by Tatum Wilcox

Created on: December 07, 2007

What You Need to Know About Tattooing in a Nut Shell:

Throughout the decades a number of systems of tattooing have been uncovered. Present-day tattooing is accomplished by injecting ink into the skin with a needle attached to a hand-held device. The device then moves the needle rapidly up and down at a pace of several hundred vibrations per minute, piercing the skin by about one millimeter. Because the epidermis is constantly shedding its cells, the ink is injected into the dermal layer- the second layer of skin. The device is an electrically powered steel mechanism fitted with solid needles that pierce the skin anywhere from 50 to 3,000 times a minute.

Commercially made needles are available though the tattoo artist himself often creates his own by filing a steel wire. The needle is first dipped in ink and the ink is then sucked up through the tube system in the machine. Powered by a foot switch, the needle then punctures the skin leaving drops of ink 1/8 of an inch inside. If the needle does not go deep enough, then the desired results will not be reached and a smooth clear line will not be achieved. If the needle goes too deep, then bleeding and undue pain will occur. A single-tipped needle is used to create the outline of a tattoo after the stencil or an outline of a custom drawing has been put onto the proper place. Usually a thinner ink than normal is used for outlining since it is easier to wipe off of the skin. A thicker, darker ink and a combination of needles are used to complete the tattoo with shading.

Well, what's the ink made of? Though often bought pre-mixed, some artists may mix their own ink. When mixing their own ink, the artist has the priceless knowledge of knowing exactly what is in the solution. Some common carrier components consist of alcohols, water, witch hazel, anti-freeze, glycerin, glycol and more. Inks used for tattooing are not FDA approved though some of the materials ARE approved for use in cosmetics, medical devices, and foods. Black pigments are considered some of the safest to use while red and yellow inks are dubious and can cause strong reactions. Allergic reactions include redness, bumpy, sore, or itchy skin, or even blistering, lesions and frequent infection in more serious cases on and around the tattoo. Some infection may not appear until months or years later when the allergy develops and the ink is exposed to the skin over a period of time.

So after all the hubbub of receiving a tattoo, is there any way to take it

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