos ilegais. No entanto, a condição higiênica de profissional concorre com a auto-representação de artista, gerando reações de valorização das expressões artísticas em detrimento das não profissionais-higiênicas. Este campo se organiza de forma dual, tais sejam: profissionais e não-profissionais, artistas e amadores, legais e ilegais. A valorização da técnica, da higiene e assepsia, e sobretudo do caráter artístico do trabalho são os principais suportes dessa dualidade no campo entre os tatuadores.

Tattooist-customer relationships in a diversified environment of professional tattooists and 'scratchers'.

The world of tattooing and body art has never been like it is today. This chapter seeks to investigate this situation through the lens of tattooing. One of the areas in which tattooing has changed is the relationship between the tattoo artist and his or her clients. Whereas being a tattoo artist used to be impersonal and very much just a job like any other, it has transformed tremendously today. The cause of this and, even more so, what exactly has changed are what this chapter will seek to shed light on. First of all, the format of the shops and how the art is done have changed, which allows for much greater flexibility from the perspective of the artist. Second, from the perspective of the client/customer, a transformation has also occurred, in some part thanks to developments such as the internet and other social/communication media, which give the client much more room and opportunity to discover and research tattoos. However, most importantly, this chapter seeks to map out a change in discourse when it comes to the relationship between the client and the tattoo artist and to explain how it has changed into a relationship based on mutual and reciprocated communication as well as focussed on making a product/piece of art that both can be satisfied with.

Hygiene standards for tattooists.

The following excerpt is taken from the hygiene guidelines written by Deutsche Organisierte Tätowierer (DOT e.V. Germany; German Association of Professional Tattoo Artists) and United European Tattoo Artists e.V. (UETA). It has been published with the intention of creating a standard that is understandable and accomplishable in practice, focusing on a minimum standard level that guarantees the highest possible safety for tattooists and customers at the same time. The DOT and UETA consistently strive to participate in the research of tattoo hygiene and tattoo colours because important insider information can be provided by professional tattoo artists with many years of work experience.

The technique and craftsmanship of tattooing in the professional tattoo parlour.

This chapter will briefly explain the tools and techniques behind a good tattoo. Beside the fact that the professional tattoo artist needs to have talent for composing and drawing motives - the artistic part of his or her profession - the technical side of the process must also be mastered to make great tattoos. The craftsmanship behind the art.

Epidemiology of tattoos in industrialized countries.

In 1974, the first professional French tattooist C. Bruno wrote a book, entitled 'Tatoués, qui êtes-vous?', depicting his experience as a tattooist in the picturesque Pigalle tourist district of Paris. However, we have come a long way since then. Tattooing has gained tremendous visibility, notoriety and popularity in Western countries. In Germany, 8.5% of the population (aged between 14 and 90 years) has a tattoo. Similar trends have been found in France, Finland and Australia, where approximately 10% of the populations have at least one tattoo. However, the overall tattoo prevalences overseas and in Europe are even higher, especially among the youth, for whom it is up to 15-25% according to the country. Much has been written about the tattooed and tattooists. However, who are they currently? What motivates them to get tattooed and give tattoos? How do they see themselves? Why do some individuals remove their tattoos? Is there a 'profile' of the tattooed? Are they really 'risk takers'? And how do the nontattooed perceive them? Through a critical review of the literature, we will reconsider tattooing from an epidemiological aspect, challenge current beliefs and explore new insights into the motivations and fears of tattoo artists and their clients.

A Deviant Art: Tattoo‐Related Stigma in an Era of Commodification

ABSTRACTIn Western society, tattoos have historically signified deviance and those who were tattooed were often stigmatized as a result. Extant research examines the nature of stigma and identifies a number of stigma management strategies adopted by people with tattoos. However, this research was conducted at a time when tattoo art was largely confined to particular groups and members of society. In recent years tattooing has transformed dramatically, such that the practice has become commodified and embedded in everyday production and consumption practices. Consequently, our study examines the changing nature of tattoo‐related stigma, and the subsequent impact this has had on the strategies employed by consumers to manage this stigma. Emerging stigma management strategies are identified and discussed within the context of an emergent stigma, the “stigma of the commodity.”

Operations in mixed reality

The Operature (2014), the first work of Anatomical Theatres of Mixed Reality (ATOM-r), is a live performance and augmented reality poem engaging themes of anatomical science and spectacle. The work's choreography and use of technology are influenced by research into a series of diverse anatomical histories including early-modern surgical theatres, Francis Glessner Lee's miniature crime-scene re-enactments, known as the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death, and The Stud File, an autobiographical record of the sexual exploits of Samuel Steward, a twentieth-century tattoo artist, gay pornographer and friend of Gertrude Stein. This writing traces the development of the work and its attempt to create a fluid integration of live performance and computational systems.

Persona to Persona Studies

A foundational review and study of the emergence of persona studies from online culture and the concept of persona, the article explores the past and current directions in research. It serves as a form of introduction to the concepts of both persona and persona studies.

Three operational strategies for the management of elliptical-like benign skin lesions such as nevus: 71 case reports

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of three operational strategies for the management of elliptical-like benign skin lesions such as nevus,verrucous nevus,tattoo,cutaneous scar,and so on.Methods Seventy-one patients with elliptical-like benign skin lesions were included in this study,and randomly divided into three groups to be treated by three operational strategies respectively:single spindle-shaped excision and direct suture,one or more times of star-shaped excision within lesions followed by final spindle-shaped excision and suture,one or more times of S-shaped excision within lesions followed by final spindle-shaped excision and suture.The efficacy of operational strategies was evaluated by the ratio of the length of postoperative scar to that of the corresponding preoperative lesion.The clearance capacity was determined by repeated histopathological examination of lesions removed.Results Of the 71 patients,23 were managed by spindle-shaped excision and direct suture with the average ratio of the length of postoperative scar to that of preoperative lesion being 2.34,25 by star-shaped excision and suture with the average ratio being 0.90,and 23 by S-shaped excision and suture with the average ratio being 1.10.No evidence of malignancy was shown by the repeated pathological examination of resected tissues.Conclusions Both star-shaped and S-shaped excision can result in satisfying cosmetic outcomes with favorable clearance capacity in patients with elliptical-like benign skin lesions,but repeated operations are required. Key words: Nevus, pigmented; Skin diseases; Reconstructive surgical procedures; Surgery, plastic

Tension in the Field of Art: The Practical Tattoo Artist and Perceptions of the Fine Art Community

This is an ethnographic study utilizing observation and in-depth interviews. The following research analyzes a collaborative circle of tattoo artists and its tension with the fine art community. The tension is a result of perceptions of the fine art community and the nature of tattoo shops as enterprises. This article contributes to the understanding of collaborative circles by incorporating taste distinctions and a formal group element, the enterprise. Taste distinctions and the enterprise allow artists to erect boundaries between themselves and others in the art community.

Cine EPID evaluation of two non‐commercial techniques for DIBH

To evaluate the efficacy of two noncommercial techniques for deep inspiration breathhold (DIBH) treatment of left-sided breast cancer (LSBC) using cine electronic portal imaging device (EPID) images. 23,875 EPID images of 65 patients treated for LSBC at two different cancer treatment centers were retrieved. At the Milford Regional Cancer Center, DIBH stability was maintained by visual alignment of inroom lasers and patient skin tattoos (TAT). At the South Shore Hospital, a distance-measuring laser device (RTSSD) was implemented. For both centers,cine EPID images were acquired at least once per week during beam-on. Chest wall position relative to image boundary was measured and tracked over the course of treatment for every patient and treatment fraction for which data were acquired. Median intrabeam chest motion was 0.31 mm for the TAT method and 0.37 mm for the RTSSD method. The maximum excursions exceeded our treatment protocol threshold of 3 mm in 0.3% of cases (TAT) and 1.2% of cases (RTSSD). The authors did not observe a clinically significant difference between the two datasets. Both noncommercial techniques for monitoring the DIBH location provided DIBH stability within the predetermined treatment protocol parameters (<3 mm). The intreatment imaging offered by the EPID operating in cine mode facilitates retrospective analysis and validation of both techniques.

Fashion trends in dentistry

Younger generations follow their self made rules for looking fashionable and it applies to dentistry as well. As a dentist, we might come across to people who demand something more from us than treating only diseases e.g. piercings, mutilations, tattoos, jewellery. So being a dentist of 21st century, we should have knowledge of these newer advances in addition to regular therapeutic procedures.

The identification of tattoo designs under cover-up tattoos using digital infrared photography

This paper looks at digital infrared photography as a technique for identifying primary tattoos even if they have been covered up with additional tattoos. The study's goal was to look at a sufficient number of cover-up tattoos using infrared photography to enable the technique to be used more widely, and to attempt to elucidate the reasons for successful and unsuccessful infrared photography of primary tattoos through cover-up tattoos. Thirty-six tattoos were photographed in infrared along with colour control records. The results showed that primary tattoos could be visualized to some extent in 55.6 % of the cover-up tattoos and very well in 38.9%, this still left some 44.4% where the design of the primary tattoo could not be seen. The extent of visibility of underlying designs was found to depend on the ink colour, ink density and the extent to which the tattooist covered or incorporated the existing tattoo into the new design.

A 002LFC intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) phantom evalution of SentinelTM system for patient set-up verification in radiotherapy

Objective To study the accuracy of SentinelTM system for patient setup using rigid-body phantom.Methods A 002LFC IMRT phantom was placed on Elekta HexaPODTM 6-degree couch using tattoo and the laser in the treatment room.When a well-know shift (3 directions) and rotation (3 positions) was moved,CBCT and SentinelTM system were scanned respectively,and the measuring errors of six dimensions were recorded.The absolute differences between applied and measured errors were compared and paired t-test.Results Total 15 well-know shifts were investigated.The SentinelTM system was very good stability and the largest absolute difference only 0.9 mm (z direction) and 0.2° (arbitrary direction).At the same time,a good conformance between SentinelTM system and CBCT was displayed because the largest absolute difference between applied and measuring error was less than 0.9 mm (z direction) and 0.2° (arbitrary direction).Conclusions SentinelTM system is fast,simple,non-invasive and seems to be reliable in detecting patient setup errors.It maybe hold potential to ensure precise patient positioning with reduced CBCT frequency in tumor locations with fixed relation to surface structures. Key words: Radiotherapy; Set-up verification; SentinelTM system

Mycobacterial Cellulitis from Contaminated Tattoo Ink

Tattoos usually aren't considered to be risky procedures (an estimated 45 million people in the U.S. have at least one), but they do entail risk for

The ultrastructural effects of long-term use of henna on the albino rat skin.

Tattooing with henna is a routine practice in the Arab world. To the best of our knowledge, no previous studies have evaluated the adverse histological effects following henna tattooing on the ultrastructure of the skin. The objectives of this study were to diagnose the cytopathological alterations induced by commercial henna and to investigate the adverse role of henna when combined with sun ray on the skin. The skin of albino rats was tattooed with natural and black henna for three months, skin samples were examined by transmission electron microscope. In addition, the concentration of lead in henna samples was estimated by using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results expanded the understanding of the pathogenesis of henna-induced phytophotodermatitis. We hypothesized that henna-associated additives penetrated the epidermal barrier to gain access to the vascular dermis where the harmful ingredients became concentrated, leading to skin pathology through a dual mechanism. First, these ingredients became re-transported into the epidermis through vesicular trafficking leading to dermo-epidermal blistering and cytoplasmic vacuolization of the stratum basal cells. Following this, cytoplasmic vacuoles poured their content into the nuclei through continuities with the perinuclear cisterna, possibly leading to genetic mutation. The progression of keratinocytes into the next layers became associated with nuclear and cytoplasmic signs of apoptosis with subsequent phagocytosis in other epidermal cells, most probably keratinocytes. The second mechanism of injury was mediated through accumulation of inflammatory cells around capillaries in the dermis with the release of angiogenic and mitogenic mediators resulting in vasculopathy.

Q-switched laser tattoo removal

Background : Decorative tattooing gained popularity in many western countries throughout the 1990s. Some estimates show that approximately 10 % of men in the United States already have tattoos. However, tattoos often become a personal regret. As recent surveys suggest, 17 % of people that have obtained a tattoo and more than 50 % of adults over the age of 40 in the United States of America consider having them removed. The same trend can be observed in our country as well. Laser therapy is the gold standard for tattoo removal. In Slovenia, laser tattoo removal therapy is available and widely accessible. There is a wide range of facilities offering laser tattoo removal, ranging from different private clinics to beauty salons. Different facilities use different lasers, but not all lasers, however, are optimal for successful and complete tattoo removal, as inappropriate use can cause many unwanted side effects. Methods : Eleven (11) patients (2 men and 9 women) requesting tattoo removal were treated in our department. When treating our patients, we used Fotona’s QX MAX quality-switched Nd:YAG laser which offers four different wavelengths in a single system; 1064 nm Nd:YAG was used to treat and remove dark pigments, 532 nm KTP for red, tan-colored, purple and orange tattoo inks, 650 nm dye for green tattoo inks and 585 nm dye for sky-blue colored inks. Results : Satisfactory tattoo removal was achieved in all patients treated. Patients were very satisfied with the success and the number of treatments needed for tattoo removal. There were mild unwanted side effects and the pain was moderate. The average number of treatments required for complete tattoo removal was less than 7, ranging from 3 to 21 treatments. Patients’ satisfaction with tattoo removal was estimated at 5.2 (on a scale from 1 to 6). Conclusions : Our study showed that Q-switched lasers successfully remove tattoo ink, however several treatments are required for satisfactory tattoo removal