Because most of my friends are turning eighteen and no longer have to obtain parental permission to get tattoos, I have noticed an increasingly large amount of people around me deciding to get inked. This sudden interest has caused me to have some curiosity in exactly how exactly tattoos work. I always struggled to understand how tattoos are permanent when humans are constantly shedding and producing new skin.

Skin is the largest organ in the human body. It acts as protection for the muscles and bones. It also helps to sustain body temperature and allow for us to have the sense of touch. Human skin is separated into three layers. The outermost layer of skin is called the epidermis. Its purpose is to create our skin tones by producing melanin. The amount of melanin in our skin determines the color that it appears. It also is responsible for the production of new skin cells. The second layer is called the dermis. It holds tissue, sweat glands, and hair follicles. It also is the home to nerve endings which helps us to feel things. The deepest layer contains subcutaneous tissue. This layer of skin is where the fat is stored and where our body temperature is controlled. It also attaches the dermis to our muscles and bones with connecting tissue.

Tattoos are given with a machine that is modeled after one of Thomas Edison’s engraving machines called the autographic printer. Modern tattoo machines contain a needle, a tube which feeds ink through the machine, and a motor which powers it. The needle moves at a very high frequency ranging from fifty to three thousand time per minute puncturing the skin and placing ink into the dermis. Every time the needle breaks skin, it causes a puncture which triggers the body to respond with the inflammatory process. This process is a key component of the body’s defense system. During this process, cells rush to the site of the wound and begin to repair any damage. These cells are referred to as macrophages. They consume some of the dye in the dermis as a way of stoping the inflammation. Fibroblasts soak up the rest of the die and remain in the dermis. This dye which is in the fibroblasts shows through the skin which is why tattoos can be seen. The reason that the ink is able to remain permanent is because it is placed beyond where the new skin cells are produced.

There are many health risks that are associated with tattoos that I believe often go unnoticed. First off, tattoo ink is produced with metal which can cause various skin reactions whether it be rashes or infections. Some of the most common infections that can be transmitted from a tattooing needle are Hepatitis B and C, Tuberculosis, Mycobacteria, HIV, and Syphilis. It is very important that people who are looking into getting tattooed are educated on the possible risks they are exposing themselves too. It also is important that they have open communication with their tattoo artist in order make sure they are using sterile tools. Because body art such as tattoos have been around for such a long time I feel as if the process of getting one is not taken as seriously as it should be. Being educated and truly understanding how tattoos work is a great way to change that.

Sources:

http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/beauty/skin-and-lifestyle/tattoo4.htm
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/07/the-real-reason-tattoos-are-permanent/374825/
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-06/fyi-what-makes-tattoos-permanent
http://www.dermadoctor.com/blog/the-science-of-tattoos/
https://www.aad.org/dermatology-a-to-z/for-kids/about-skin/piercings-and-tattoos/how-piercings-and-tattooing-work
http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/beauty/skin-and-lifestyle/tattoo.htm